Anyone on here keeping big torts in snowy places?

[Magdalena41494]

Id like some ideas on housing large torts in places like Minnesota (snow covered for a good part of the year)

How do you do it?

 

[Yvonne G]

My sister lives in Oregon and a couple days ago she posted a picture of her sulcata, Bob, shed with snow all over it. It was someone else's thread and I can't remember the subject so I couldn't find it to post here, but here's a link to the shed:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-20710.html

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I found it...it's post #21 in this thread:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/post-827835.html

 

[Len B]

Here are some pics from today, The first one is the youngsters house as it looked when the sun came up, the second is after I removed the snow from the bamboo so it would stand up again and I could see the house again. They are almost 2 years old to just under 4 years old. Their door is never closed to keep them inside, they come and go as they please,and the snow is full of turtle tracks even though we stayed below 32 all day and no sunshine. The last pic is Walker this afternoon walking around. Walker has lived outside for years now without any problems. Some of the most important things are cheap heat, proper insulation, and being prepared for whatever may come along.

 

[wellington]

A large heated shed is needed. Or, if your getting a sulcata, like Bob and Len's "Walker" then at least a heat dog house, big enough for them to get all the way into and turn around. Bigger is always better.

 

[Magdalena41494]

We have a big heated workshop, I plan on making a door in the back where we keep the firewood once I get to that point his side of the workshop will be sectioned off though.

I like the shed idea though! Its possible for us to just build a whole building for some torts. We have 56 acres that are not being used at the moment lol

Very cute pic of walker btw!

 

[Yvonne G]

The thing is - can you afford a high electric bill. The smaller the area to heat, the smaller the bill.

 

[Magdalena41494]

We use wood to heat here since we have so much land we had to (and a whole lot more still to do) clear for horses, we have a lot of firewood.

Weve been wanting to put a heated barn up for chickens and goats anyway, so Might just do a multi purpose barn.

 

[argus333]

I keep Mine in 4 ft 6ft heated/ insulated shed with attached 12 ft x8 ft green house. It snows here this yr. every other day. Temps down to-6 sullys were warm all yr. The green house works great and they love it. If 30 outside 80 inside if sun is out.

 

[argus333]

look here it is

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

I when to a tort conferee 2 yrs ago and Mr. Fife was speeking about how he gets snow in AZ and he builds a shelter out of straw for his big torts .

 

[Magdalena41494]

I love that idea argus333!

 

[Robber]

I when to a tort conferee 2 yrs ago and Mr. Fife was speeking about how he gets snow in AZ and he builds a shelter out of straw for his big torts .

He has some pics of it in his book.

 

[EricIvins]

The thing is - can you afford a high electric bill. The smaller the area to heat, the smaller the bill.

That is not true at all. There are many different ways to efficiently heat outside enclosures. The typical suggestion of Incandescent lighting or anything that screws into a lamp is very outdated. There are many different ways of utilizing radiant heat using 50%-75% less wattage than a bulb or CHE.

 

[argus333]

i use the sun