Welfare science of foot and leg health in farmed ducks, examining the impact of housing substrate on foot pad dermatitis, lameness rates, and water access on musculoskeletal welfare.
Duck foot welfare provides a concrete illustration of how housing design choices create or prevent chronic pain in farmed animals. Ducks evolved with webbed feet adapted for water surfaces — when housed on dry concrete or wet contaminated litter, foot pad dermatitis develops rapidly and causes chronic pain that impairs locomotion and feeding. The solution is straightforward: appropriate substrate, adequate drainage, and water access for bathing that maintains foot health naturally. Yet commercial duck production globally largely fails to provide these basic welfare requirements. The result is an industry where chronic foot pain is the norm rather than the exception. Higher welfare certification standards that specifically address foot welfare through substrate and water access requirements provide the market mechanism for improvement.