Need some advice please...

I started cooling my bps in Oct, and began pairing beginning of Nov. I paired my het pied x het pied about every two - three weeks and they always locked. I warmed everyone back up at the end of February.

The female shed around the end of march and went off feed around that time (this is a girl who will eat anything and everything). She also started glowing like crazy and I thought I could see her beginning to build very nicely. All of this I took as a good sign that ovulation would be happening soon.

Well, it never came and she's no longer glowing and back to normal color. I've kept pairing them the whole time, and the keep locking, as recently as over the weekend. She's still off feed though.

So my question is should I still keep pairing them? Does it even remotely sound like she might still go on to lay? Should I keep pairing them, or should I just call it quits for them this year and try next year?

Just keep pairing them. :gj:

There are still plenty out there pairing and some just started the process as well. ;)

If there was a "glow" for sure then ovulation would have followed. There is a consistent correlation between size of ovulation and eggs/slugs I have found. Big ov = eggs, small ov = slugs or slugs and eggs. This is not a hard and fast rule, but something I have noticed in my breedings.

It could be that she had a small ov after the glow that you may have missed? If she has/is locking with males then she is certainly not gravid. Keep pairing, watch for locks and see how it goes.

Some just go threw all the signs, and dont go. palpate her and if you feel nothing get her back feeding and try again next season. yes they even glow and dont go! lol

once they ovulate do you stop pairing?

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Originally Posted by dmaricle

once they ovulate do you stop pairing?

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Yes -- if you are SURE they ovulated. If you have to ask yourself if they -- a less experienced breeder would due best to keep pairing and offering food once per week. :)

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Originally Posted by Bill Buchman

If there was a "glow" for sure then ovulation would have followed. There is a consistent correlation between size of ovulation and eggs/slugs I have found. Big ov = eggs, small ov = slugs or slugs and eggs. This is not a hard and fast rule, but something I have noticed in my breedings.

It could be that she had a small ov after the glow that you may have missed? If she has/is locking with males then she is certainly not gravid. Keep pairing, watch for locks and see how it goes.

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She definitely glowed, it was unmistakable. I suppose I could have missed it, especially if it was a "small" ovulation. But my understanding is that once they ovulated, they won't lock, and they are still locking. I may keep pairing a while longer, and if nothing really seems to be happening abandon ship until next year.

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Originally Posted by blueapplepaste

She definitely glowed, it was unmistakable. I suppose I could have missed it, especially if it was a "small" ovulation. But my understanding is that once they ovulated, they won't lock, and they are still locking. I may keep pairing a while longer, and if nothing really seems to be happening abandon ship until next year.

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you probably just saw her building. If she is breeding and looking nice and plump. Now is the time for lockage! Best of luck to you.