Hi I just wondered what people use as there whelping area and pen area? (if possible can you add some pictures)

We are not sure weather to build them ourselves or buy the croft pen but they all seem to be out of stock and we will need it in about 4 weeks time.

We were going to get a whelping box to go inside the croft pen. We are expecting a litter of cockers so im I right in thinking the whelping box should be about 30 inches by 30 inches? Also would you buy two croft pens or would one be ok?

We are not sure if we should go with the croft pen (if we can get one) or to build the areas ourselves OH is quite handy!

Sorry for all the questions just want to get the best possible setup and thought you might be able to give me some tips?

Also do you use a heat lamp or heated blanket?

(im in wiltshire if anyone is selling any items or willing to lend them to me)

Thanks

We use the Croft puppy pen with bull bars or more precisely broom handles through the bars.  It is brilliant.  We usually cover up around the sides to ensure no drafts and have a heat lamp to keep the warm in. 

I have the croft puppy pen and found it most useful................you would probably need to get additional panels for when they have grown and become more active, if you don't want to have them running loose around your home

Hi, Oh how exciting expecting pups!!!

I have a home made whelping box that my OH built, ours is huge as our breed is LARGE! but we know the whelping box has to be big enough for the bitch to lay out in with her pups able to feed comfortably.
I have my whelping box (when expecting a litter) normally in my Utility room, the whelping box has a drop down front so that my bitch can get in and out easily but also when it is up stops run away pups!!
I have a thick heavy puppy pen that I had specially made, all the panels are separate and join together so I can make the pen as big or small as I wish, one panel has a door on it.
I also use heat pads in the whelping box, I find this easier then heat lamps as heat lamps tend to get in the way.

Good luck with your litter, let us know how things go xx

I used a disposeable whelping box and hubby sectioned off half the bedroom with kitchen worktops.  Worked great and was relatively cheap!!

Sarah.

Hi, I  found a set of whelping box plans online,  Got someone to build it for me because I'm no good at D I Y.

tipper

i used disposable whelping box in croft puppy pen with extra panels. it was in our utility room which has access to the garden which you will need when they are running around. (Started off box in my bedroom for first 2 weeks and watched them 24/7 )

Hello,

My pups are 5 weeks old tomorrow. I decided to turn our conservatory/extension into a whelping room. I covered the floor with non slip lino, which is so easy to clean. I then got my friends OH to build me a wooden whelping box. Everyone laughed at me because I wanted it 4ft x 4ft but my bitch had 11 pups and even at this age there is still plenty of room for all pups and mum (if she wants to go in). I also found it useful going for a slightly larger box because I could also fit in and keep a close eye on mum when she was having the pups. On the front of the box I have a sliding panel which has been cut in half. Has previously mentioned this was great when mum was feeding the pups as she could get in and out easily and the pups couldn't escape. I also used mop handles as make shift 'pig rails'.

With regards to heating I have a heat lamp which is attached to the ceiling. It is placed high to generate enough heat to keep the pups comfortable. I personally decided not to use a heat mat but I did purchase gel hot water bottles that you put in the microwave. These were brilliant they came with a fleece cover and I placed them under the vet bed this gave the pups a choice if they were cold then they would move towards the hot water bottle and when they got too warm they moved away.

Good luck with the pups x

With our latest Cocker litter,she had them in her welping box and when they started getting a bit bigger and moving round a bit more we moved them in to the Croft pen

Good Luck

Thanks for all the reples. Alot of the crufts pens seem to be out of stock but I have found a whelping box with pen from a local ad paper the man made it himself and used it once. It looks really suitable and the money that im paying for it is going to labrador trust. So I will be picking it up tomorrow.

If you are getting a second hand box do be sure to clean it very very well...
Take it to bits and scrub every surface then if possible leave out in the sunshine (Sunshine...what sunshine!!) to dry out thoroughly. You don't want to have any chance of lingering germs for your pups to pick up!!
I would never ever lend mine out to anyone. We have a 6ftx6ft wooden one that OH made and it comes apart into panels, I scrub it within an inch of it's life after a litter then hubby re-varnishes it for me ready for the next time. I use the croft pannels and have about 10 two with gates in them so I can mix and match and make all sorts of shaped runs depending on wether/position etc.. I also have a nice big area of patio that leads of the consevatory and can utilize that as a huge run.
Good luck
Aileen.

The man has cleaned with some kind of specialy designed cleaner for whelping boxes and I was going to do the same quite a few times to be on the safe side. He used it about 2 years ago. I will have to get my OH to re-varnish it is there any special vernish you use? thank you

We use boat varnish, it's more expensive but designed to withstand lots of water...hopefully
Makes it nice and smooth to wash round when pups are in situ !!! and boy doesn't poo stick ?? even if you are quick to clean it up!!! OH runs around the joints with silicone sealer too, makes it easier to get into the corners if they are rounded off...so to speak.

yacht varnish.

> With regards to heating I have a heat lamp which is attached to the ceiling. It is placed high to generate enough heat to keep the pups comfortable. I personally decided not to use a heat mat but I did purchase gel hot water bottles that you put in the microwave

as ours were born in the warmest room in the house (always sweltering no matter what weather) in july we didn;t get a heat lamp, we got a reptile heat pad, it was warm is ntomally so the pups could feel it and if they lay on it it heated up more. it didn;t get them overly warm that way

The pups are born and stay in the living room, never had any need to use any other artificial heating system other than what's already there all year round i.e. the fire, central heating.

We make our own with pig bars. The book of the bitch can instruct you on making one

Hand made whelping box with pig rails and pen in huge 3rd bedroom with easy access to back garden and rest of house. 

I use a snowsilk whelping bed, it is pretty good I have to say and being plastic its very easy to keep clean, etc. It has a top in it so, its nice and enclosed for the mum but has a mesh panel in the top so you can see in easily without bothering her. I don't need any extra heating as they are always reared indoors. I have just bought a fabulous puppy pen, its huge and I don't know how I lived without it !!!

Debbie