Howdy everyone! So running it down to the wire here, because if I’m correct that it was infact her prelay shed, Kimball here is due to lay any time after June 13th! I just took these pics tonight (bad lighting because my room lighting sucks at night), and I’m pretty certain she’s gravid but at this point don’t want to mess with her too much and before now have tried to palpate but seem to have no idea what I’m feeling for…
For a little more context, she’s been giving big indicators in general of being gravid - Had multiple confirmed locks with the male in January and February. Despite being a good feeder, stopped eating in early March, has been hanging out on the warm side since her suspect prelay, etc. Especially with that little indentation at the cloaca, does she seem gravid to you?
I strongly suspect it, but will feel better if someone more experienced confirms my suspicions as last year for her first season I thought she reabsorbed and ended up missing her lay date due to a vacation. Came back to unviable eggs (5 looked to have been fertilized, 1 slug).
The part 2 of my post - if gravid, she’ll be due to lay in the next week. I have a spare thermostat and some heat tape, does anyone have a decent DIY incubator to suggest? And what are our thoughts on perlite vs vermiculite for ball eggs?
TYSM for your time, here’s to Kimball having a healthy clutch and an easy laying of them! 
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The easiest incubator setup that I used was an igloo cooler with the tape wrapped around the inside. I left a couple bottles of water in the bottom to help stabilize the temp a bit in there for when I would open and check eggs.
Eggbox went on a little raised platform in the cooler. Thermostat probe went into the eggbox.
I can see what looks like one egg bump at the top right of the 2nd image. So she’s cooking something. Just not a lot of scale spread there so I dunno if she’s just got some smaller eggs going or not. My girls usually have more stretch going.
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That’s what I was thinking. Do you leave the thermo probe above, or below the eggs?
That was my thought, though I think perhaps she might do another fiver like last year; this is what I’m seeing!
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I just let the probe sit in the middle of the box and try to not let it sit on the incubation media. I’m not too concerned about the probe touching an egg.
I hope she does well~ She’s a pretty gal.
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Thanks! Do you put incubation media in the same box then sit the eggs on the platform? Then water bottles outside the box/in the bottom of the cooler? And does this only work for one clutch at a time, or would it work for two clutches in the same cooler? I ask because I have a second female who may or may not lay this year, though she’s giving me even more mixed messages 
If you have a link to any specific egg platform, feel free to send it my way!
She really is a beautiful girl, I’m still kicking myself over wasting her efforts last year. Won’t make the same mistake this one!
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And please, if I’m wrong feel free to tell me as such or correct me, or if you think she’s maybe just gonna slug out!! I appreciate all opinions here!
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I put the media under the egg crate/light diffuser. I actually had a hatchling last year dig under it and get stuck. Which was why I didn’t use just water in the first place. She could have drowned before I found her.
I incubated 3clutches at the same time in one. I just made sure the probe was in the tallest eggbox or they were all the same level. I kept govee thermo/hydrometer in each box to monitor them as well.
I just used an spare board across the bottles in the bottom as a platform. When I needed a second level I used a raised baking tray of some kind my roomie was tossing out. Anything with good airflow will work fine. Or last resort, just stack your boxes carefully.
Good luck with both!
I hope she doesn’t slug out. The noticeable bulges are a good sign. Slugs tend to be less noticeable.
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