This is our first season and we have 3 big normal girls and a huge pastel female breeding with out male butter and male bumble bee. I've only put the pastel with the bumble bee to max my odds on getting a killer bee. Both males are over a year and have taken to the breeding very well and lock up quickly and strong.

We started pairing in mid October. We try to put a male with a female every 3 weeks and as far as a male breed them for 3 days max or until we observe a lock. (We've observed a lock every time within the first 24 hours) and then separate them when they are done. Then they get at least 3 days or more to rest if not more.

The butter has been eating very aggressive but he always has since a baby. The bumble bee has not however eaten in the last 5 feedings. He was the first month of breeding but them has seemed to stopped and lost 40 grams. He has skipped meals before. Should I stop breeding him until he starts to eat again?


I plan to put the finishing touches on my incubator next weekend and test it out. How long before I should expect to have to use it?

Also one of the girls has missed the last 2 feedings but she is fairly big (2,750 grams).

Any insight as far as what I should expect and what I should be looking out for?