Ducks are waterfowl with strong behavioral motivation to access open water for bathing, foraging, and preening; denial of water access is a significant welfare deprivation in commercial duck farming.
The welfare significance of water access for farmed ducks cannot be overstated. Ducks are uniquely dependent on water for routine self-maintenance behaviors: they immerse their heads to clear eyes and nostrils, use water to condition feathers, and engage in vigorous bathing and preening sequences. Without open water (nipple drinkers alone are inadequate), ducks develop eye discharge, nasal impaction, and feather fouling that impairs waterproofing. Research shows strong behavioral motivation for water access — ducks work hard in operant conditioning tasks to gain access to bathing water. Despite this clear evidence, most commercial duck production globally denies open water access entirely, citing hygiene and cost concerns. This represents a significant, preventable welfare compromise at enormous scale.