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When do you stop pairing?

jack2682

jack2682

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I typically follow the same timeline every year....

begin paring late Oct. early Nov.

I have four breeding females (all have locked with males)

Only one so far is showing sure signs of building towards ovulation...

The other three are hanging on the cool end and 2 just went off feed the last week or so...

At what point to do you stop pairing?? Its getting late in the year (based on my last 3 years of breeding).

I've palpated, but 2 of my 4 girls make it really difficult b/c they tend not to relax when handled.

Any input is appreciated.... thanks!!
 
I use the same seasonal rotation as you, and I look for at least six solid locks on each female. I have bred 12 this year, 4 have laid, 4 have ovulated, and four seem to be building towards ovulation with small follicles. They were all bred around the same time. There can be variation depending on the females, their environmental conditions, and their overall body condition. I have also had female resorb follicles in the past.
 
Thanks for the reply Shawn...

With the 4 females that haven't ovulated, have you stopped pairing? At what point do you accept defeat (re-absorption of follicles)?
 
I rotated my males till the end of march and my males had showed little to no interest, so I stopped. If I get a clutch in July or August its just a bonus. I am offering food again to get their weight up for next year.
 
I usually start pairing on January 1st, and stop around December 31st. The females will go at any time of year. I can't seem to get them to listen to me that they should lay eggs in the late winter/early spring so that I can follow the timeline of the wild. Instead, they seem like they're bull-headed, and think they need to decide to build, lock, and lay on their own time...

It's not "wrong" to pair them for a set season. I don't follow a season because I don't want to miss out on a clutch that might be laid in any month of the year, depending on when the female decides she's ready.

I have 3 females that are in the 15-23 mm follicle range (building stage). At the rate they are progressing, they should ovulate within the next 2-4 months, which puts lay date in the next 3-6 months (way out of the season of Ghana). I have a few other females that are in the 10-14 mm follicle range. Some of them may catch up and lay in the next 3-6 months. The others may not lay this year. Some may be 8 months from laying... I just watch follicle size, eating/building behavior, and pair the males with them when they're ready.
 
Thanks Clark,

I had always assumed that the presence of the male was key to the development of follicles...

How are you tracking follicle development? Simply palpating or ultrasound?
 
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