Since I don't fiddle with Mother nature I can't help ya there. I do know it is very imporatant that they get those breaks from egg laying to replenish their bodies.
Sometimes after they have been laying for a while I notice the eggs are a little smaller, then they will take a break and rest their bodies then start back up with normal size. My ducks molt in the fall and usually stop laying during that time. So if your in Australia then your ducks maybe...