FACTS ABOUT WILD DUCKS

• Ducks, like all bird species, have air sacs throughout their bodies, which are little pockets of gas connected to their airways, allowing for optimal gas exchange and taking in more oxygen.
• These sacs also help with their buoyancy on water, which is also aided by their hollow bones and naturally-oiling feathers
• Parent ducks communicate with their babies whilst they are still inside the egg, before hatching. Siblings also talk to each other from their eggs, allowing for a coordinated hatch, which is an anti-predatory tactic
• Ducks have regional accents! Those living in cities also quack louder, with researchers believing that it is to compensate for the increased noises within built up areas
• Ducks are scrupulous when it comes to being clean. They regularly preen their feathers, removing dirt and parasites, as well as aiding oils down their feathers to help them stay waterproof

Duck farming today

‍When people think about intensive farming, they likely think of chickens or pigs.

Yet the vast majority of ducks farmed in the UK are housed in crowded, intensive conditions with no access to water they can bathe in. Whilst the amount of duck meat produced in 2020 decreased compared to each of the previous two years (which may be a result of the increase in vegetarian and vegan diets), it still represents a considerable number of animals. 11 million ducks and geese were killed in 2020.

Lifespan

‍A wild mallard, from which the white pekin duck and other domesticated breeds descend, naturally lives between five - 10 years. On farms, ducks are killed from just six weeks of age (between 42-56 days old).

Inside the duck shed

By law, ducks can be reared in sheds with no windows.

Bathing water is not a necessity; beaks can be trimmed. They don’t have to be provided with bedding, and a metal ball bearing-type water drinker can be used. The majority of commercial meat ducks reared in the UK are reared in indoor systems. Disturbingly, as many as 10,000 birds are confined to live together in a single shed. This means that around four ducks are packed into every square metre.

Welfare issues

Ducks are physiologically and emotionally primed to spend a significant portion of their time in water.

They conduct a range of water enabled behaviours such as wet preening, wing rubbing and feather shaking. Not providing adequate bathing and preening for waterfowl who depend on it for their well-being is extremely cruel and frustrating for the birds.

Being able to immerse themselves in water helps ducks to keep their eyes, nostrils and feathers clean. Without this, their eyes may crust over and their feathers can deteriorate, which can lead to blindness and the loss of body heat.

Ducks can become bored and frustrated in the shed, resulting in their engaging in abnormal behaviours such as feather pecking. They suffer foot and leg health issues (their legs have adapted for both walking and swimming activities), which are exaggerated by inappropriate flooring, poor ventilation, temperature control and litter management. Animal Justice Project has filmed ducks ‘back peddling’ - lying on their backs, frantically trying to right themselves. They simply aren’t primed for life entirely out of water.

There is sufficient evidence to justify that ducks should be provided not just head-only access to water, but full-body access to water.

‍In addition to this, ducks have their welfare compromised during handling, transportation and slaughter. Ducks are live shackled in the UK, which can cause pain, suffering, fear and distress due to the abnormal position of being shackled upside down. Animal Justice Project is the only NGO in the UK to have placed cameras inside a duck slaughterhouse.

Find out more about our Down with Duck Farming campaign and take action -