Last year (the fist year I had hatchlings) my hatchlings started to eat after 3-4 weeks. This year, my new hatchlings would not eat at all. (2006 hatchlings) They hatched at the end of August and 2 months latter they still would not eat. I offered them the same types of food that I fed the hatchlings last year but they would not eat. My “2005” hatchlings spent all summer out doors and did just fine. They ate mostly worms and wild mushrooms. I set up a special place outside just to hibernate these hatchlings. On November 1st I gave up trying to get my “2006” hatchlings to eat. I took them outside and they dug into the soft compost that I had set up for last year’s babies to hibernate in. It only took them about 1 hour to dig them self’s into this soft compost. I have since covered this area with 2 feet of leaves. From reading other posts I don’t think many people are hibernating hatchlings. I’m just hoping for the best and I will see next spring how they made out.
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Jack
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Hibernating Hatchlings
Replies (2)
Keep us updated. I'm interested to know how they fare. Good luck.
Yes, please give us an update in the spring!
Last year, one of the hatchlings here refused to eat for something like 12 weeks, but finally did: it was not a big eater for the rest od the winter and as a result is considerably smaller than its clutchmates. It appears to be healthy and eats well now, so I'm not too concerned about its future.
That yolk can sustain them for a very long time!
