Color Change or Glow Maybe? I'm stumped.

[tyharp]

So I got this female about a year ago now and in November started pairing her with one of my males. She's a black pastel het pied. At the start of April she seemed a little lighter in color and I figured she was going to shed. Well she shed did a few weeks ago and now looks even lighter than before! I'm not super experienced with BP's so I was guessing this was the glow before they lay thing. However, she just took a FT rat I offered her a few days ago. I'm stumped. I figured all the experienced breeders could give some insight.

Any ideas on what is going on?



This is her in October (darker) vs. today (lighter). The pictures show pretty accurately the color change I'm seeing in person.

[Hannahshissyfix]

I go a lot more based on if they go off food for a while and are continuing to build then of course ovulation is obvious. I try not to get my hopes up on other minor signs before ovulation since there's still always the chance of reasoning but just keep offering food and if she continues to eat I'd say she's not quite ready yet. I think very few continue to eat up until laying.

[rlditmars]

That looks like glowing. Especially the blushed out head. The saying is "They glow before they go" which is to say that they really brighten up until they ovulate. Once they ovulate they will pretty rapidly return to a more normal color and should be hugging the warm side of the enclosure. Is she still hanging on the cool side, bowl wrapping?. Some will still eat right up to egg laying, but as Hannahlou said, many go off feed before they ovulate. It looks promising. Best of luck.

[tyharp]

She is on the cool side often but no bowl wrapping. Thanks for the replies!

So I should expect her to change back to her normal color and then she would ovulate?