Migratory ducks, breeding, to incubate or not?

This year I'm going to try something new I'm going to let the mama lay a clutch and then incubate them for about a week or two then put them under broody chickens. I wouldn't recommend using an incubator to hatch the eggs because they are so hard to hatch. Last year I checked my boxes every day and took one egg and left one and it didn't effect them but I didn't get as many eggs this way.

Since this is your first year with them. I would say definitely dont incubate. Enjoy and learn all about your birds and all their habits first. Good Luck!

I would definatly let them set on them. incubating them is very difficult and they do a much better job with it.

We check our boxes twice a week.. Wednesday and Saturday or Sunday.  Once an egg is laid in a box we watch that box to make sure a hen keeps laying ing there and if she goes 3-4days without laying another egg we take it out and either put it under another broody hen or a cochin/silkie chicken. If she keeps laying an egg a day or every other day we leave it alone and let them htach them. Once they go broody and pull their feathers we leave them totally alone and may peak to see if they are still there once a week. Once it gets down to the last few days we check the box on a regualr basis. Our avairy is big so chasing down ducklings it not any fun. I would much rather get them straight out of the box. I hope that helps.

Just a side note: You do know that unless you bought breeders birds only the wood ducks, northern pintails and bahama pintails will lay. The others don't lay until they are at least 2 years old and the canvasbacks are very hard to get to breed. I have three pairs that are all at least 3 years old and no babies at all this year and they have paired up. Water is surface is key with any kind of diver.

Best of Luck!