Could it be the "boys in the P.E showers" type thing where your boys are feeling a little inadequate with the visiting boys staying over? They are VERY handsome

Well, that had occurred to me, but since I can't get rid of the two visitors, I'm not sure what I can do about it

Liz

Well that makes sense, but against it (in this case) is that 1. Basil is always trying to mate girls who are not calling and 2. Basil spends every evening and night in the house. And every previous stud I have bred has been brought up the same way without any difficulties.

I might try moving Mitzi into the house with Nigel (would mean putting the two who bully her outside but that can be managed of course) and see if that works.

Liz

They may not be quite as 'touchy' as a girl who is coming into call. Basil may well be very aware of what stage of a cycle a girl is in and know to avoid the risk of a sharp NO! He probably knows non-calling girls are no threat. It may be worth making sure he and the girl you want him to mate are kept apart for a few days until she's in full call and then effect a 24 hour introduction period before letting them together to mate.

Well, thanks, I am willing to try anything!

Liz

It is a case of seeing what works. All male egos are fragile and some are more fragile than others I'm quite jealous of those breeders who end up with unintended litters from precocious young boys.

So am I!

Liz

Mitzi called again after a gap of just two days, Nigel still showed no interest, I even brought both of them into the house to observe them closely but nothing happened at all. In fact Nigel (11 months) doesn't even smell like an entire male yet. So I put Mitzi in with Basil, the one who so far had not worked out how to "insert A into B".

Well, I just caught him on top of her apparently quite close to the target area, the only thing is she didn't growl, instead she started rolling, but then she did the real ecstatic roll that they usually do after mating - and then both started cleaning themselves.

I wonder if he has done the job? I suppose at least he is getting closer which has to be good news. Only time will tell I suppose. The three visiting boys seem finally to have gone home - I guess they got hungry!

Poor Nigel is looking quite forlorn without his friend, but yesterday someone was bullying him and since I didn't manage to work out who it was (they were behind a chair at the time) I am reluctant to bring him in until I can supervise closely. I'm afraid both Nigel and Mitzi seem to be natural victims

EDIT: Well, now I have put Mitzi back in with Nigel as she seems to have stopped calling, I brought Basil into the house for the night as I always do and immediately two girls decided to start their first call - both together, both in the hallway, with poor Basil not quite sure what to do first - he decided in the end to proceed upstaris to the bathroom where titbits are fed (don't ask, it makes perfect sense in this house!), to see what might be on offer tonight. Only problem now is Danny who is nearly 8 months old and old enough to spray so presumably not far off being mature enough to mate, he will therefore now have to go outside as I do not want him to mate with either of these, unless the two girls go outside with or without Basil. In fact I would much rather Dawn mated with Nigel but that doesn't look likely this year unless I put her on Ovarid and I don't want to do that. Isn't life fun!

Liz


Liz