My hibernation 2009/10

dugy · 27-03-2010, 04:13 PM

hey y'all!!!

long time no post!

well i hibernated my three horsfields this year with a great success! Bruce was hibernated last year by the previous owner, he is now five or six.... percy has never been hibernated who is now four or five, nor has Esmea who is five or six... i have owned percy since December of 2008, aquired Bruce in march and Esmea joined us in may (i think!!) The three live happily (i hope) alongside one another in their creep.

This year i decided upon the box method: a large cardboard box was used and that polystyreine stuff for insulation, each tortoise was then individually boxed up with soil inside of their box and placed inside of the larger said box! (obviously making air holes in each box).....

this did not work!!!

the tortoises went down on the 16th of December and placed in my brick shed... by the 25th of december i went to have a good check on them as i got cold feet and i realised Esmea had dug her way out of her box and into bruces box!!!! i thought i had lost her in my shed until i found her dug deep into bruces winter substrate!! i figured that it was teh soil that had made the boxes damp thus enabling Esmea to dig easily out of her box... i reboxed all of the torts and this time used lots of shredded paper for substrate; the tortoisesd were now being kept in the cupbord where my fridge is hidded (with a very cold winter this year i was afraid of teh tortoises freezing!)

a few weeks past and the weather began to get a little warmer - the tortoises now reboxed returned to the shed...

i only anticipated hibernating the torts for a few weeks although with food being in short supply and the winter being prolonged due to inconsiderate car users, aerosol users and general earth destroyers i decided to be brave and let the torties sleep until march =]

Hibernation 16/12/2009 - 18/03/2010; Percy, Esmea & Bruce

as soon as i got them out of the box they were placed in a 'cooler than usual' warm bath, the stayed in for about ten - 15 minutes allowing them to wake up and have an opportunity to take in the vital hydration needed.

Bruce was shy at first...

Esmea was eager to say hi... note the state of the tortoises eyes, they are puffy which at first worried me although they soon returned to the norm (which is later apparent)

The three enjoyed a good bask underneath the lamp; i did not offer food straight away.

Bruce

this is feeding time two days after the three had woken up...

Percy

Bruce

Bruce & Esmea

dugy · 27-03-2010, 04:15 PM

Esmea

Percy

'creep' photo

Bruce

Percy Vs. Dandy

dugy · 27-03-2010, 04:18 PM

CLEAR PIC OF PERCY!!!!

Bruce

Esmea

Bruce

Percy

dugy · 27-03-2010, 04:20 PM

Bruce

Percy & Esmea

Bruce

Esmea wanted to share; Bruce did not!

Percy eating dead stinging nettle from my hand

dugy · 27-03-2010, 04:20 PM

My happy kids

I hope you have injoyed the post =] i shall try and retuirn here more often!!!

xx

The Baron · 27-03-2010, 05:24 PM

Well done Dugy! They look great, and very happy and healthy after their long sleep!!

**Alan1** · 27-03-2010, 05:34 PM

Is that all the photies yev got dugy? memory card full?

I was down your way last week, we tried that new place at the Metro Centre called Rice, it was superb, especially the Japanese veg in batter.

Glad to see yer torts are doing well

**Bindi** · 27-03-2010, 05:46 PM

Congrats Dugy on a successful hibernation, they're all looking great

dugy · 27-03-2010, 07:05 PM

sorry, its pic heavy but i like all of the pics!

yeah the metrocentre is great but when im there i settle with a macdonalds or greggs!

thanks everyone =]

EquestrianBabe · 27-03-2010, 07:41 PM

Congrats, Dugy! Beautiful photos, could there possibly have been any less?

Just kidding, they're all interesting!

27-03-2010, 04:13 PM	#1
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	My hibernation 2009/10 hey y'all!!! long time no post! well i hibernated my three horsfields this year with a great success! Bruce was hibernated last year by the previous owner, he is now five or six.... percy has never been hibernated who is now four or five, nor has Esmea who is five or six... i have owned percy since December of 2008, aquired Bruce in march and Esmea joined us in may (i think!!) The three live happily (i hope) alongside one another in their creep. This year i decided upon the box method: a large cardboard box was used and that polystyreine stuff for insulation, each tortoise was then individually boxed up with soil inside of their box and placed inside of the larger said box! (obviously making air holes in each box)..... this did not work!!! the tortoises went down on the 16th of December and placed in my brick shed... by the 25th of december i went to have a good check on them as i got cold feet and i realised Esmea had dug her way out of her box and into bruces box!!!! i thought i had lost her in my shed until i found her dug deep into bruces winter substrate!! i figured that it was teh soil that had made the boxes damp thus enabling Esmea to dig easily out of her box... i reboxed all of the torts and this time used lots of shredded paper for substrate; the tortoisesd were now being kept in the cupbord where my fridge is hidded (with a very cold winter this year i was afraid of teh tortoises freezing!) a few weeks past and the weather began to get a little warmer - the tortoises now reboxed returned to the shed... i only anticipated hibernating the torts for a few weeks although with food being in short supply and the winter being prolonged due to inconsiderate car users, aerosol users and general earth destroyers i decided to be brave and let the torties sleep until march =] Hibernation 16/12/2009 - 18/03/2010; Percy, Esmea & Bruce as soon as i got them out of the box they were placed in a 'cooler than usual' warm bath, the stayed in for about ten - 15 minutes allowing them to wake up and have an opportunity to take in the vital hydration needed. Bruce was shy at first... Esmea was eager to say hi... note the state of the tortoises eyes, they are puffy which at first worried me although they soon returned to the norm (which is later apparent) The three enjoyed a good bask underneath the lamp; i did not offer food straight away. Bruce this is feeding time two days after the three had woken up... Percy Bruce Bruce & Esmea

27-03-2010, 05:24 PM	#6
The Baron Member Hatchling Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ipswich Posts: 570	Well done Dugy! They look great, and very happy and healthy after their long sleep!! __________________ Sasha, owner of one cheeky little Spur-Thighed Baron Fernandez Gonzalez III (or The Baron for short!) http://www.facebook.com/sashalwatson

27-03-2010, 05:46 PM	#8
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	Congrats Dugy on a successful hibernation, they're all looking great __________________

27-03-2010, 07:41 PM	#10
EquestrianBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: At home with my pets! Posts: 3,991	Congrats, Dugy! Beautiful photos, could there possibly have been any less? Just kidding, they're all interesting! __________________ I ♥ Horses

27-03-2010, 04:15 PM	#2
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	Esmea Percy 'creep' photo Bruce Percy Vs. Dandy

27-03-2010, 04:18 PM	#3
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	CLEAR PIC OF PERCY!!!! Bruce Esmea Bruce Percy

27-03-2010, 04:20 PM	#4
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	Bruce Percy & Esmea Bruce Esmea wanted to share; Bruce did not! Percy eating dead stinging nettle from my hand

27-03-2010, 04:20 PM	#5
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	My happy kids I hope you have injoyed the post =] i shall try and retuirn here more often!!! xx

27-03-2010, 05:34 PM	#7
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	Is that all the photies yev got dugy? memory card full? I was down your way last week, we tried that new place at the Metro Centre called Rice, it was superb, especially the Japanese veg in batter. Glad to see yer torts are doing well

27-03-2010, 07:05 PM	#9
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	sorry, its pic heavy but i like all of the pics! yeah the metrocentre is great but when im there i settle with a macdonalds or greggs! thanks everyone =]

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