Like a duck to water
By law, ducks can be reared in sheds with no windows, no bedding, and be given nothing more than a metal ball bearing-type water drinker (pictured) - similar to that given to pet hamsters.
Some ducks in the UK are reared to the duck industry’s own Duck Assurance scheme standards, but this scheme does not require ducks to have natural daylight or bathing water that allows full body access.
RSPCA standards for ducks
RSPCA welfare standards for farmed ducks have been developed to ensure they cover the whole of the animal’s life - right from hatching. Along with many other requirements, the standards specify that ducks must have access to bathing water, that allows full body access so ducks can carry out their important water-related behaviours such as preening.
Comparison of key welfare requirements
Download our Duck standards comparison chart comparing key welfare requirements for indoor-farmed meat ducks (PDF 111KB).
Some are claiming that the Duck Assurance Scheme standards insist that ducks are provided with 'bathing' water. However, in reality, the standards only insist that ducks must be able to dip their heads in water – not their bodies - and state that wide channel bell drinkers (pictured below) are suitable for ducks to bathe. This is like is like going to a hotel which has promised you can have a bath, but only provides you with a handbasin.
Water goes here
Duck are water birds
Ducks are waterfowl and, under natural conditions, spend a large amount of time in and around water to, for example, feed, bathe and perform complex preening behaviours to clean their feathers and to re-distribute oil onto them from a gland above their tail.
Dr Marc Cooper, RSPCA duck welfare expert said:
Bathing water is good for ducks health - it helps keep their eyes, nostrils and feathers clean. And in the same way that pigs like to root and chickens like to dust bathe, ducks like to have bathing water so they can do all the things ducks naturally do.
You can download and read a full copy of RSPCA welfare standards for domestic/common ducks (PDF: 949KB)
