Duck farming raises welfare issues from basic housing and water access through to foie gras production methods that involve force-feeding. Reform efforts address both the production system and consumer demand.
Duck welfare covers a spectrum from basic needs to extreme cruelty. At the minimum, ducks kept without water access for swimming or bathing suffer from inability to perform natural behaviors essential for feather and eye health. Foie gras production sits at the extreme end of welfare violations — deliberate induction of severe liver disease through forced overfeeding causes measurable pain and physiological distress. The welfare case against foie gras production is among the clearest in animal agriculture. Bans in multiple countries reflect the consensus that the welfare costs cannot be justified by culinary value. Consumer demand drives remaining production, making purchasing decisions a direct welfare intervention.