Posted by:
FR
at Thu Apr 11 23:50:53 2013 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by FR ]
Hi Steve, please do not take this bad.
You already seem to be prejudiced as to some idea of great nesting. You know, your lawn and multiple heat sources etc. Which I don't think has much to do with anything.
You have to decide what you want for your animals, a blend that with what your willing to support them with. The right answer is what you want.
Good nesting improves health, and increases production. Which means, your animals can make more offspring and be healthier then with poor or marginal nesting. I would think thats a good thing.
If you have no concern for either the mental welbeing or physical health, then don't worry about it. If your fine with what your doing, then please keep doing it.
If you have a problem, like you mentioned, the egg eaters, then you may want to consider some changes.
To cosume your own eggs is not normal. I think everyone can agree on that.
What is normal, is it normal to consume your own dead or infertile eggs?? The answer is yes. That is common, in nature it would be a waste of energy to drop infertiles(little bags of energy or eggs that died. Eggs can and do die. So they eat them.
So you may want to find out if the eggs are dead or infertile. If they are, then its normal.
I know a little bit about nesting because, I have tested it on thousands of clutches with many many many species of reptiles over many decades. All the while studying these same reptiles in the field.
I can say, there is a relationship with depth and temps/humidity, there are other factors as well. There is also instintual nesting behaviors. Which may override or sway temps/humidity. SImply put, there is individual preference.
Lastly, that instint, it really needs a actual difinition. Its a driven behavior that is fine tuned with actual life. That is, its improved with experience. Or worse, ignored with not possible. That is, Abort the eggs and save yourself(the water bowl)
Such behaviors are very strong as it impacts the survival of the species in a direct way. That said, each population may include several methods of nesting they could practice.
The good part is, this(captivity) is not nature, and all you need to do is solve your problem, or fulfill your curiousity. As in, what do these animals actually do?
Which means, you do not have to go to extremes, Take small steps and learn.
Look at your setups, then look up a picture of their natural habitat, then think. Thinking is the fun part.
Those animals are evolved to their habitat. Oh except some morphs color and patterns.
I like your approach, some species like pyros, both comunnial nest and nest singlarly. Don't know about hogs yet.
I will be leaving in the mourning to work in HOGLAND. building exhibits, right where hogs are found. Good luck, best wishes and update your results.
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RE: Hognose nesing in racks. - FR, Thu Apr 11 23:50:53 2013