Farm Animal Welfare

Farmed Duck Welfare: Water Access and Foot Health

Ducks are waterfowl with strong behavioural drives to access open water for bathing, drinking and feather maintenance. Deprivation causes welfare problems affecting feet, eyes and plumage.

Key Facts

Ducks deprived of open water access develop footpad dermatitis and eye problems
Provision of drinkers with head immersion opportunity partially meets water needs
Commercial duck production commonly denies full bathing access for biosecurity reasons
Higher welfare systems providing open water channels see improved welfare outcomes
Nipple drinkers insufficient for bill maintenance cause bill and feather condition problems

Welfare Considerations

Water access deprivation in farmed ducks denies a fundamental biological need and causes preventable suffering. Consumer demand for higher welfare duck is essential to drive system improvement.

What You Can Do

Choose duck welfare-certified products from farms with open water access
Advocate for minimum water access standards in duck welfare certification schemes
Support higher welfare duck production through purchasing decisions and retailer pressure