Breeding season 08/09 : Actual record from "1st lock till eggs"

I understand in February 09 - March 09 is time to identify ovulation, but some of your BP already lay eggs.
I would like to know if you have any record of actual timeframe from 1st lock till eggs for 08/09 breeding season.
Thanks.

1st lock until eggs is extremely variable. It's not quite like humans where the actual act of breeding triggers the development cycle.

Females go through a 4 shed process where the final shed is the prelay shed. Anywhere a few months prior to that first shed up until shortly after the 3rd shed if the female locks with a male successfully you can get viable eggs......so after the first lock could be 7 months until eggs or after the first lock could be 2 months before eggs.....all depends on what development shed cycle the female is in :)

Hope that helps!

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Originally Posted by jpman78

1st lock until eggs is extremely variable. It's not quite like humans where the actual act of breeding triggers the development cycle.

Females go through a 4 shed process where the final shed is the prelay shed. Anywhere a few months prior to that first shed up until shortly after the 3rd shed if the female locks with a male successfully you can get viable eggs......so after the first lock could be 7 months until eggs or after the first lock could be 2 months before eggs.....all depends on what development shed cycle the female is in :)

Hope that helps!

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Thanks for your info.
How do you determine wether it is 1st shed or 2nd shed in the cycle ? (3rd shed in the cycle = Pre Ovulation Shed and 4th shed in the cycle = Prelay Shed right?).
Is it based on breeding calendar ? (ie : 1 shed in fall or winter = 1 shed in the cycle ?)

Only way to really know what shed you are on is by palpating and the female's actions during that timeframe. The first couple sheds are more of an afterthought....but the preOV shed and the prelay shed are pretty easy to identify.

Good news is that if a female is receptive to a male....she's usually somewhere in that shed cycle.

Also females will start their development shed cycle at different times.....it's not always over the winter months....some females develop over the summer. Best thing to do is watch their behavior and eating habits. If they shut down or change behaviors try throwing a male in.....sometimes that's the best way to see if you have an aseasonal breeder.