Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So im trying to figure out all the habits of female eastern box turtles right before they lay their eggs so i can easily identify when they are coming as to not miss them. These are just some observations that i have noticed, however if anyone has witnessed something that contradicts me please tell me so I can rule that out. Also if you have noticed anything not on the list please bring it to my attention.

1) eggs laid in the late afternoon, usually after 4
2) female face north, while digging
3)eggs laid on a hill
4)offfeed

those are just what i have noticed before they lay.

Has anyone taken note of:
1) the lunar cycle the night that eggs are laid?
2)Has anyone noticed long afternoon soaks and lots of activity leading up to egg laying?
3)Females trying to escape from pen?
4)eggs laid after thunder/rain
5)laid in an open area (not under a plant or some object)

Thanks for all the input, hopefully i can narrow down when the eggs will be laid so they dont go over looked this summer. I have 6 females and i dont want to miss when they lay.

thanks again
Neil

My experience has been everytime except once in 6 years they lay in the late afternoon/early evening. One time my big girl dug a nest and layed 6am for her second nest. The big girl everytime has layed 2nd-3rd week of june, and again 3 weeks later. Always her first attempt at nest building she completes her nest and lays. She is seen walking around late afternoon, which she never does any other time.
My other girl has also layed late afternoon/early evening she sometimes digs test holes a day or 2 before actually laying.
They do always lay in the same area every year. Its the most open and has sandy soil.
Never noticed any off feed/soaking etc. They are in a large enclosure, very overgrown. I feed fresh veggies/soaked pellets 3 times a week in scattered bowls. With occasional insects thrown in. They are pretty much semi-wild, to forage on their own for insects.
I start looking for afternoon activity starting now through july. I only missed one nest(I was moving hostas and found a nest with shells)
Right now there are the 3 adults and some offspring from each years hatchlings varying from 5 years old to last years hatchlings that just went out(I keep them indoors the first year.)

Phil

My female began digging in the late evening and deposited her eggs and covered them by the time it was dark. I have read on a lot of caresheets that females "try to escape" and constantly pace their pen, looking for the best spot to lay. It would make sense that is during a dry spell a female may hold her eggs for more appropriate conditions to lay, like after rain when the soil is soft and damp. Hatchlings will do this. Last year I was sweating it out if my nest would hatch. After awhile, I watered the area and they were up the next day, obviously assuming the conditions were better for them to come up. I suspect they were down there for a minimum of a week absorbing the yolk sack and waiting. I recall reading about a tortoise species who's hatchlings had been documented to say underground for about a year waiting for favorable conditions.