Female eating less

[Josh P.]

Is it normal for a young female (around 10 months old) to start eating less once she starts ovulating? Shouldn't be the other way around, eating more to get ready for breeding?

She was always hungry and eating a lot, just until now when she started not caring as much for food.

 

[tb144050]

I'm not speaking from experience (yet), but I have read severrrraalll times to "bulk up your female because she stops eating almost completely during breeding season." and leo's sometimes just have a lesser-appetite for a while randomly (like brumation).

 

[scm133]

It is very common for the ovulating female to go off food. I have a few that eat regardless, some that will eat occasionally, and some that stop all together for a good month, during ovulation. Still keep offering food every other day.

 

[Josh P.]

I still offer her food on a regular basis. But won't this pose a problem as she may lose weight during breeding time?

Can I still safely pair her with the designated male for this season or will breeding stress only do worse?

 

[tb144050]

Some recommend to breed a female over 60-65g just in case she loses weight.

 

[scm133]

From personal experience, if she is not at least one year and 60 grams, it is not a good idea.
They can loose 10-15 grams from ovulating, breeding, and laying eggs. I had a small 55 gram female, and waited until she was two years before breeding her. She gave me 12 eggs, and actually the following year was over 65 grams.
I also had a one year old, that was 51 grams...bred her. She laid one egg, and was then egg bound. She lost so much weight, and looked awful. I almost lost her. She is still recovering.

 

[Josh P.]

58g So not safe to breed her this season?

 

[tb144050]

Again, not speaking from experience....but I think if she was still eating moderately/rarely at the beginning of ovulating, then it wouldn't be such an issue. I would wait and see if she is "eating rarely" instead of "stopped eating../...off food".

 

[stager]

Some of mine stop eating others still eat like pigs, this is why it is important to fatten those females up.