Environmental enrichment in duck farming beyond basic water access is improving welfare outcomes and behavioral diversity in certified higher-welfare systems.
Duck welfare in commercial farming extends well beyond the foundational issue of water access. Ducks in enriched systems that also provide foraging opportunities, environmental complexity, and adequate space show behavioral repertoires far richer than those in barren systems even with water access. Behavioral diversity is both a welfare indicator and a welfare outcome - ducks that can forage, explore, and express social behaviors have welfare states that reflect meaningful lives rather than mere survival. The most welfare-positive duck systems combine water access with outdoor ranging and environmental enrichment that meets the full spectrum of duck behavioral needs.