Ducks farmed for meat and foie gras have strong behavioral motivations for water access that are systematically denied in most commercial duck production systems, causing significant welfare deficits.
Ducks deprived of water deep enough to immerse their heads cannot clean their eyes and nasal passages, leading to infection and distress. The behavioral frustration from inability to express strong water-related motivations is measurable through preference tests and behavioral indicators. Foie gras production through force-feeding inflicts acute distress during feeding procedures and chronic suffering from the physiological effects of pathological liver enlargement. Providing water troughs deep enough for head immersion is one of the most cost-effective welfare improvements available to duck producers.