Ducks are farmed by the billions globally with welfare standards that often fall far below what these aquatic birds require for basic behavioral expression. Access to water for bathing is the defining welfare issue.
The core welfare failure of commercial duck farming is the systematic denial of water. Ducks evolved with bills, eyes, and nasal passages adapted for aquatic use — without open water to dip their heads, they develop chronic eye and respiratory problems. They are unable to perform normal preening, which is essential for feather condition and parasite control. The resulting feather damage, skin lesions, and behavioral frustration represent significant suffering across an enormous population. Fast-growing breeds develop leg disorders and cardiovascular problems similar to broiler chickens. Foie gras production involves force-feeding via tube (gavage) to create pathological liver enlargement — a practice widely condemned by veterinary and welfare scientists.