Collecting duck eggs for incubation

[jlbiggs]

Last year we collected almost 40 eggs from my snowy mallard, but after many days worth of hunting for her nest since she continued to move it. Any tricks on collecting eggs without making her leave and keeping her laying for the longest possible amount. From what I understand if you take a an egg away everyday so she never gets a full clutch she will continue to lay until she does, is this true?

 

[jlbiggs]

 

[WalnutHill]

swap golf balls for eggs. I did this to a very persistent wild mallard who insisted on flushing like a quail at visitors. She sat for about 7 weeks, then left. She didn't know the difference between a golf ball and an egg.

 

[jlbiggs]

I was thinking the same, but I instead tried some fertile chicken eggs, that were even similar color and she pushed it out of the nest!!