Intensive duck farming raises welfare concerns around water access, housing conditions and breed selection for birds that evolved as wetland species with strong behavioural needs.
Farmed duck welfare is compromised by the fundamental mismatch between the intensive housing systems used for commercial production and the ecological adaptations of ducks as semi-aquatic birds. The motivation for water immersion and bathing is strong in ducks - they show displacement behaviours like air-head-dipping when bathing water is unavailable. Without water for eye cleaning, eye problems are common. The welfare gap between legal minimum standards that require only drinking water and the behavioural needs of ducks is substantial. Consumer awareness of this gap and purchasing decisions favouring higher welfare duck products can drive market improvement.