How about trying to fill her whole cage she is in now with the same nesting mixture, which is not normal to them. You can see if anything comes out different, then next year try a substrate that is more natural to them.

What is a more natural substrate than moss? Dirt?



If I were to question your reply I would do it like this.



1. What is an appropriately size nest box and why?

Big enough for her to move around in and lay her eggs in comfort.



2. what makes you think she likes it? if you took the nest box out she would lay in the water bowl, would you say she liked that?

I think she likes it because she uses it, and probably would resort to the water bowl if offered no alternative. Its like a person sleeping on the floor if someone took the mattress away. Terrible analogy but will have to do.



The point, I now gave you a realisitic method to gauge what they like, how long they hold the eggs. You know the maximum, how about looking into the minimum.



I would say, the minimum sized SMALL nesting would be a 16 quart sterilite box, and it would help if the sides were painted out to allow the feeling of total darkness.

Well, some of my nest boxes are that big. All my nest boxes are covered with a cardboard box to provide total darkness.

A couple of things I would like to ask you. Do you think they have a sense of in, out, under, up, etc. If they do, how does that apply to their behavior in nature.



If they had no sense of in and out and up and down, how come they are not all over the place in their natural habitat?

I definitely think they have a sense of orientation.


-----
Bob

Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire

Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

[ Show Entire Thread ]