Print Farmed meat ducks

Farmed meat ducks

We're working in a number of different ways to try to improve the conditions in which all farmed ducks are reared, transported and slaughtered.

The behaviour of ducks

Farmed ducks have maintained many of the biological characteristics of their wild ancestors, including:

Ducks are waterfowl and, under natural conditions, spend a large amount of time in and around water.
They spend a lot of time performing complex preening behaviours to clean their feathers and to re-distribute oil onto them from a gland above their tail. This keeps them waterproof and helps to control their body temperature.

As well as the information on these pages, we've also produced:

If you're concerned about the welfare of farmed ducks then find out how you can help.

How you can help to improve the lives of ducks farmed for meat.

Information about caring for pet ducks and geese.

Information about how ducks are typically farmed for meat.