Ducks are semi-aquatic birds with strong motivations to access water for bathing and foraging, yet most farmed ducks are denied any meaningful water access.
Water access for farmed ducks represents a fundamental behavioral need that is systematically denied in conventional commercial production. Research using preference testing and operant conditioning clearly shows that ducks are highly motivated to access bathing water — they will work to obtain it and show priority access behavior indicating its importance. Denying this need creates chronic behavioral frustration. The welfare improvement from providing even minimal bathing water — a trough or spray system — is significant relative to the modest additional cost.