The transport of farmed ducks to slaughter causes significant welfare problems due to the anatomy of ducks, their sensitivity to water deprivation, and the mismatch between poultry transport systems designed primarily for chickens.
Duck transport welfare sits at the intersection of species-specific needs and industry standardisation around chicken-derived systems. Ducks' broader bodies and different locomotion create specific injury risks in crates designed for chickens. Their dependence on water for eye and nasal health means that standard poultry journey protocols — no water during transport — cause more rapid physiological deterioration in ducks than in chickens. The welfare improvement pathway is threefold: duck-specific crate design standards, maximum journey times shorter than for chickens given their greater water-dependency, and monitoring systems that track duck-specific welfare indicators (eye discharge, nasal mucus, injury rates) at slaughter reception. Consumer demand for duck products certified to transport welfare standards is virtually non-existent — creating an asymmetry between advocacy priority and market opportunity.