Farmed Duck Welfare and Water Access

Ducks are semi-aquatic birds with strong motivation to access open water, making welfare standards in intensive duck farming a serious concern when water is restricted.

Key Facts

Over 3 billion ducks are slaughtered annually, primarily in Asia, making ducks the most farmed waterbird.
Ducks have a strong innate motivation for bathing, preening, and foraging in open water.
Most commercially farmed ducks in intensive systems have access only to drinking nipples, not bathing water.
Restricted water access causes eye infections, poor feather condition, and behavioural frustration.
UK law requires ducks to have access to water sufficient for head immersion; enforcement is variable.

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of intensively farmed ducks is severely compromised by restriction of access to open water. Ducks have evolved to clean their plumage, maintain eye health, and regulate body temperature through water immersion. Deprivation causes measurable welfare indicators including ocular discharge, matted plumage, and high motivation to access water when offered. Higher-welfare duck production systems providing even shallow open-water baths show significant improvements in these welfare indicators.

What You Can Do

Choose duck products from farms that provide open-water bathing access.
Support legislation requiring open-water access for farmed ducks as a minimum welfare standard.
Reduce duck meat and foie gras consumption to lower demand for intensive production.
Ask food retailers and restaurants to disclose duck welfare standards at their supplier farms.
Support animal welfare organisations campaigning for improved duck farming legislation.