Farmed Duck Welfare: Water Access and Housing Needs

Ducks are aquatic birds whose natural behaviours are highly water-dependent. Farmed ducks denied access to open water cannot express fundamental natural behaviours, causing significant welfare compromise.

Key Facts

Approximately 3 billion ducks are farmed globally each year, primarily in Asia and Europe
Ducks use water for bathing, preening, eye cleaning, and social behaviour — water access is a fundamental welfare need
Battery cages and indoor systems without open water deny ducks these core behavioural needs
Eye and nostril conditions including ocular discharge and blocked nares are more common in ducks without water access
The EU does not require open water access for farmed ducks despite scientific consensus on its welfare importance
Foie gras production using force-feeding causes severe welfare harm and is banned in several countries
Free-range duck systems with pond access show dramatically better feather and ocular health scores

Welfare Considerations

Ducks without water access experience chronic deprivation of behaviours that are central to their physical and psychological health. Eye and nasal cleaning requires submersion — without it, ocular disease and nares blockage are common. Preening with waterproofing gland oil requires water to be effective — dry-housed ducks develop poor feather condition that impairs thermoregulation. The welfare case for mandatory water access for farmed ducks is strong, based on both the species-specific importance of water behaviour and direct health outcome evidence.

What You Can Do

Choose duck products certified under schemes requiring open water access for ducks
Avoid foie gras products — force-feeding causes severe suffering and is unnecessary
Support CIWF and RSPCA campaigns advocating for mandatory water access in duck farming regulations
Ask retailers about the welfare standards of their duck suppliers
Reduce duck consumption or choose certified higher welfare alternatives