coldframe

Julia · 30-12-2006, 03:11 PM

As the torties are safely tucked away for the winter, I would like to set up a cold frame for them to use in spring. There are several cheap timber framed ones avialable through the internet. Are these any good? Has anyone used them successfully and can perhaps recommend a particular manufacturer?
Thanks for your help.
Julia

veebee · 30-12-2006, 04:42 PM

Hi, if you go into search just under Shelled Warriors banner, type in coldframe there is quite a bit of info already written. Quite a few of us have got them for outside enclosures. Hope this helps a little!!!

Vivienne

sandy · 30-12-2006, 06:57 PM

The wooden coldframes work well, but have to be anchored down well, as they are not as
heavy as the glass ones. If set on bricks/brieze blocks both can work well.

veebee · 31-12-2006, 10:10 AM

Yes if you put on the breeze blocks as Sandy said, you can leave a gap in them as a little tunnel for them to go in and out of own accord.

Julia · 31-12-2006, 07:32 PM

Thanks for your replies. I have looked at the links and the discussion about the differences betwen perspex and plexiglass, which I find a bit confusing. Rather than building the coldframe myself I thought more in terms of the ready made ones. Most of them are either made of glass or polycarbonate set into a wooden frame. They cost betwen £50 and 100.- Just wondered if anyone has experience with one of those ? I thought they let more light in having transparent side walls, rather than brick or wood walls.

Julia

sandy · 01-01-2007, 12:33 AM

I have three coldframes I use for my tortoises. All bought from either B&Q or Homebase. They
work well. All are on bricks, so that one is left out for accsess for torts.

veebee · 01-01-2007, 02:40 AM

They look really good Sandy, Julia I use the same as Sandy the aluminium one with glass in, you can slide open the top to let natural sun in in the summer time, or close it up if it gets a bit nippy! Didnt have to pay for mine I got it from Freecycle (www.freecycle.org). They are good for growing weeds in during the winter months as well!!

Henry-flash · 01-01-2007, 02:49 AM

Just to join in I will add one of mine

Its not glass and is a wooden framed, god its too late too remember the name of the poly... I have a glass one which I got from freecycle, but I haven't done anything with it yet as its going on my hermanns enclousure extension.

chatty123 · 01-01-2007, 12:53 PM

CAN THIS BE USED FOR THE OUTSIDE TORTOISE GARDEN http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=25699600

shootinglou79 · 01-01-2007, 01:16 PM

hi chatty, personally i would say no, i bought one of these last year for my baby reds and still it seemed to small, enough for a hatchling for a short while i suppose, hope this helps.

30-12-2006, 03:11 PM	#1
Julia Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South West London Posts: 73	coldframe As the torties are safely tucked away for the winter, I would like to set up a cold frame for them to use in spring. There are several cheap timber framed ones avialable through the internet. Are these any good? Has anyone used them successfully and can perhaps recommend a particular manufacturer? Thanks for your help. Julia

30-12-2006, 04:42 PM	#2
veebee Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,109	Hi, if you go into search just under Shelled Warriors banner, type in coldframe there is quite a bit of info already written. Quite a few of us have got them for outside enclosures. Hope this helps a little!!! Vivienne __________________ www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk PLEASE SIGN: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/769012123

30-12-2006, 06:57 PM	#3
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	The wooden coldframes work well, but have to be anchored down well, as they are not as heavy as the glass ones. If set on bricks/brieze blocks both can work well. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

31-12-2006, 10:10 AM	#4
veebee Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,109	Yes if you put on the breeze blocks as Sandy said, you can leave a gap in them as a little tunnel for them to go in and out of own accord. __________________ www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk PLEASE SIGN: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/769012123

01-01-2007, 12:33 AM	#6
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	I have three coldframes I use for my tortoises. All bought from either B&Q or Homebase. They work well. All are on bricks, so that one is left out for accsess for torts. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

31-12-2006, 07:32 PM	#5
Julia Member Egg Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South West London Posts: 73	Thanks for your replies. I have looked at the links and the discussion about the differences betwen perspex and plexiglass, which I find a bit confusing. Rather than building the coldframe myself I thought more in terms of the ready made ones. Most of them are either made of glass or polycarbonate set into a wooden frame. They cost betwen £50 and 100.- Just wondered if anyone has experience with one of those ? I thought they let more light in having transparent side walls, rather than brick or wood walls. Julia

01-01-2007, 02:40 AM	#7
veebee Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,109	They look really good Sandy, Julia I use the same as Sandy the aluminium one with glass in, you can slide open the top to let natural sun in in the summer time, or close it up if it gets a bit nippy! Didnt have to pay for mine I got it from Freecycle (www.freecycle.org). They are good for growing weeds in during the winter months as well!! __________________ www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk PLEASE SIGN: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/769012123

01-01-2007, 02:49 AM	#8
Henry-flash Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 9,304	Just to join in I will add one of mine Its not glass and is a wooden framed, god its too late too remember the name of the poly... I have a glass one which I got from freecycle, but I haven't done anything with it yet as its going on my hermanns enclousure extension. __________________ Peter Keeping: Testudo hermanni, Testudo graeca (graeca & ibera ), Testudo horsfieldi, Astrochelys radiata, Malacochersus tornieri and Kinixys belliana. The North West Tortoise Group

01-01-2007, 12:53 PM	#9
chatty123 Member Hatchling Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oldham, manchester Posts: 668	CAN THIS BE USED FOR THE OUTSIDE TORTOISE GARDEN http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...umber=25699600

01-01-2007, 01:16 PM	#10
shootinglou79 Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,743	hi chatty, personally i would say no, i bought one of these last year for my baby reds and still it seemed to small, enough for a hatchling for a short while i suppose, hope this helps.

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