Ducks have evolved as aquatic birds with strong motivations to bathe, preen in water, and submerge their bills, making water access in farmed duck welfare a critical issue that current regulations often fail to address.
Duck welfare in commercial production is fundamentally compromised when water access is restricted to drinking only. As aquatic birds, ducks have strong and persistent motivations to immerse their bills, splash water over their plumage, and where possible swim. These are not luxury behaviours but essential activities for feather maintenance and eye health. Farmed ducks without adequate water access develop feather soiling and discolouration, eye discharge and ulceration, and show repeated stereotypic water-seeking movements. Providing sufficient water for bathing - troughs, channels, or ponds depending on system - dramatically improves these welfare outcomes. The welfare cost of water provision is one of the most cost-effective welfare investments in duck production.