This is my first time with Mama's and ducklings. When I hatch them, I do the same as you said. It is a lot less work and mess this way. Maybe I will just try letting them out into a larger area away from the other birds for a while. I did try introducing the Mama's and babies - total failure...
I have 2 Mama gray calls that have 3 ducklings each - just over a week old. They hatched more but we sold the majority of the ducklings and saved a few for them to mother.
They are currently housed in separate pens with plenty of room, but the Mama's are becoming very restless, wanting to...