Farmed Duck Slaughter Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Slaughter welfare for farmed ducks involves specific challenges related to their anatomy and behaviour that differ from chicken and turkey systems.

Key Facts

Approximately 15 million ducks are slaughtered annually in the UK
Ducks have longer necks and heavier plumage than chickens, affecting electrical stunning efficacy
Water-bath electrical stunning systems designed for chickens may not reliably stun ducks
Ducks have naturally higher seizure thresholds due to their diving physiology
Controlled atmosphere stunning systems can achieve more reliable unconsciousness in ducks
Pre-slaughter shackling of conscious ducks causes distress through inversion and restraint
Duck anatomy means electrical stunning parameters must be specifically validated for the species
The British Poultry Council has developed duck-specific stunning guidance

Welfare Considerations

Duck slaughter welfare is complicated by their physiological differences from the chickens for whom most stunning systems were designed. Inadequate stunning from inappropriately parameterised water-bath systems means ducks may regain consciousness before killing. The welfare consequences of failed stunning in a slaughter context are severe. Species-specific validation of stunning parameters and monitoring of stun effectiveness are welfare requirements, not optional enhancements. Controlled atmosphere systems avoid some of the species-specific challenges of electrical stunning.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes that require validated species-specific stunning for all poultry
Advocate for mandatory monitoring of stunning effectiveness in duck slaughter
Choose duck products from farms with higher welfare certification
Support research into optimal controlled atmosphere stunning for duck welfare
Contact retailers about their duck slaughter welfare requirements from suppliers