Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Duck Water Access and Welfare Standards

Ducks are waterfowl with a strong biological need to access open water, and the denial of this in most commercial systems causes significant welfare compromise.

Key Facts

Most commercial ducks in the UK are housed without access to open water
Ducks spend up to 30% of waking hours in water-related behaviour in natural conditions
Even simple water troughs significantly improve duck welfare compared to none
Forage behaviour, preening, and social behaviour all require water
Legislation requiring meaningful water access for ducks exists only in a few countries

Welfare Considerations

Ducks denied open water experience a profound frustration of their biological drives. The inability to preen properly, forage in water, and engage in normal social behaviours causes ongoing welfare deprivation in virtually all commercial duck farming. Provision of even minimal water access is one of the highest-impact welfare improvements available in this sector.

What You Can Do

Choose duck products from welfare-certified farms providing water access
Advocate for legislation requiring open water access for farmed ducks
Support campaigns to improve duck welfare standards in your country