Billions of ducks are farmed globally under conditions that frequently deny access to open water, a critical welfare requirement for this species.
Ducks kept without access to open water display persistent, frustrated water-seeking behaviors and show elevated stress hormone levels. Without water deep enough to submerge their heads, ducks cannot clean their eyes and nostrils, leading to eye irritation and respiratory problems. The denial of aquatic behavior represents one of the most clear-cut welfare failures in modern animal agriculture, as water access is both biologically essential and practically achievable at reasonable cost.