New requirements for duck producers and breeders

Layer and breeder ducks must be provided nest areas that they can access from point of lay. If there is a single nest area, there must be enough space for the duck to:

• enter
• sit
• turnaround
• exit.

Ducks must have access to substrate (such as litter). Producers with ducks in free-range systems already meet this requirement.

Reasonable actions must be taken to keep substrate dry and away from water sources. These can include:

• fixing water leaks if they occur
• replacing litter when it becomes damp.

Substrate is a loose or friable material suitable for pecking, foraging and scratching. For example, it can include:

• feed pellets
• organic litter materials, such as wood shavings, rice hulls, chopped straw or sawdust
• grass, soil or dirt on an outdoor range (such as in a free-range system).

By early 2026

• Ducks must have access to water facilities to preen and clean their eyes and nostrils.
• Any new infrastructure for breeder ducks must have facilities to allow ducks to dip their heads or shower. This excludes existing infrastructure, which will be required by 2032.

Note: “existing” refers to infrastructure in place before Victoria’s regulations begin in early 2026.

By 2032

All infrastructure for breeder ducks must have facilities to allow ducks to dip their heads or shower.

Ducks must not be exposed to continuous light or darkness for any 24-hour period. This is except for ducklings raised under heat lamps or in brooders.

Ducks must be provided a minimum of 6 hours of darkness for any 24-hour period. This includes an uninterrupted period of darkness of at least 4 hours except:

• for ducklings up to 1 week of age (see requirement for ducklings below)
• for ducks up to 16 weeks of age intended as layers or breeders
• to prevent huddling or clumping during very hot weather
• on the day of pickup (the day layer ducks are removed at the end of their production cycle)
• during a disease outbreak under veterinary supervision.

Ducklings up to 1 week old must have a minimum of 1 hour of continuous darkness for any 24-hour period. This is except when raised under heat lamps or in brooders.

Sheds must have a light intensity of at least 10 lux at bird level during light periods. This is except under veterinary supervision to control an outbreak of pecking or cannibalism.

Note: light intensity during light periods for ducklings for the first 3 days after hatching must be at least 20 lux at bird level. This is a current recommendation², which will be mandatory (legally required) in Victoria.

Space allowances

Ducks must have enough space to:

• stand
• turnaround
• flap their wings
• all sit at the same time.

Maximum stocking densities must not exceed those shown in the table below for bird type and housing system:

Ducks (except breeders over 8 weeks)

Breeders

Note: lighter stocking densities are necessary for heavier breeds, such as muscovies.

These are current recommendations² for space allowances, which will be mandatory (legally required) in Victoria.

Ventilation

For ducks housed in sheds, ammonia levels must be monitored and recorded. Corrective action must be taken if levels exceed 15 ppm at bird level.

Actions to reduce ammonia levels can include:

• ensuring ventilation is operating effectively
• keeping litter dry
• reducing stocking densities.

Records for welfare purposes can be in any format (written or digital). They must be kept for a minimum of 2 years.

Mechanically ventilated sheds must:

• be fitted with a backup power supply, tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations

• have an automatic alarm system that immediately warns of ventilation failure.

Corrective action must be taken if there are ventilation faults.

These changes apply to ducks that can access outdoor range areas. This includes outdoor areas that are external to fixed or mobile sheds.

Reasonable action must be taken to minimise access to poultry feed and drinking water by wild birds. This helps prevent the spread of diseases.

Ducks with access to an outdoor area must be encouraged to use it by being provided with:

• a reasonable number and size of access points
• access to appropriately located shade
• shelter from predators
• opportunities for ducks to forage.

Note: ducks must be adequately feathered before going outdoors.

Bill trimming

• Bill trimming on ducks should only be done if advised by a veterinarian. This is a current recommendation², which will be mandatory (legally required) in Victoria.

Removing feathers

• Induced moulting (artificially forcing ducks to moult) must not be practiced. This is unless approved by a relevant Government minister or their delegate.
• Poultry must not be plucked. This is except to remove a small area of feathers for a medical or surgical procedure.

Administering pain relief

If it is permitted and necessary to carry out a painful procedure on ducks, appropriate pain relief must be administered. This is where a suitable product is registered and available.

Painful procedures can include:

• pinioning (removing a join from the wing)
• bill trimming.

Lifting ducks

Ducks must not be lifted or carried by the:

• head
• legs
• wings
• feathers
• tail.

If it is necessary to lift a duck, their chest (breast area) must also be supported. This is to protect ducks from injury or stress when being lifted.

This is a current recommendation², which will be mandatory (legally required) in Victoria.

Caring for ducklings

Incubators must be monitored during hatching. Hatchlings that are found outside the trays must be returned to the tray or placed in brooders as soon as possible.

Inspecting ducks

Ducks must be inspected at least once a day. This should be done with the level and frequency of checks suited to the:

• production system
• the ducks' age
• the environment
• any welfare risks.

Planning for emergencies

A written contingency plan must be developed. This is to minimise the impact of adverse events on poultry welfare in any type of production system.

Adverse events relate to extreme weather, natural disasters, disease, injury and predation. They can include:

• electrical power or systems failure
• breakdown or mechanical failure affecting feed, water or ventilation
• adverse weather that predisposes poultry to heat or cold stress
• fire and flood
• insufficient supply of feed or water
• disease outbreak or injury
• emergency killing and disposal
• other issues specific to the enterprise or poultry being managed.

Where it is necessary to euthanise ducks, a person must:

• have the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to be able to humanely kill ducks or be under the direct supervision of someone who does. This is unless the poultry are suffering and need to be killed to prevent undue suffering or there is an unreasonable delay until direct supervision is available.
• take reasonable action to confirm the duck is dead
• not use equipment that crushes a duck’s neck
• not spin a duck by their head to cause cervical dislocation.

Note: the humane killing of poultry is necessary if a bird is suffering from severe distress, disease or injury that cannot be reasonably treated, or there is no prospect of recovery. Killing poultry should be done promptly, safely and humanely.

Requirements until early 2026

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986¹ sets out the mandatory (legal) requirements for all poultry species.

Recommendations until early 2026

The Victorian Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry² set out the recommended practices.

Requirements from early 2026

New poultry welfare regulations will come into effect and introduce new mandatory (legal) welfare requirements for keeping and housing ducks.

Recommendations from early 2026

The guidelines set out in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Poultry will provide the recommended practices.

The Victorian Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry will no longer.

Note: many of the current recommendations will now become mandatory (legal) requirements under the new regulations.