Ducks are waterfowl with strong biological needs for immersion water access, and most commercial duck farming fails to provide this, causing significant welfare compromise.
Duck water welfare represents one of the clearest mismatches between natural behavioral motivation and commercial farming practice. Ducks are among the most strongly water-motivated vertebrates, and denial of open water access frustrates a fundamental biological drive. Even a shallow trough sufficient for head immersion dramatically improves plumage condition, eye health, and behavioral welfare compared to nipple drinkers alone. Higher welfare duck certification programs require open water access as a minimum standard. The welfare improvement from water provision is achievable at modest cost, making its absence in conventional production difficult to justify.