Approximately 3 billion ducks are produced for meat annually, with commercial production concentrated in China and Southeast Asia. Ducks are highly aquatic by nature yet most commercial production systems provide no open water access — a fundamental welfare compromise.
Ducks confined without water access show frustrated nasal-dipping in dry feeders, eye discharge from inadequate nasal flushing, and stereotypic bill-sweeping that cannot be fulfilled. Their preening behaviour requires water immersion to maintain feather quality for thermal insulation. Studies consistently show that when given a choice, ducks spend significant time in open water even in cold conditions. Commercial provision of drinking nipples rather than open troughs denies this fundamental need. Welfare improvements — providing bath-depth water troughs allowing head immersion and bill-dipping — are low-cost but systematically resisted by producers citing litter quality concerns.