Demand Water for Ducks

Duck Facts

Ducks are very curious and inquisitive animals. In a natural environment, they enjoy bathing, preening their feathers, and foraging. Under normal circumstances, they are expected to live for up to 12 years.

In Australia, over 8 million ducks are slaughtered at just 6 to 7 weeks old.

Life on a farm is miserable for the animals involved. Despite being an aquatic bird, ducks on Australian farms will never see nor feel water as nature had intended them to. Almost all duck farms are intensive, meaning they are kept inside crammed sheds and only given water from nipple drinkers. Despite water being necessary for their health and wellbeing, these ducks will never be able to swim or preen themselves.

Ducks have weaker joints and legs than other birds, as they are designed to spend a large portion of their day floating - alleviating the weight on their legs. The lack of water coupled with the rapid growth rates (caused by years of selective breeding), results in ducks suffering from lameness, dislocated joints, broken bones, splay legs, breast blisters, loss of their centre of gravity, bumblefoot, pus-filled cuts and abrasions, skin damage from high ammonia concentrations, crusty eye, and high levels of stress.

You can learn more about the industry here.