How do I know when a female is due to lay eggs?

First off, this is my first year breeding. I've palpated all three of my females, all well over 2000 grams. One of them, the eggs feel slightly bigger than marbles. The other two, they are about half that size. I've witnessed all of them lock at least 5 to 10 times, but no ovulation yet. But that doesn't mean they didn't last weekend while we were out of town.

So, any tell tale signs that would tell me when they may go?

If youre still feeling marbles, no ovulation. Once they ovulate youll be feeling something closer to water balloons.

lol @ water balloons :O
They ovulate when the follicles are about 44mm or the size of a golf ball.

If you feel follicles that size then after her next shed she should go into glow and then 4-6 weeks later ovulate.
Around 2 weeks after ovulation she will go into pre-lay shed, and about 30 days after shed she will lay eggs.

Unless you have been doing it for awhile, it's hard to say when they will go for sure. Just keep a close eye on her behavior and sheds.

Awesome, thank you guys! Anything else I should know? I feel like you can never do enough research on this. There are always questions lol

ball python.ca helped me out alot my first year give it a look check out his breeding section

I can't palpate--I've tried to learn, but I just don't feel anything discernible in there.

The females will let you know anyhow--they stop eating after they ovulate, if they haven't done so before then.
Most of my females eat right up to ovulation.

Females also stop locking with males once they ovulate. So, if she starts refusing food and boys, then you know she's gravid.

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Originally Posted by RideRed12

First off, this is my first year breeding. I've palpated all three of my females, all well over 2000 grams. One of them, the eggs feel slightly bigger than marbles. The other two, they are about half that size. I've witnessed all of them lock at least 5 to 10 times, but no ovulation yet. But that doesn't mean they didn't last weekend while we were out of town.

So, any tell tale signs that would tell me when they may go?

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When she is due to lay eggs She will lift her tail up and start pushing out eggs, J/K:P

Also a day or two before she will sit in the little nest spot she's made, perfectly coiled up with her tail in the middle of the coils.


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Originally Posted by Homegrownscales

Also a day or two before she will sit in the little nest spot she's made, perfectly coiled up with her tail in the middle of the coils.

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Supposedly! I was waiting for our girl to do that for the whole past week, but when I went to bed last night she was just positioned slightly different than she has been for a month (front half inverted). 7 eggs this morning.