Environment
RSPCA welfare standards
for domestic/common ducks
20 February 2015
* indicates an amendment
E 6.3 Averaged over an 8 hour period:
a) dust must not exceed 10mg/m³
b) carbon monoxide must not exceed 50ppm.
*
Air quality parameters should be maintained under all foreseeable climatic conditions, below the
following levels at bird head height:
Ammonia 11ppm
Carbon dioxide 5000ppm
Relative humidity 50 to 70%
Air quality parameters, i.e. ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide etc., should be measured
and recorded on a daily basis. Where possible, these levels should be automatically recorded.
E 6.4 Where automatic recording of air quality parameters is not possible, producers must monitor and record air
quality on a daily basis.
E 6.5 Ducks must have access to a thermally comfortable environment at all times so that heat/cold stress does
not occur.
The number, size and capacity of the fans are an important consideration when determining
ventilation rate. A minimum ventilation rate of 1.6 x 10-4m
3/s per kg0.75
liveweight is recommended.
The maximum ventilation capacity should be sufficient to limit a maximum temperature lift to 3°C.
E 6.6 Daily measurements of the maximum and minimum temperatures must be recorded:
a) from the centre of the shed and at either end,
b) at bird height.
E 6.7 Stock-keepers must:
a) have access to a copy of the Defra booklet Heat Stress in Poultry - Solving the Problem
(PB 10543, 2005)
b) be familiar with its content
c) adopt its recommendations.
Environmental enrichment
*
As ducks are waterfowl they require access to open water sources that enable them to fulfil key
elements of their complex water-related preening behaviours. Producers are therefore required
to provide open water facilities that enable ducks to have full body access to water, as specified
within the section on Water.