Breeding limit/over breeding males
Can anyone here provide any incite on what to look out for when its best to discontinuing breeding males? I know many folks have over bred males to the point of them dying. We all know they go off feed during the season and naturally they burn off weight during the breeding season. So how do we know when its best to finish the season before the males are driven too far?
Thanks
Xavier
Re: Breeding limit/over breeding males
I've never over-breed, and I tend to pull males early, or at least before more breeders.
If the male stops eating (not all stop), is when I start looking for signs of when to pull them for the season. If a male loses weight, enough that I visibly see a little bit of sagging, I pull them and they're done. I also pull them if the female or male becomes completely disinterested for more a month. If seeing multiple females, I do this if he's disinterested in more than two females. I will give him an extended break (2 weeks), see if it improved, if not he's off.
Those are basically what I look for. Mostly the weight. Otherwise it's up to the breeder, if you feel uncomfortable with keeping a male in, pull him out. :)