Ducks are aquatic birds farmed in large numbers worldwide, often under conditions that prevent them from accessing water for bathing and swimming, a fundamental welfare need.
The most significant welfare issue for farmed ducks is the widespread denial of open water access in commercial systems. Ducks are physiologically and behaviourally adapted to aquatic environments, using water for bathing, eye cleaning, bill dunking, and thermoregulation. Without adequate water, ducks show elevated stress responses, increased aggression, feather deterioration, and eye infections. Providing even basic water features such as shallow troughs or overhead sprinklers substantially improves welfare outcomes with minimal cost implications. Bill trimming, like beak trimming in chickens, addresses symptoms of poor housing rather than root causes. Improved stocking densities, environmental complexity, and water access represent the evidence-based welfare priorities for duck farming reform.