Whelping Box Ideas??

[TC]

I Will try and get few pics of our welpin shed on here later but What i did was place a 1/2 piece of plywood over the concrete floor to help insulate between the floor and the dogs then i added a 1/2 thick piece of the rubber horse stall matt over that calked all the edges have a heat lamp on a adjustable chain hanging over the pups along with a Vera kennel heating pad on the floor for when it gets real cold. the welping shed is insulated and has heat and air staying about 75 in there now with temps down to 5 last night. We also have a camera setup by x10 And i LOVE it can see and Hear everything that goes on in living color. i have looked at the nesting bed and that is in the plans for next year

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

Yeah TC if you can post some picks I like to see your set up. Sounds like that be more in my price range.
The whelping nest is the way to go but alittle pricey for me.

Thanks

[bunnybuster24]

Thanks for so many great ideas. I was just thinking the other day how I needed to build a pen specifically for whelping, as I have a litter due the second week of Feburary. I think i will get started on it this week. Once again thank you all this site has once again gave me some great ideas to improve my kennels.

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

Thanks for so many great ideas. I was just thinking the other day how I needed to build a pen specifically for whelping, as I have a litter due the second week of February. I think i will get started on it this week. Once again thank you all this site has once again gave me some great ideas to improve my kennels.

Me to Bunny i sure hope it's warmer than it's been a being don't you.

[TC]

PHOTOS OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF OUR WHELPING SHED, THERE IS TWO WHELPERS, WITH DOG DOORS TO GO OUT SIDE INTO A 8X8 GRAVELED RUN, COVERED WITH SNOW AT THE TIME BEING....
LEFT SIDE INTERIOR: WITH AIR CONDITIONING FOR SUMMER WHELPING

FLIP TOP TO CONTROL HEATING / COOLING AND ACCESS FROM THE TOP

LARGER PARTITION WHEN FOR WHEN THE PUPS ARE BIGGER TO KEEP THE COLD AIR OUT OF THE SLEEPING QUARTERS BUT GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE WATER ON THE COOLER SIDE AND ACCESS TO THE OUT SIDE DOGGY DOOR

WARM AREA FOR SLEEPING QUARTERS, WITH A TUG TOY SCREWED TO THE WALL FOR SOMETHING TO DO BESIDES PESTER THEIR MOM.

RIGHT SIDE OF THE SHED ANOTHER REPLICA OF THE WHELPER

WITH A SMALLER DIVIDER TO KEEP THE WHELPING FOR EASY ACCESS FOR ME TO HELP IF NEED BE

THIS BITCH HASN'T HAD HER PUPS YET BUT IS DUE ANY DAY NOW SO IS MOVED INTO THE WHELPING SHED TO GET HER ACCLIMATED PRIOR TO WHELPING TO MAKE HER MORE AT EASE WITH NEW QUARTERS.


IN BETWEEN THE WHELPING BROODERS IS TWO COMPLETELY ENCLOSED CUPBOARDS TO HOLD TOWELS AND BLANKETS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES, ON THE FRONT WALL NEAR THE DOOR IS THE GALVANIZED TRASH CAN TO HOLD THE PUP CHOW TO PREVENT THE MICE FROM HAVING A FREE LUNCH.

WE HAVE AN AREA RUG ON THE FLOOR IN THE MAIN PART OF THE SHED FOR PUPPY SOCIALIZATION AND PLAY TIME WITH OUT MOM CONTROLLING THE PLAYING ACTIVITIES.

WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE PLASTIC TUB IN THE FAR RIGHT CORNER TO HOLD A BAIL OF STRAW TO KEEP CREEPY CRITTERS OUT OF IT AS WELL.

THE SHED STILL NEEDS MORE WORK BUT ONLY TIME AND WILL EVENTUALLY GET IT WHERE IT SHOULD BE. THE WHELPING SHED IS LIT WITH FLORECENT BAR LIGHTS OVER THE BROODERS AND ON THE CEILING SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND A HEATER IS IN THE ROOM ALONG WITH HEAT LAMPS IN EACH BROODER. IT STAYS NICE AND TOASTY IN THERE.

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

Nice job TC i have finished mine yesterday, i am working on the above ground pen now, all i like is slatting the floor, putting the fence on and putting roof on.

My whelping box fits on back and i have a back up box to change out when pups get weaning over. I hope weather clears up this weekend so i can finish and moms holds out till then, she is getting huge, so i need to get mom in there asap so she can adapt to new area.

By the way is that a heat bulb your using? and what is the watts? I was told to use a regular 65 watt bulb? Also do you leave the straw down for her to have here pups in? I never put anything on the floor of my whelping boxes. i always wait till she is done giving birth and the put the heating pad in?

Hope to have pics soon.

Donnie

[TC]

Nice job TC i have finished mine yesterday, i am working on the above ground pen now, all i like is slatting the floor, putting the fence on and putting roof on.

My whelping box fits on back and i have a back up box to change out when pups get weaning over. I hope weather clears up this weekend so i can finish and moms holds out till then, she is getting huge, so i need to get mom in there asap so she can adapt to new area.

By the way is that a heat bulb your using? and what is the watts? I was told to use a regular 65 watt bulb? Also do you leave the straw down for her to have here pups in? I never put anything on the floor of my whelping boxes. i always wait till she is done giving birth and the put the heating pad in?

Hope to have pics soon.

Donnie

Thanks Donnie it aint Done yet but comming along, All the walls are insulated so it stays around 75 in there most of the time Even when it was down to 5

We have regular 250 watt heat lamps in there for the winter that is why they are up high stays around 80 at the center of the light area. We use a 75 watt bulb for spring or summer when its warmer.the lights are set up so that we can lower or raise them as needed i like to keep the newborns around 80 degrees constant..
And Yes we leave the straw down for whelping the floor as i was saying is horse mat so it has a rubber coating and helps to absorb the heat also. What you caint tell real easily by the pics is that I have 2x4 along the bottom acts like a pig rail i calked all the seams to help keep the bugs out and make cleanup and disinfecting easier....
Good luck with your litter and make sure to post some pics.
TC

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

Nice job TC i have finished mine yesterday, i am working on the above ground pen now, all i like is slatting the floor, putting the fence on and putting roof on.

My whelping box fits on back and i have a back up box to change out when pups get weaning over. I hope weather clears up this weekend so i can finish and moms holds out till then, she is getting huge, so i need to get mom in there asap so she can adapt to new area.

By the way is that a heat bulb your using? and what is the watts? I was told to use a regular 65 watt bulb? Also do you leave the straw down for her to have here pups in? I never put anything on the floor of my whelping boxes. i always wait till she is done giving birth and the put the heating pad in?

Hope to have pics soon.

Donnie

Thanks Donnie it aint Done yet but comming along, All the walls are insulated so it stays around 75 in there most of the time Even when it was down to 5

We have regular 250 watt heat lamps in there for the winter that is why they are up high stays around 80 at the center of the light area. We use a 75 watt bulb for spring or summer when its warmer.the lights are set up so that we can lower or raise them as needed i like to keep the newborns around 80 degrees constant..
And Yes we leave the straw down for whelping the floor as i was saying is horse mat so it has a rubber coating and helps to absorb the heat also. What you caint tell real easily by the pics is that I have 2x4 along the bottom acts like a pig rail i calked all the seams to help keep the bugs out and make cleanup and disinfecting easier....
Good luck with your litter and make sure to post some pics.
TC

Thanks Tc for the info, my box is some what like yours except not as tall (24''). I have seal mine also and place a rubber mate in the floor, just thought that would be enough,i was just inquiring about the straw cause mom likes to clean up after having pups and i thought the straw may cause problems, but this is my first winter litter so i was not sure.
Wind chill is about -11 tonight here so i got a 250 watt heat bulb just in case but i will have to pick up the straw tomorrow.
When i went out to feed this evening she seem to be doing fine, still eating, no scratching,just being a beagle mom.

Thanks
Donnie

[TC]

We use straw because it draws the fluids away from the pups, and keeps them warmer and gives the mom something to dig at. It is easy to pull out the soiled straw and put in fresh so you have less skin problems then on a surface that the pups can't get out of the waste matter. On top of that during birthing there is a lot of fluids and you may need to change it out after birthing, but I will keep some handy so that I can put dry stuff down while she is still having pups to keep the chill out. That is the number one pup killer is the cold damp air and the surface they are on.

When you buy the straw try to get clean straw with no or little chafe in it cause that is a problem, from experience the more straw and less chafe the better.

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

Thanks for all the info.

Donnie

[TC]

Here is what dogs do when they don't think any one is looking LOL

Tassel in the whelper this photo was taken off the monitor we have in the house to watch for signs of whelping and watch so we don't have to disturb her any if need be...

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

Now that some good picks TC. I checked on my female this morning and she was laid out just like that. It was 14 degrees this morning and a cozy 79 in the whelping box. Sure wished I had one of thoughs monitors like that. Sure save from going out at night and early in the mornings.

[TC]

Now that some good picks TC. I checked on my female this morning and she was laid out just like that. It was 14 degrees this morning and a cozy 79 in the whelping box. Sure wished I had one of thoughs monitors like that. Sure save from going out at night and early in the mornings.

You can get them pretty reasonable at http://www.x10.com/homepage.htm We purchased a 6 camera remote system for 200.00 for home security when we lived in Oregon because our place kept betting broke into and when we moved we took the system with us. But they do have lower priced systems since that time. The one we have has voice and color, they also have full night vision cameras, motion activated and any other surveillance system you can imagine, just depends on what you want.

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

I think i will try and pick me up a set of these, they will come in handy either in the kennel or around the place here at home.

Thanks

[hogbody]

I am also building an above ground welping pen. I have a litter due the first of April. I was thinking of getting a heated welping pad for the floor. Can you cover these pads with a thin piece of carpet? Or instead of the welping pad can I just use a heat lamp to keep the pups warm?