Thinking of an outdoor pen.

[HylaCinerea]

I've recently considered building an outdoor pen for my Iranian Jaya, but I'm not sure of how plausible that is. While NC is relatively warm compared to the Northern states, some winter days can still get pretty cold. What's the lowest the temperature can drop on a hibernating BTS, and low long can they healthlily hibernate for?

[Tattoo]

Temp drop tolerance depends on the breed. Some are around 60F and others require 50F (Easterns) for breeding purposes. My boy went down last year in October and became active again in April. They all have their own little interrnal clock and the arrival of change in season (length of days and light) and the temps will play a roll in their response. I wouldn't leave them below 60F but others may say differently.

[jasjmm27]

I didn't use heat in my house at all this winter and it got to nearly 48 F very 1 or 2 nights, though I wouldn't have let that happen again after those times, the average was 52-55F and I had NO problems, even some attempted mating activities resulting from it...no real success though. I had 3 northerns and an Indonesian at the time, no ill effects from 50-55F all winter. Mine were kept inside my house and "monitored" daily, though...

[Jenn]

My guys have an outdoor pen but because I live in CT it's only for the summer months. They use it May-Sept, sometime late april and early oct depending on the weather. They then pretty much sleep from Late oct/ early nov until late Feb/early March. I have three blueys that use it so they get a turn every third day.