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There has just been too much stuff going on around here. I start something I get interrupted, I don't finish things because I am always interrupted by something or someone. The spring season time change always messes me up more than the fall time change does and so now I realize I need a helper or I need to get it together. :::groan:::

I made a huge mistake yesterday evening with the boxies.
I had to go out to run a ton of errands yesterday so I was late with the turtle baths and didn't get started until after 4PM. I started baths for them one at a time then they have feeding if they need it.
I had put Shell E & Charity back in the enclosure for bedtime while Janie was taking her bath, they had already had their out time & were ready to go back. I then let Janie have her out time to roam then I put Chip in the bath while she was doing that.

The phone rang, the dog had to go out, stuff was happening & so by the time I let Chip out to roam, I had forgotten that I had not put Janie away.
Chip found her before I did.. oy and you know what happens next when a male finds a female. :-x

I look at it this way, if not for me taking care of Chip, getting him treatment for his injuries he would be dead, he actually should be dead but he was saved and he's here.
He has such a strong will to live, I thought to myself you know if any turtle should be spreading his gene pool around it ought to be Chip. So I'm not going to totally freak out over this. He & Janie are both healthy now & Janie is beautiful on top of that.

By the time Janie is ready to lay eggs the girls will be out in the pen full time so she can do that out there... then if any hatch, we can find someone who has land where they could be released.
I found out just 4-5 months ago that my vet's hospital grounds manager has parents who own 500 or so acres of land in the middle of nowhere, nothing there no houses or anything.. that sounds like a good place for them to me... if any hatch.
I just can't stop kicking myself for forgetting she was out when I let Chip out.
arrggghhhh!!
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PHRatz

OOOOPS! Well, at least you have a plan for the little ones.

I'm new here.... and didn't know box turtles could be so randy

>>I'm new here.... and didn't know box turtles could be so randy

Oh my yes they can! These ornate males are very aggressive when it comes to females. They are a bunch of stud muffins LOL.

I talked to my vet today because I had to go out there for many reasons. I'm now a board member on her almost ready to roll tax exempt sanctuary. That's kind of cool except that I don't know what I'm supposed to do LOL!
As far as finding a place to release babies.. she's with me on it. There IS going to be a place to release babies into the wild IF there are any. I am not worried about it & actually I'm rather happy about it.
I really feel like Chip should be spreading that strong gene pool around out in the wild so more wild turtles can live in the future.
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PHRatz

>>>>I'm new here.... and didn't know box turtles could be so randy

Ok here's proof LOL
Geeze right next to the CD rack even.

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PHRatz

Thanks for sharing!! LOL!!
More seriously, why WOUDLDN'T you want healthy box turtles to breed. You know yours are all from the local gene pool. You don't want that gene pool to die out, even if the individuals are alive. If not, they would already be "genetically dead". Better babies are hatched and released.
I don't post much, but I always enjoy your posts and the care you give your boxies!!

Thanks for all the nice things you said Woodnative.

You know that's exactly what I'm thinking. I didn't mean for this to happen but because Chip should be dead because of his injuries, but then he didn't die then it's like a second chance for the gene pool. Because they are overcollected IMO in this state then he's doing nature a favor by spreading the gene pool that nearly died with him.
I was really upset when I first found them but then as I thought about it.. I thought why am I? I should be happy about this because Chip is now living up to his full potential as he should be.

And Ken that first year Janie was here, she did lay eggs. Sadly a skunk or cat or something dug them up & ate them. That was before we had the pen, that was before we got rid of the wild cats that were hanging around here (in the spot where the pen now stands) & wouldn't leave.
The cats are gone now then pen will be landscaped nicely so hopefully this time nothing will happen to them. If I can find where she lays any eggs, I'll find a way to put a fence cover around & over them to protect them.
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PHRatz

Whoa baby!

When you said, "...doing what males and females do...", I thought you meant arguing

I think it's great, Ratz. I'm a big proponent of captive breeding. The more we can offer for adoption, the less likely people will be to purchase WC animals at pet stores.

You're right, Janie is beautiful. I love the thick barring.

It may take a few years before she lays fertile eggs. If she hasn't been laying eggs since you've had her, it probably means that her biological clock is off. They'll typically lay eggs every year whether mated or not. So, it may take a few years of hibernation to kickstart her reproductive system.

If she HAS been laying eggs...well then I guess you know what's coming.

Have you checked for your Barry White CD's?

>>Have you checked for your Barry White CD's?

ROFL!! I don't have any but I do have some Moody Blues & Pink Floyd- some of that music could be sort of romantic don't ya think?
bwahahahahahaha
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PHRatz