So your finally ready to nest but what location to pick, tricky isn't it. Well picking a location is hard, and they all have pros and cons in their own way so i'm going to list some of the most common ones for you.

Redwood Forest: Pros: dense for protection, lots of herbivore food , many water sources. :Cons: Not many carnivore food sources, far from many locations.

Plains :Pros: lots of water, lots of carnivore food, lots of herbivore food :Cons: Lots of big predators, ,extremely open.

Populated Lakes :Pros: Lots of carnivore food, Lots of water :Cons: Lots of predators in packs, not much herbivore food, extremely open .

Deciduous Forest or Normal forest :Pros: Lots of herbivore food, good lookout points, :Cons: Not much carnivore food , Not many water sources.


Now that you know the pros and cons of every one pick which one your playing style, dino, and skills all match up with the best.

Now that you have picked a location to live in you make your nest (by holding "B") most people would often leave their nest after that and tend to it later. That can either be a good choice or a bad choice depending on if you live by yourself or in a herd or pack.
When living on your own it's best to get as much food as you can and put it in your nest as fast as you can, but make sure you have a eye on your nest. Many predators will come and would not hesitate to grab a quick lunch by eating your eggs.
If you live in a herd or pack you can work together and take turns filling up your nest with food while a few others keep guard and if they have any sit on their eggs till they hatch.
Once your eggs are finished "baking" You can go into chat or invite a friend to be a hatchling


EG: GA for Giga egg invite

This is the stage where your child is the most vulnerable (Yes I know some servers have rules against killing hatchlings). It's very different when your raising your hatchling/s alone than in a herd or pack. In turn I will be listing them in their own ways with different parenting strategies.

:::LIVING ALONE:::
Since your alone the best thing to do is to stay by your hatchling's side. If they need water you leave the nest with them. If your running low on food the best thing to do is to have them hide in the nest and if a large, angry, potentially hungry predator is nearing the nest make sure you tell them to run to mama beforehand. Continue this process until your hatchling become a juvie.

:::IN A HERD OR PACK:::
When living in a herd or pack you can let yourself relax a bit more as you have others to help take care of your young. You should still be on the lookout tho, as many predators big and small might just be able to take a single bite and boom it's over. When caring for your hatchlings needs just make sure there are no predators watching when their drinking. When restocking the food in the nest you can let the herd or pack know that you are leaving so they can take care of your young.

:::PARENTING STRATEGIES:::
On Your Own : Never restocking the nest letting them drink by themselves
Helicopter Mom : Always by the hatchlings side even when getting food
Relaxed Mama: Keeping a eye on her hatchling but never really getting up unless there is danger
Hostile Mama: Often leaving to go fight or to restock the nest
More than one Mom: having 3 or more hatchlings to care for

Your hatchling has survived long enough to become a juvie this means they will have more attack power, more will to explore, and this is the best time to migrate. However they are still extremely week and powerless and a good target for predators, so here is how to keep your juvie safe alone or in a herd or pack.

:::LIVING ALONE:::
Now that your hatchling is a juvie they can come with you when your hunting and/or foraging. However they cannot fight and it's best to send them into bushes or to simply keep them in your nest when your fighting. When hunting for your juvie, make sure you keep them out of the way yet in sight only for your eyes. Also lay down ground rules depending on what species of dinosaur you are. For example, i'm a utah juvie if a big predator came by I would run. Or if i'm a giga juvie if a small predator came by I would hide and if needed fight.

:::LIVING IN A HERD OR PACK:::
Since you live in a group of dinosaurs it is much, much easier raising a juvie. They normally will stay by the herd or pack and when in need of food they'll come on hunts or will run out into the woods quickly eat some plants. They are still are target tho and do need to be watched and to stay with the rest pack during hunting trips (if they are a carnivore)

So Your minding your own business tending to your hatchling, when a random carno comes running and kills you. You are obviously upset, sad, mad, and frustrated you then respawn as a juvie and look in chat there are two outcomes here, A your hatchling died with you or B they are alive as the carno did not notice them and just ate your eggs. you then decide you had enough of this game and turn it off even if their still alive. Have you ever wondered though what happens to your hatchling if they survived. If your that hatchling listen up.


:::LIVING ALONE:::
Now the first thing to do is to calm down and get to a safe spot. Go into chat and you can ask if there are any eggs. Or if there is a herd or pack willing to take you in and as a last resort start over. There is no way one can survive being a hatchling out in the wild unless your a herbi in a secluded spot. So good luck fending for yourself.



:::IN A HERD OR PACK:::
Since your in a herd or pack you have it easy. Most people would adopt you as their own and you can eat out of their nest, But let's say everyone died except for you and some juvies. You might as well repeat the steps above and call it a day. However if one juvie grows to sub adult or adult your in luck. They can raise you and put down a nest if their female. If their male they can raise you but just feed you bushes or meat.

You were out foraging when suddenly a blood thirsty utah pack killed you for sport. Your herbi soul fills with dread. You slowly calm down but realize that your juvie dyro is still alive, when they type in chat. You are relived with joy but wonder will they survive on their own?




:::LIVING ON YOUR OWN:::
Now this will be just like spawning in. Find a safe spot to find a herd or pack. Or start fresh with a new egg spawn. However if you can't find any of those things act like you spawned in as a juvie do what you would normally do find food, find water, and avoid other players. good luck surviving if your a carni as hunting may be rough.



::: IN A HERD OR PACK:::
So the first thing to do is to find your herd or packmates, if their still alive, great they can raise you till adult or sub adult. If there are only other juvies and hatchlings left you can form your own herd or pack and work together untill your fully grown. If no one lived the attack treat it like spawning in look for water and food.

Thanks for reading yall. Im getting into the habit of making guides, and if you like to make guides join my new steam group where you can chill, chat, and tell other people about YOUR guides