The welfare of farmed ducks: provision of bathing water | Bienestar en patos comerciales: la provisión de agua de baño
2011
Liste, G., Cambridge Univ. (United Kingdom). Dept. of Veterinary Medicine | Kirkden, R.D., Cambridge Univ. (United Kingdom). Dept. of Veterinary Medicine | Broom, D.M., Cambridge Univ. (United Kingdom). Dept. of Veterinary Medicine
Access to open water is considered good for the health and welfare of Pekin ducks. These studies investigated: 1.- the effect of water resource type (nipple drinker, narrow bell drinker, wide bell drinker, trough or pool) on duck health and behavior; 2.- the preference shown by ducks between pools of different depths (10cm, 20cm or 30cm) and whether the behaviours performed differed between these depths. Stage 1.- There was a significant effect of treatment on hygiene scores and nostril condition, with baths and troughs being better than the other resources. Overall, there was no effect of treatment on eye health score, gait or foot pad dermatitis. Significantly fewer ducks were resting inactive by the baths and troughs, and the % of ducks performing bathing behaviours was higher in those resources. Stage 2.- None of the factors analyzed had a significant effect on pool preference. Provision of open water seems to improve some aspects of duck health and welfare, and ducks were neither more attracted to, nor more averse to, deeper water. However, further work is needed to investigate open water resources such as pools or troughs at a commercial scale.
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