Ducks are highly aquatic birds whose welfare needs are fundamentally incompatible with conventional indoor poultry production. Denial of water access causes significant suffering in billions of farmed ducks annually.
Ducks in conventional production systems are denied one of their most fundamental behavioral needs — access to open water. This deprivation causes measurable physical harm including eye infections and bill lesions, as well as chronic behavioral frustration. Even basic shower systems that allow head immersion significantly improve welfare outcomes. The intensive duck industry largely ignores these needs due to cost concerns around water provision, manure management, and litter quality.