Why are they doing this? What do I do?

[Birdmom2020]

A little bit of info first---

So here in NC it's starting to (finally) hit the upper 80s and 90s. I have 3 RIR hens a buff roo and 2 pekin ducks together in my coop and run. The coop is 5x6 and the run is about 30 square for now. They're 12 weeks and it gets moved once a week. I have a 1 gal waterer and also have a shoebox tote and a 3 gallon tub for water for them bc my ducks are constantly jumping in the tubs. They are getting a pool this weekend since temps are staying steady now.

Now here's the problem---
These ducks are hoarding all sources of water. Any time my chickens are headed toward the water at any of the 3 different waterers the ducks chase them off with their mouths open. If one of the birds sneak over then the ducks come running and kind of peck ( I know not really the right term for ducks) at the chickens until they're done drinking and chase them away again.

What can I do? I thought having the 2 tubs for the ducks and the actual waterer for the chickens was going to be okay but they guard all of them! Should I just add more waterer things to keep the ducks kind of outnumbered so they can't rush the chickens at every spot they drink at? Or will my ducks learn to share eventually and just let them be? Any answers are greatly appreciated. I don't want my chickens getting over heated or dehydrated in this heat! Thanks in advance!

 

[Mrs. K]

Birds do not understand the concept of sharing. They see all resources as the only possibility of staying alive, and that they should get as much as possible.

The best is to have visual block, where water is behind it, and a bird drinking at that water cannot be seen from any other bird in the run. Cardboard can work, a piece a plywood, a tote box laid on the side, with the water inside it.

Mrs K

 

[Pghelp]

A little bit of info first---

So here in NC it's starting to (finally) hit the upper 80s and 90s. I have 3 RIR hens a buff roo and 2 pekin ducks together in my coop and run. The coop is 5x6 and the run is about 30 square for now. They're 12 weeks and it gets moved once a week. I have a 1 gal waterer and also have a shoebox tote and a 3 gallon tub for water for them bc my ducks are constantly jumping in the tubs. They are getting a pool this weekend since temps are staying steady now.

Now here's the problem---
These ducks are hoarding all sources of water. Any time my chickens are headed toward the water at any of the 3 different waterers the ducks chase them off with their mouths open. If one of the birds sneak over then the ducks come running and kind of peck ( I know not really the right term for ducks) at the chickens until they're done drinking and chase them away again.

What can I do? I thought having the 2 tubs for the ducks and the actual waterer for the chickens was going to be okay but they guard all of them! Should I just add more waterer things to keep the ducks kind of outnumbered so they can't rush the chickens at every spot they drink at? Or will my ducks learn to share eventually and just let them be? Any answers are greatly appreciated. I don't want my chickens getting over heated or dehydrated in this heat! Thanks in advance!

Our daughter just successfully introduced water bottles with nipples for drinking. It might take your hens a bit to learn to use them, but I'm wondering if the ducks wouldn't threaten them over the bottles since it isn't a visual source of water to paddle in. Might be worth a try.