Re: explanation of pic above.

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Posted by Lloyd on January 03, 2002 at 10:57:30:

In Reply to: explanation of pic above. posted by graham(UK) on January 02, 2002 at 14:35:12:

Graham,
Great picture! I have allowed my guys to decide when to venture from their heated tortoise house in the fall and early winter also. Our ground will freeze up to five feet deep later in the winter so they do come inside for a few months. The larger they get the longer they stay out during cold weather. They are at 65 pounds now and will stay out in 35 f weather for up to five hours basking in the sun and grazing. It is amazing how warm a black tortoise shell gets in full December sun even when the air temperature is just a few degrees above freezing. I was very nervous about this when they started coming out in the cold about five years ago, but they have never not made it back inside before they cool down - although I always check. I still lock the doors when the temps are below freezing as I have caught them grazing in the early morning before the sun reached their yard at 26 degrees f. This bothered me much more than them. They seem to do better for me when allowed to choose to venture out on their own versus being confined entirely indoors during cool dry weather.
Lloyd

: "Jack" has free roam of the garden, whatever the weather, it's his choice to venture out or not.
: In the famous words of "Jim Carrie", he came out "steaminggggggg". Then proceeded to walk around the perimiter of the garden & quickly returned to the "Hilton" for a warm.

: graham(UK)

: : Moved to Webshots, here's a test pic.
: : graham(UK)

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: Graham, : Great picture! I have allowed my guys to decide when to venture from their heated tortoise house in the fall and early winter also. Our ground will freeze up to five feet deep later in the winter so they do come inside for a few months. The larger they get the longer they stay out during cold weather. They are at 65 pounds now and will stay out in 35 f weather for up to five hours basking in the sun and grazing. It is amazing how warm a black tortoise shell gets in full December sun even when the air temperature is just a few degrees above freezing. I was very nervous about this when they started coming out in the cold about five years ago, but they have never not made it back inside before they cool down - although I always check. I still lock the doors when the temps are below freezing as I have caught them grazing in the early morning before the sun reached their yard at 26 degrees f. This bothered me much more than them. They seem to do better for me when allowed to choose to venture out on their own versus being confined entirely indoors during cool dry weather. : Lloyd : : "Jack" has free roam of the garden, whatever the weather, it's his choice to venture out or not. : : In the famous words of "Jim Carrie", he came out "steaminggggggg". Then proceeded to walk around the perimiter of the garden & quickly returned to the "Hilton" for a warm. : : graham(UK) : : : : Moved to Webshots, here's a test pic. : : : graham(UK)

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