When do I separate the ducklings and mum?

[Dvt1975]

Hi everyone.
My Muscovy female has been a very attentive and aggressively protective mummy to her three babies.
The duckings are 9 weeks old now. She’s not hovering around them as much as she was and seems to be spending a bit more time with Bob the male muscovey (daddy).

At night I have been keeping them separate: Bob is in the duck shed. Pip and her babies are in a smaller shed.
My question is- when should I put her back in with Bob and leave the babies together on their own? I’m worried she’s fed up with them (they’re almost as big as she is now!!) and might not want to be shut away with her babies at night.

All advice very much appreciated.
Pictures just to show the lovely babies

 

[Isadora]

Is there a reason to separate other than you're afraid she'll be fed up with them? If yes, I wouldn't worry about that too much.
They're old enough to be separated so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd give her a choice she can go with Bob or her ducklings. At 9 weeks they are def old enough to be on their own.

 

[Dvt1975]

I separated them all to stay with because Bob was pecking the duckings. Outside they can run away but I thought in the shed - there is no space to escape xx

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nope not the ducklings just give mom the choice to go with Bob or stay with her ducklings.

 

[Dvt1975]

Thank you I for all your replies xx
Well tonight the duckings took themselves off to bed and she stayed out with Bob.
So I popped them in the shed together.
Good idea about giving her a choice
Now I’ve just got to figure out which are males and which are females

 

[ruthhope]

Thank you I for all your replies xx
Well tonight the duckings took themselves off to bed and she stayed out with Bob.
So I popped them in the shed together.
Good idea about giving her a choice
Now I’ve just got to figure out which are males and which are females

At 9 weeks, the males are obviously bigger than females. The girls should be starting to be chatty with bubbly little voices. The males don't chat. If your three are the same size as their mother, you might have females; if any are larger than their mother at 9 weeks, they are likely to be males. This will be certain by 11 or 12 weeks.