Winter Feeding

S25ALE · 18-07-2006, 09:50 PM

I know i'm a little early but i just wondered what everyone feeds there tortoises which arent hibenating and if there were any plants / weeds i should be growing ready for the winter?

sandy · 18-07-2006, 09:58 PM

Just one of the other reasons for hibernating torts that should. Is the lack of proper foods for
them. Weeds just dont grow as easily and as well as Spring and Summer.
There is no reason why your horsfield shouldnt hibernate is there?

S25ALE · 18-07-2006, 10:14 PM

No apart form i'm scared to death but i will listen to your wise advise, read up on hibenation and ask lots of questions!
I've also got a Leopard tortoise so i'm just trying to make sure he doesnt go hungry, thankfully hes only a little one.

sandy · 18-07-2006, 10:16 PM

Believe me we are all frightened of hibernation, but we know its for their good.
Fridge hibernation scares me silly, but I have no problems with boxing or digging down. Apart
from the worry of course.

S25ALE · 18-07-2006, 10:23 PM

I'm not quite sure which method i'm going to use yet. I've had a read on lisa's website, going to have a think about see what would be best. I was considering using a fridge because although i've got a garage i think the temps would drop too low and posibly freeze. Is there any particular reason you personally avoid the fridge method?

sandy · 19-07-2006, 07:54 AM

I keep my tortoises than dont dig down in the greenhouse, in my garage over the winter. I have a fan heater in
there which will come on if the temps drop below 5 degrees. This has worked for the last 21 yrs
with no problems.
I know lots of keepers that fridge hibernate without any problems. But like you I worry about the things that
could go wrong<g>.

**sarah** · 19-07-2006, 04:14 PM

I have used the fridge method for the past 4 years with great results.

sandy · 19-07-2006, 04:20 PM

See Sarah is not as scared as me to use the fridge<g> it happens to us all at sometime.
I just know my way works too, so I have the alternative<g>. I would be panicing with the rest
if it were fridge hibernation only<g>.

Henry-flash · 19-07-2006, 04:28 PM

I'm scared like shaking (might be the heat) but I can't progress in tort keeping until I hibernate. So this year I will definately go for it. Not entirely sure which method I will use but will probably be fridge.

**sarah** · 19-07-2006, 04:39 PM

lol sandy

. I was told by the pet shop where i had my 1st tortoise from not to hibernate untill she was 5 (what a load of rubbish) but i thought i was doing the best for her. I have 3 new tortoises to hibernate this year in the fridge. I need a new fridge though to fit them all in lol.

18-07-2006, 09:50 PM	#1
S25ALE Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 93	Winter Feeding I know i'm a little early but i just wondered what everyone feeds there tortoises which arent hibenating and if there were any plants / weeds i should be growing ready for the winter? __________________ ~~~Hayley~~~

18-07-2006, 09:58 PM	#2
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Just one of the other reasons for hibernating torts that should. Is the lack of proper foods for them. Weeds just dont grow as easily and as well as Spring and Summer. There is no reason why your horsfield shouldnt hibernate is there? __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

18-07-2006, 10:14 PM	#3
S25ALE Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 93	No apart form i'm scared to death but i will listen to your wise advise, read up on hibenation and ask lots of questions! I've also got a Leopard tortoise so i'm just trying to make sure he doesnt go hungry, thankfully hes only a little one. __________________ ~~~Hayley~~~

18-07-2006, 10:16 PM	#4
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Believe me we are all frightened of hibernation, but we know its for their good. Fridge hibernation scares me silly, but I have no problems with boxing or digging down. Apart from the worry of course. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

18-07-2006, 10:23 PM	#5
S25ALE Member Egg Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 93	I'm not quite sure which method i'm going to use yet. I've had a read on lisa's website, going to have a think about see what would be best. I was considering using a fridge because although i've got a garage i think the temps would drop too low and posibly freeze. Is there any particular reason you personally avoid the fridge method? __________________ ~~~Hayley~~~

19-07-2006, 07:54 AM	#6
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	I keep my tortoises than dont dig down in the greenhouse, in my garage over the winter. I have a fan heater in there which will come on if the temps drop below 5 degrees. This has worked for the last 21 yrs with no problems. I know lots of keepers that fridge hibernate without any problems. But like you I worry about the things that could go wrong<g>. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

19-07-2006, 04:14 PM	#7
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	I have used the fridge method for the past 4 years with great results. __________________ Click: www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk STRUGGLING TO FIND WEEDS? LOOK AT OUR DRIED WEEDS 'READY TO FEED' Home of 'Grow Your Own Food' Bearded Dragon, Tortoise, Rabbit, Hamster seed mixes from 89p FREE POST Livefood, Thermostats, Housing, Heating, Mercury Vapour bulbs, UVB etc etc CHEAP PRICES TORTOISES ARE MY PASSION

19-07-2006, 04:20 PM	#8
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	See Sarah is not as scared as me to use the fridge<g> it happens to us all at sometime. I just know my way works too, so I have the alternative<g>. I would be panicing with the rest if it were fridge hibernation only<g>. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

19-07-2006, 04:28 PM	#9
Henry-flash Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 9,304	I'm scared like shaking (might be the heat) but I can't progress in tort keeping until I hibernate. So this year I will definately go for it. Not entirely sure which method I will use but will probably be fridge. __________________ Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group

19-07-2006, 04:39 PM	#10
sarah Administrator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Newcastle-Under-Lyme Posts: 11,914	lol sandy . I was told by the pet shop where i had my 1st tortoise from not to hibernate untill she was 5 (what a load of rubbish) but i thought i was doing the best for her. I have 3 new tortoises to hibernate this year in the fridge. I need a new fridge though to fit them all in lol. __________________ Click: www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk STRUGGLING TO FIND WEEDS? LOOK AT OUR DRIED WEEDS 'READY TO FEED' Home of 'Grow Your Own Food' Bearded Dragon, Tortoise, Rabbit, Hamster seed mixes from 89p FREE POST Livefood, Thermostats, Housing, Heating, Mercury Vapour bulbs, UVB etc etc CHEAP PRICES TORTOISES ARE MY PASSION

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)