Don't know about all breeds, but I can tell you about what I've had...
probably depends on where you live, temperature and lenght of daylight in the winter, quality of feed, as well as breed. most of the breeds I've had start laying around 4 months, but I don't know if that matches everyone's experience.
In high desert (cold winters) So Cal, I've had rouens and khakis that lay until late fall/early winter, then start up again in late march or early april. I've had Golden 300s (an egg-laying breed) that lay pretty much year round, but just don't lay as frequently in November-February... 7 eggs a week the rest of the year and perhaps 1-3/week in the winter. I've had cayugas that lay april-august. I've had mallards that start in march and lay untill they brood, or until july if you don't let them set.
in general, they don't lay while they're molting, but resume when they're done. I've had some that lay as reliably after the first moult as before, and some that don't. sometimes when it's really hot mid summer/august, production drops off a bit.
If you're looking for layers, the golden 300s have been the most prolific for me, and the rouens have done well, and I've been told harlequin are also great layers.
whatever breed you get, I think duck eggs are *the* best for eating... can't say exactly how they're different from chicken eggs, just that I always think, MAN these eggs are good!
