some females that have never seen a male will still lay eggs, they just wont be fertile. I have also heard of some females retaining sperm for a full season and producing the first clutch or two of fertile eggs without being introduced to a male that season. It has never happened to me though. But I introduce my males at the beginning of the season for a week or two and then I remove them. I will reintroduce them a couple times during breeding season just to be safe, but with the male only being involved 3-4 times, I get fertile eggs for up to 8 months with some girls. Most lay for 6-7 months but I've got a couple that will lay for me longer. Sometimes I'm begging them to stop laying. lol Once they start they go like rabbits.