Duck egg production is expanding globally, but ducks have strong behavioral needs — including water access and foraging — that conventional production systems frequently fail to meet.
Duck egg production systems often fail to meet the most fundamental behavioral needs of ducks as waterfowl. Water access — for bathing, preening, and dabbling — is not merely a preference but a biological necessity for feather maintenance and ocular health. Ducks denied water access for bathing show measurable signs of frustration and physical deterioration. While open water systems present management challenges (mud, water waste, biosecurity), these are solvable with appropriate infrastructure. Welfare-certified duck egg systems in Europe demonstrate that open water access is achievable at commercial scale. Consumer demand for higher-welfare duck eggs, and retailer sourcing standards, can drive broader adoption of these practices.