Non mated Female question about egg laying

[kimmie]

For those that don't breed and have females that lay eggs - how often do they do this?

WolfmanTom was nice enough to let me know that they could lay every 21 days for as many as 6 months. But what about afterwards? Do they take a break, do they ever really stop totally, has anyone thought about or had their BD spayed?

I have NO intentions of breeding Angie - she was meant to be a single BD pet. She's laid 2 clutches already (1st was on 17th of Dec and 2nd was on the 31st) - both had 24 eggs in the clutch (and a few stragglers before she got her laybox or when she was given a bath).

 

[BeardieUncle]

I'm interested in answers here as well. We have a female 6 mos old, and wondering when all this starts, if it ever does, as each dragon is different?

 

[TheWolfmanTom]

She may or may not ever do this again. some dragons will do this yearly like clockwork, others never again. Its almost impossible to guess. As far as spaying goes that is a last ditch operation that I have only done on a dragon 1 time and it was spay her or let Her die, so she got spayed.

 

[kimmie]

She may or may not ever do this again. some dragons will do this yearly like clockwork, others never again. Its almost impossible to guess. As far as spaying goes that is a last ditch operation that I have only done on a dragon 1 time and it was spay her or let Her die, so she got spayed.

Thanks for clarifying that! Too much on my plate already and then add her laying like a crazy hen :lol: I just wasn't "getting" what you were telling me! :lol: Sometimes I have to be bonked on the head!

I don't think I'd spay her ..unless it was a "life threatening" issue. I'm just hoping & praying she stops for now! Her appetite is back to being voracious so maybe that's a sign! Guess I'll know in a few more weeks! :lol:

 

[beardiebro]

Wow I am glad I read this post. I currently have a juvenile female and I have one question about this. Will I need to create a laybox for her once she's an adult so she doesn't become eggbound or are beardies not like that? I know that for my female red eared slider I have to make sure she doesn't become eggbound so I was wondering if the same applies to bearded dragons. Thanks

 

[kimmie]

I would definitely make a laybox. I know with Angie, she dropped her 1st egg and I wasn't sure what it was and the next day it was more noticeable so I ran out and got her a laybox. She laid 24 that evening. The second time (15 days after the 1st time) I knew what to expect so had her laybox standing by. She was quicker this time and therefore I thought she didn't lay as many. Plus she didn't seem to lose as much weight as the first time. But when I sifted them out, sure enough she laid 24 again. Mind you I did that sneaky - she watched me the whole time wondering what I was doing. :lol:

I'm hoping she's done but I'll know for sure if a week or two if she is or not.

 

[AHBD]

One thing to make sure of, is to give plenty of calcium at the egg-laying time and feed all she wants. Plus keep her well-hydrated. Can you imagine the amount of water they lose when they lay all those slippery eggs, and the amount of calcium that it takes for her body to develop those 20 or more eggs per clutch? I have one female that laid over 30 every time. [ Some young females lay as few as 10] Most dragons won't cycle eggs until they are over a year old. They don't lay all year round, that would be extremely unusual. Some only lay one clutch,others lay 2-3, some more than 5.

 

[beardiebro]

Is there a certain time of year that they will do so or does it depend on the individual bearded dragon?

 

[AHBD]

It depends on the dragon. I should add though, that it's usually from spring through fall.

 

[kimmie]

Well Angie laid her 3rd clutch (of 30 eggs) this past Saturday! I sure hope she'll be over this and soon! I made her a new rock structure so that her laybox would fit inside her viv. Plus I put tile down on the floor as well. I still have to grout it but it will be fine for now. I'll grout it in the summer when I can take her outside while that's being done and curing!

 

[fenris]

sooo.... if you get a female beardie...thus owning 1 beardie toatal...theres a high chance shes gunna lay eggs?

 

[kimmie]

sooo.... if you get a female beardie...thus owning 1 beardie toatal...theres a high chance shes gunna lay eggs?

I'd say MOST DEFINITELY she'll lay eggs. They aren't much different than birds - they lay eggs as well whether they've been mated or not. I had an African Grey for 9 yrs, thinking the whole time it was a male, until I thought he was dying and then saw that SHE laid an egg! :lol:

I'm hoping she'll be done for now but time will tell.