Do Adoptive Mama Ducks stay attached forever?

[melissap]

We had 2 muscovies sitting on empty nests so we stuck a few khaki eggs under them and each one hatched out three. When one mama went to take a bath somehow her 3 ducklings got attached to the other mama and now she is sitting with all 6 under her. The first mama came back looking for them and I felt bad so I stuck 2 eggs in her nest and she started sitting on them.
Does the second mama know/think all 6 are hers? When will she "let them go"? I feel terrible taking them from her but is that OK to do and at what point? We really don't want to keep all 6 khakis. And can she count?? What if I took 3?
Thanks!

 

[Amiga]

I think they do notice, and grieve for a while, and move on. But that is based on what I have heard from others. Hope they will weigh in here.

 

[larkflying]

She would be mad if you took 3, but I think she would adjust. My duck lost two of her ducklings, and was sad for an hour, but seemed to adjust to having only one then.