Ducks are water birds with strong behavioural needs for open water access that are rarely met in commercial farming systems. Understanding duck welfare highlights the gap between species-specific needs and current production standards.
Duck welfare is particularly compromised in intensive systems because ducks are water birds kept in environments that deny their fundamental biological needs. The inability to immerse their bill and head causes physical health problems including conjunctivitis, nasal blockage, and bill deformities. Behaviourally, ducks denied water access cannot perform the preening, bathing, and comfort behaviours that occupy much of their natural time budget, causing chronic frustration. Higher welfare duck systems provide open water through troughs, showers, or ponds. Foie gras production causes acute suffering through force-feeding and is banned in several countries as a result. Species-appropriate housing for ducks requires recognising their aquatic nature.