Duck egg production is growing as an alternative to hen eggs - welfare standards need to develop alongside the industry to prevent replication of intensive hen farming failures.
Duck egg production sits at an inflection point - small enough that welfare standards can be built into the industry's foundations, before intensive expansion replicates laying hen welfare failures. The key welfare requirement - meaningful water access for bathing - is achievable but requires producer investment. Consumer preference for free-range and welfare-assured eggs should drive duck egg producers toward higher standards. Regulatory bodies should develop species-specific duck egg production codes that address water access as a minimum requirement.