I'm really beginning to believe that weather plays a pivotal role. Our '07 breeding season saw about 85% success rate-that winter was characterized by many good, strong frontal systems pushing through the Texas hill country.
In '08-09. the winter was bone-dry, with not a single good front coming through from October to April, and not a drop of rain in that period either. Despite herculean efforts on my part, only 30% of our females deposited clutches.
This past winter was another wet one-fronts have been one after another the entire time since last fall. And the balls have been hooking up like druids in the springtime! I just checked my records, and 90% of eligible females have either laid, ovulated, or at least hooked up more than four times!
My theory is supported by our friend Tattlife2001 above-who reports 90% success a year from the constantly stormy region of Spokane, WA....So when it comes to balls-pray for rain!
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