Hi just being nosey, has anyone started the wind down for hibernation yet?

Mine have started to slow down now, still out and about during the day, bring them in at night.

Does everyone do the 3-4 weeks wind down? I think I will start mine the end of the month???

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HI,

This will be my first year of hibernating and i'm really nervous! but yes will be starting at the end of the month.

me too but they've already slowed down loads already

i had mine out in garden for 4 hours today , and it peed it down in between lovely bright sun! he was sat out having a shower.

gona start at begining on month to but mine sloing down already lol!!

Mine have already slowed doen a great deal also!
Any idea how long their first year is meant to be?

(10-11-2009 09:55 AM)sky Wrote:  Hi just being nosey, has anyone started the wind down for hibernation yet?

Mine have started to slow down now, still out and about during the day, bring them in at night.

Does everyone do the 3-4 weeks wind down? I think I will start mine the end of the month???

Mine have not eaten for three weeks now so will be going down next weekend. The wind down period is dependant on the size of your tortoise. 3 weeks would not be enough for an adult whereas 4 weeks woudl be too long for a youngster.
Hope this helps

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(10-26-2009 06:06 PM)Bazam Wrote:  Mine have already slowed doen a great deal also!
Any idea how long their first year is meant to be?

Depends on the size really. I hibernate tiny ones for a length of time corresponding to how long they would do it in the wild so no more than 8 weeks. Adults can go for 3 or 4 months so long as they are not losing too much weight. I had a horsfield that went down in the garden (not my choice really ) and reappeared 6 months later, very damp and only a couple of grams lighter than when he disappeared. If adult then first hibernation should be the same as any other realy

Well on week 3 of Terry(horsfield)wind down. He still hasn't had a poo as far as i can tell. I have bathed him and he hasn't had a poo in his bath. Do i keep his lighting the same until he has a poo. He just looks at me to say whats your problem. He only did a poo before when i fed him. Now hes not eating hes hasn't had a poo since.

(11-25-2009 11:23 PM)TICKANDTOCK Wrote:  Well on week 3 of Terry(horsfield)wind down. He still hasn't had a poo as far as i can tell. I have bathed him and he hasn't had a poo in his bath. Do i keep his lighting the same until he has a poo. He just looks at me to say whats your problem. He only did a poo before when i fed him. Now hes not eating hes hasn't had a poo since.

Hi, just keep up with the baths and started to reduce the lighting now as well.
My big ones asleep the little one's start at the big wind down at the weekend, poor little things.

Hi Kay. My little ones are starting their wind down at the weekend to. Said i wasn't going to use the fridge method this year but my garage isn't cold enough. So i have had to get my fridge ready. I had my hubby plaster board the garage. It connect to my house so i am turning it into a tortoise room. Wish i had left it alone now then it would of been cold enough. Hopefully Terry will have a poo soon. He may have had one. He sticks his tail really deep into the soil. Just don't want to put him asleep with anything in his gut. Oh the worry lol.