Duck egg production involves welfare considerations distinct from chicken egg production, with water access, housing design, and breed welfare needs requiring specific attention.
Ducks in egg production systems without water access develop eye infections and respiratory problems from inability to clean themselves, and their feathers lose waterproofing function without immersion bathing. These welfare harms are predictable and preventable. The same welfare principles that have driven laying hen housing reform apply to duck production - space, behavioral freedom, access to materials that enable natural behavior, and social housing appropriate to species needs. The smaller scale of duck egg production relative to chicken production creates an opportunity to implement higher welfare standards at lower total cost.