Ducks are farmed in large numbers for meat and foie gras, with welfare standards that vary widely and key needs — particularly water access — poorly met in intensive systems.
Duck welfare in intensive farming is compromised primarily by denial of their fundamental need for water. Ducks are physiologically and behaviourally adapted to aquatic environments; restricting them to nipple drinkers causes chronic frustration, dirty plumage that cannot be maintained, and health problems including eye infections. The foie gras industry compounds this with force-feeding that causes additional acute distress. Improving duck welfare requires both better housing standards — including open water access — and ending practices like force-feeding that cause inherent suffering. Consumer awareness that duck products do not automatically imply better welfare than chicken is an important first step.