How long is possible sperm retention an issue?

So, newb breeder question, but for how long is possible sperm retention an issue?

If I find a proven breeder girl who has taken a year off, is that long enough to safely plug her into a recessive project? Or, are they tainted forever for that?

I would hate to think I was producing hets, and not actually be, ESPECIALLY if I wanted to sell them.

I don't know the answer specifically, but I know a member on here had a female not take one year but drop eggs the following year (even though she wasn't bred in year #2), so there's a possibility at least a year later.

Are you looking at a morph or normal girl?

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

I don't know the answer specifically, but I know a member on here had a female not take one year but drop eggs the following year (even though she wasn't bred in year #2), so there's a possibility at least a year later.

Are you looking at a morph or normal girl?

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Am I that member? :rolleyes:

I had it happen to me, bred a girl prior to us moving to a new house, she did not take and the following season she ovulated when I did not even pair her to anything.

I remember reading last year about a girl laying a 3-4 years after her last pairing ... I can try to find the link but I have no idea where it was

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Am I that member? :rolleyes:

I had it happen to me, bred a girl prior to us moving to a new house, she did not take and the following season she ovulated when I did not even pair her to anything.

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Yes, ma'am! :) I knew it wasn't a secret, just didn't want to throw your name out every time!

many times with this hobby what we think is true. gets proven wrong. your question is a very good one. when I breed for hets, those females are use for that project only.
my one exception is doing it this way. I have a female pied. first year was breed to my albino. she had a clutch of eggs. 2nd year breeding to a male pied. so if I decide to go recessive again for double hets, if they aren't hets, they will be visual pieds. becareful with the answers you get. you might get what someone thinks, not what is really known.

I wouldn't put a recessive to a female that hadn't laid previously and know many that think likewise. There is just too much risk selling or keeping hets. Talk about a major setback if retention is an issue or potential destruction of your reputation. I've heard of strange stories of females laying years after they were last bred. I don't have personal experience but this will be what I do with all my own recessive projects.

Regards,

B