Farm Animals

Farmed Duck Water Access Welfare

Ducks have strong innate motivation to access open water for bathing and swimming, which is denied in most commercial production systems.

Key Facts

Ducks perform preening, diving, and wing washing behaviors that require open water
Provision of only drinkers causes feather and skin condition problems
UK law requires ducks to have enough water to submerge their head
Commercial duck farming rarely provides swimming water despite evidence of its importance
Ducks deprived of bathing water show stereotypic head-dipping behaviors at drinkers

Welfare Considerations

Ducks denied open water access suffer from frustrated behavioral drives and poor feather and skin condition. Provision of even simple bathing containers substantially improves behavioral expression.

What You Can Do

Choose duck products from farms providing adequate water access for bathing
Support welfare schemes requiring duck water provision standards
Advocate for stronger enforcement of existing water access requirements in duck farming