Always pondering
New Member
Hi All,
Our Timmi has been digging nests and laying eggs every 4 weeks since the very first day we brought her home in October. She was with a male for about 6 months before we got her. That very first day, it kind of freaked us out. We didn't know what to do. She started the nest late in the afternoon and by 8pm was still digging. It was getting cold and we decided to put her in her night box. Of course there were eggs in there the next morning. The following months weren't too bad because she started them early an the weather wasn't too bad. She put two of them inside a little green house we have just outside her box.
Which brings me to last night. Yesterday was exactly 4 weeks from last month and she started her nest after several practice starts. Its been raining a lot here and once she got started the wife and I put an ez-up over her and hooked up a heat lamp right over her. We felt bad for her because the hole kept filling with water. By 7:30pm it got down in the 40's and she was hardly moving, no eggs yet. We decided to put her back in her box since she was out since about noon. There were no eggs this time.
Are we doing the right thing by putting her in her box like this? Is there a way to "convince" her to build a nest in a certain place? It would be nice if we can control the environment she'll be in for such a long time. We've had nights down in the 20's.
Its going to rain through Sunday it looks like, so not sure if she'll try it again.
Thanks for any help or suggestions in advance
Rich
Our Timmi has been digging nests and laying eggs every 4 weeks since the very first day we brought her home in October. She was with a male for about 6 months before we got her. That very first day, it kind of freaked us out. We didn't know what to do. She started the nest late in the afternoon and by 8pm was still digging. It was getting cold and we decided to put her in her night box. Of course there were eggs in there the next morning. The following months weren't too bad because she started them early an the weather wasn't too bad. She put two of them inside a little green house we have just outside her box.
Which brings me to last night. Yesterday was exactly 4 weeks from last month and she started her nest after several practice starts. Its been raining a lot here and once she got started the wife and I put an ez-up over her and hooked up a heat lamp right over her. We felt bad for her because the hole kept filling with water. By 7:30pm it got down in the 40's and she was hardly moving, no eggs yet. We decided to put her back in her box since she was out since about noon. There were no eggs this time.
Are we doing the right thing by putting her in her box like this? Is there a way to "convince" her to build a nest in a certain place? It would be nice if we can control the environment she'll be in for such a long time. We've had nights down in the 20's.
Its going to rain through Sunday it looks like, so not sure if she'll try it again.
Thanks for any help or suggestions in advance
Rich