need advice

[toronto]

Hi everyone. I'm new here , and needing some advice! We kind of fell accidentally into raising monarchs this spring, when my 5 year old turned over a milkweed leaf and declared that he'd found a monarch egg. He put it into a jar, and indeed it hatched into a caterpillar. So, I've been madly reading all that I can about rearing monarchs, and appreciate all that I've learned in this forum. We've really been learning on the go, as each stage has brought us to needing to find what new set-up we need. Whew, it's become serious business at our house! We started with 12 eggs, and so far we've done really well - all made chryslasis's and we've released 3 adults! We will have another to release today, but the weather isn't very good today, and we don't have a plan for "adult containment", as the weather isn't suppossed to be good tomorrow either. We are in Toronto. So, I've seen that people have made big tents with embroidery hoops and mesh - is that what I should be doing? How long to keep an adult? I've read 4 hours to 24 hours. And what do I do when the weather isn't good for release? I really appreciate any guidance you can give. This journey has been thrilling for our family!! Thank you in advance for any help and advice. Heather in Toronto.

[Mona Miller]

You don't need to feed for 24 hours. Keeping them for 24 hours is recommended to let them dry their wings thoroughly.

You can feed them after 24 hours in several different ways. Offer cantelope or watermelon. Offer juicy, juicy, or honey water or gatorade on a sponge, or paper towel, or q-tip, or tissues. Or, put them into a small letter envelope and put them into the door of the frig in a plastic container for a couple of days to chill them until the weather gets better.

If they are flapping way too much and look like they are going to break their wings, put them into a dark area or enclose the container with a black garage bag.

A clean laundry hamper can be used as an adult container, too.

http://www.monarchwatch.org/rear/index.htm
Rearing Monarchs

[toronto]

Thank you so much, Mona. I've already read practically every page on this site! Those were great suggestions for looking after an adult. As it turns out, the weather is much better here today than they forecasted, so we'll be able to do the release after 24 hours. I used the laundry hamper - a great suggestion. Thank you again, for the advice you gave me, and to all the other advice on these forums, I've learned so much from you

[Mona Miller]

You are most welcome. I'm sure as you learn, you will be teaching us new things.