Brrr, winter is here… in Scotland, anyway!
I’d love to know how you keep pets, strays, birds or other wildlife comfortable or supported during the colder months.
Whether you’re a sitter, or an owner, feel free to share what winter looks like for you and the animals you come across.
I’m planning to research and buy the best winter food for the local birds - any recommendations?
Jenny
I learned today via Google that even though there is a layer of thin ice on the top of the exotic fish pond, it is wrong to break the ice, (natural instinct) as this could stress the fish, and could even lead to their death. Instead inserting a tennis ball onto the pond will allow enough oxygen to flow through.
Not quite. A tennis ball may prevent the pond from completely freezing over in more mild conditions by bobbing and floating and creating movement and ripples thus slowing or preventing ice from forming.
In more severe conditions, the water can still freeze over, and no oxygen will flow through the tennis ball which has a rubber interior. In such cases other measures are more effective such as a constantly running pump or aerator.
As you suggested, breaking the ice with force can create shockwaves that are destructive to the fish underneath the ice.
We are lucky here in NorCal we can leave birdbaths filled and they rarely freeze all day. We also have a running fountain with a pool, so water is available for birds, raccoons, skunks and possums. We leave our dead and dying flowers and grasses and such to supply food and nesting materials through winter and leave apples on the trees as long as possible. The birds love to collect our ducks’ feathers and bits of sheep wool too! It’s super cute. We’ve worked hard to create a nature sanctuary here and it makes me so happy to see it working 
Hi @Jenny, we’ve looked after lots of pets in Canadian winter months - including our own dog for many years.
We find that pets - and perhaps pet parents! - vary enormously in their mindset towards winter months. Many dogs adore snow - and why not, it can be super fun and a great energy drain for everyone. But rain is more tricky. In Western Canada - say inland from Rockies - it can get very cold indeed. So walks can be brief. Jackets required. Paw socks are quite common.
We’re big fans of dog jackets by company Ruffwear - secure click fastening rather than velcro (that often fails in winter conditions).
Finally, we find that winter months can be great opportunity to find longer duration housesits for pet parents that leave country for warmer climates - Canadian ‘snowbirds’. In the winter sports coaching world, there’s a well-used phrase (especially for reluctant kids) … there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate attire! 
Brrr, @Jenny — I felt that Scottish chill from here! Winter always brings out my softest side for the little ones, whether they’re pets curled up indoors or wild visitors passing through.
Pets we’re caring for
Plenty of cosy spots (the sunny ones are always fiercely contested), shorter-but-richer walks, and a bit more awareness around stiff joints or slower mornings. Winter seems to amplify every small comfort, doesn’t it?
Local birds and wildlife
For the wild visitors, we’ve had the best results with high-fat, high-energy foods — suet blocks, fat balls, mealworms and sunflower hearts all help them get through the frosty days. Fresh water matters just as much, especially when it freezes overnight, and choosing a sheltered place for feeding helps them conserve energy.
Strays or outdoor regulars
A dry, draft-free nook with old towels or straw can make a huge difference. And just keeping an eye out — winter has a way of revealing who needs a little extra.
I love that you’re researching winter feed options — it’s one of those small acts that really ripple out. 
I did a winter sit and noticed that the hummingbird bird sugar water feeder froze and yet birds kept coming. I would have replaced the sugar water, but the feeder was hung up high enough to require stepping up onto a riser wall, which had snow and ice. The hosts asked that I not do that and risk a fall.
I would suggest not hanging or placing feeders in precarious locations, so hosts and sitters can reach to refill them even in bad weather, when wildlife might need them most.
I read something about when to quit feeding hummingbirds because leaving it out to long messes with their migration and then they die because they are in a cold environment that they shouldn’t be.
I don’t think these ones typically migrate, because the area normally doesn’t get that cold — we had a freak snowstorm.
