It has nothing to do with what other people do that influences me although I obviously got the cooling idea elsewhere. As I said if I cool certain animals I get better production out of them. If that works that is what I do. As I also said it actually takes more effort to cool things here in Fla. so if I want to reduce egg production all I have to do is absolutely nothing. just keep feeding them and leave them be. There is basis btw for the temp. thing. There is loads of evidence in the plant kingdom link better reproduction to winter cooling. Here in Fla there are only 3 varieties of apples that can be grown(there may be a few more now but I only know of 3) Tropic sweet, Anna and golden dorsett. These 3 varieties need only about 40 chilling hours which are temps below 40f. Most varieties require many more chilling hours and will not set fruit without them. the same goes for a lot of varieties of Peaches as well although with peaches nematode resistance is a factor as well. this also goes for Lilacs many types of maples and several types of popular flowers that are commonly grown up north. Summertime heat has little to do with it as contrary to poular belief it does not get all that hot here in the summer. Temps seldom get above the mid 90's f. In fact I can think of several types of plants that grow up north and grow in south Texas where I grew up (much much hotter than Fla.) That either won't grow here or only grow here marginally and the only limit factor I can think of is the lack of winter cold here as it gets much colder in the winter in south Texas. This does apply to reptiles as well there are reptiles that occur on the east coast that are found further north of here and not here.(wood turtles and bog turtles and painted turtles immediately come to mind) There are no geographic barriers limiting them and some species that occur up north occur here as well (garter snakes hog nose snakes as well) and the Snapping turtles up north grow much bigger than the ones here leading me to believe that cooler winter temps must have some effect on their growth rate.

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