Force moulting is used in duck farming to extend laying cycles and synchronise flocks. The practice raises significant welfare concerns due to feed restriction and stress-induced feather loss.
Force moulting by feed withdrawal causes significant suffering through hunger, weight loss, and the stress of sudden disruption to the feeding routine. Ducks are highly food-motivated animals, and complete feed withdrawal creates acute distress evidenced by persistent foraging behaviour, increased vocalization, and agonistic interactions with flockmates. The physiological stress of rapid weight loss and hormonal upheaval also compromises immune function. While alternative dietary methods such as low-energy feeds cause less severe acute hunger, they still manipulate the birds' physiology for production purposes. The welfare case for banning feed-withdrawal moulting for ducks is as strong as for hens.