Ducks have profound welfare needs related to water that extend far beyond simple drinking access. Their biology and behaviour require immersive water for eye and bill maintenance, thermoregulation, and species-typical behaviour.
The deprivation of bathing water from farmed ducks is a significant, systematic welfare failure sustained by production economics rather than any uncertainty about need. Ducks are waterfowl — their physiology, anatomy, and behavioural repertoire evolved for aquatic environments. Bill health, eye health, and feather maintenance all depend on water access beyond simple drinking. Ducks without bathing water develop eye infections, bill damage, and dirty plumage causing thermal stress — measurable health consequences that confirm the welfare deficit. Consumer and regulatory pressure has produced voluntary commitments from some producers and retailers, but these remain insufficiently enforced and widespread. Duck welfare is one of the clearest cases where natural behaviour is entirely denied by standard production systems.