The animal owner or carer must check, at least once a day (twice a day is recommended), by direct visual inspection^, that the animals are in good health and that the technical equipment is in working order2^{, 4}.

In order to develop a positive relationship between humans and animals, contact with the animal must take place frequently and in a calm manner, right from the first days of life.

When carrying out any work in the shed, the ducks must be handled calmly to prevent them from being startled when approached and to avoid causing unnecessary agitation within the flock:

• Avoid abrupt, hasty movements
• No prolonged or sudden loud noises
• No sudden, intense light

The ducks should be gently accustomed to the regular performance of certain tasks.

• The herding of the ducks must always be carried out calmly and slowly. Any obstacles that could injure the ducks should be removed beforehand.
• The smaller the group and the calmer the herding process, the less agitated the ducks will be and the lower the risk of them trampling over one another and causing scratch wounds, which could lead to the carcasses being rejected at slaughter.

Before entering the shed, the ducks should be ‘warned’ by knocking on the door or speaking to them. The ducks can be accustomed to your own voice.

No hasty attempts to catch individual ducks should be made within the flock. If individual birds need to be removed from the flock (e.g. for weighing), this should be done from a small group that has previously been separated from the flock using herding boards. It should be noted, however, that the birds do not like being herded and will then run ‘poorly’. In such situations, they may also ‘play dead’ or display defensive behaviour similar to that used to ward off predators. This is particularly important to bear in mind given current husbandry practices, which do not involve beak or claw trimming, due to the increased risk of injury to both humans and animals³.

Ducks must not be caught or lifted by their legs or a wing, in order to avoid injury, particularly to their feet.

To examine individual birds or when a bird needs to be carried, the duck is lifted in an upright position using both hands. To carry the bird, place one hand under its body and the other around its body to keep the wings close to the body. Alternatively, both hands can be placed around the body, thereby securing both wings at the same time.

Injured, sick or suffering animals, whose continued presence in the flock would cause avoidable suffering, must be immediately separated from the flock for treatment in a isolation pen (ensure unrestricted access to water and feed!) or humanely killed (see Chapter 7 – Humane Killing). Dead ducks must be removed from the shed immediately and stored in carcass containers in an appropriate manner and as cool as possible, and disposed of properly.

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