Undercover Duck Farm Video Doesn’t Sway Authorities

An animal rights group that infiltrated one of California’s largest duck farms and shot undercover video of dead and dying birds is alleging widespread abuse at the Sonoma County plant. A team of animal experts, veterinarians and county sheriff’s deputies visited Reichardt Duck Farm west of Petaluma on Thursday and concluded that the ranch, which houses more than 200,000 ducks, appeared to be in compliance with industry standards. Video released Friday by Los Angeles-based Mercy for Animals seeks to portray otherwise, showing graphic images of ducklings getting their beaks burned, living in tightly packed cages with no access to water, and getting their necks snapped when they are sick or unhealthy. A member of the group shot the video after securing a job at the farm as a barn cleaner and spending a month there secretly documenting treatment of the ducklings, according to the organization.