Duck welfare in commercial meat production requires addressing both aquatic behavior deprivation and spatial needs, with higher welfare systems providing meaningful improvements.
Intensive duck production compresses highly motivated aquatic birds into extreme densities without their most-needed resource. The combination of spatial restriction and water deprivation creates a dual welfare failure unique to waterfowl production. Higher welfare systems that provide outdoor access, more space, and meaningful water contact address both deficiencies simultaneously. Consumer choice for higher welfare duck products directly enables farmers who invest in these systems to remain commercially viable.