Experience? I just keep them.... If you keep them warm they shouldn't hibernate, or at least a lot wouldn't. I try keeping some warm throughout the winter and they still eat. My red-eared sliders eat like a pig, so I've only fed them 3 times a week. I've cut it down to twice a week. My general experience with turtles is that they tend to eat...and they can eat a lot. You can feed them later and they will eat again, and again, and again...if the water temperature is right.