Ducks have evolved as aquatic birds with strong motivation to access water for bathing and foraging, and commercial duck farming systems that deny water access cause significant behavioral frustration and welfare harm.
Duck welfare in commercial production systems is significantly compromised by the widespread denial of water access beyond minimal drinking requirements. Ducks have a powerful, evolved motivation to access open water for bathing, social behavior, and the bill-based foraging behaviors their anatomy is specialized for. When this motivation cannot be expressed, the resulting frustration manifests as stereotypic behavior and physiological stress. Research consistently shows that providing even simple water troughs enables more natural behavior, improves feather condition, and reduces abnormal behavior indicators. The welfare improvement from water provision is well-evidenced and relatively low-cost, making it a welfare intervention with a strong cost-benefit case for producers. Welfare-conscious duck farming that provides meaningful water access represents a significant improvement over dry housing systems.