Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Adairsville, GA
Posts: 269

Do most of you guys build one out of wood or do you use something like a crate already made up? Just wondering because I have a large one made out of a shipping crate that some large equipment came in. Also do you put rails on the inside to keep the momma dog off her pups? And what do you line the floor with? Shavings, Straw, or Nothing.

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David Padgett

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Kansas
Posts: 146

I built a 4'x4' box with a removable top that I use. I do not have rails on the side and I a piece of carpet on the bottom. I change the carpet out every few day so it will stay dry. This seems to work well for me.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Sylva, North Carolina (the far Western Tip of the State)
Posts: 10272

Ours is completely off the ground. Our is 4ft long X 4ft wide X 3ft high. It has a flip top lid. It has two open spots about the size of a 2 X 2 on each side that is about 6 inches long that are on the side of the box. That way if the female is laboring on her side, she can put just the end of her nose out of that hole, and get good fresh air while she is in labor. It also has 6in.long X 6in. wide squares in the middle of the side that are covered with rat wire so that if the female is laboring sitting up, she can put her nose up to those holes and get fresh air. All these holes are coverable during the winter months, but help tremendously in the summer months with heat, and keeping everything dry. Ours also has a removable slat in the bottom. Which is really a piece of plywood that isn't nailed down. If you use cottonseed hulls, it's sure a heavy shovel full to try to shovel it out, so we just open that slat, and scoop the hulls out the hole, and then spray it out to make sure that you get all the little stuff. Then, open the top, set it in the sun, and let it dry in about 3 hours. Does the mama and pups good to get sunlight too.

The box connects to a "outside lot" that is 8ft long X 4ft wide X 5ft tall. It is totally inclosed in rat wire for the sides, and bottom. There is a door at the end. It has a ^ roof for the water to run off.

It works good, but you better be sure that wherever you put it, that is where it's going to stay, because it is HEAVY!!!

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Last edited by Christy on 09-03-2003 at 08:40 PM

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2967

If you are wise, you will stay away from any straw, cedar chips, or any similar material. A piece of indoor-outdoor carpeting works real well for us. Because of the material, it is easy for the female to clean up after the pups. Be sure to lay it securely so the female can not wad it up.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: VA
Posts: 39

Redtick, sounds like your onto something there. I'm going to give it a try with a litter of rabbit beagles I got due soon...Thanks.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: East Texas
Posts: 828

Our two whelping boxes are 4x4 wooden shipping crates, but if I were to build one from scratch (correction: have DWAYNE build one from scratch) I'd make it at least 4x6, as the four feet isn't long enough for the gyp to really stretch out on her side without being somewhat cramped. Don't have the puppy saver boards because the box is already so cramped.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 4321

I built a box about a year ago and raised one litter in it. All the pups that were born, survived and I think this box was the main reason. It measures about 4' x 4' at the floor level and as you can see, I had rails all around the inside. The lid can be closed, partly opened, or fully opened depending on the weather. I used a single layer of carpet in it. One word of caution on that to keep momma from wadding it up: I had to take some small blocks of wood and run screws through them, the carpet and the floor to keep it in place, but it worked as good as any bedding I've used.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: ALABAMA
Posts: 5183

John, Is that white I see on that black dog? LOL

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, MN
Posts: 4236

Cool box John D....The best I have seen.

I just use a calf hutch....

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 4321

quote:

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Originally posted by Buckshot
John, Is that white I see on that black dog? LOL

---

Yes, it is. Where should I turn myself in at?

Thanks, Josh. I built this from scraps from our house that had just been built, so a guy can sure use what is handy and available to get the job done.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Cartersville, Ga.
Posts: 337

I built one years ago and it's still in use. About 4x4 and has raised 2x4's around the bottom so if female lays on pup it usually gets pushed under the raised board and not smothered. I think they like laying against them too. They like to lay their heads on them a lot. The pups enjoy chewing the raised boards after they get a little bigger too. And the door, and the sides, and the water bucket, etc. I really believe the raised boards save pups. I cut four inch pieces off a 2x4 and put them all the same height that way. I put hinges on the back of the box and a pair of hasps to keep it closed. The roof is long enough to protect the back door. Easy access to check female and pups, clean box or change bedding. In hot weather I don't use any bedding. In cold weather I would recommend carpet samples. They are usually small squares that can be cut to fit or laid in place. When it's time to change them, just throw away and put in new. They're cheap. After pups are weaned it still makes a dandy grown dog box.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Adairsville, GA
Posts: 269

I agree on everything. You Folks really know how to build'em! Mine is like I said a Crate that is 4 1/2' X 4 1/2' and 3' tall. I covered the top with 1/2" plywood and put 3/4" in for the floor. I did install the rails inside and I do think that makes a difference. I only covered the bottom foot all the way around the crate to keep the pups from getting hung in the 1" X 4" slats the crate is made of. Since all my litters are raised indoors the airflow through the crate isn't an issue. I don't use bedding except for mats of carpet or Dollar Store blankets. It makes it alot easier to clean out the mess when you can just pick it up and replace it. But I will not use shavings for sure. I learned a lesson on that about 6 years ago. We had a litter that didn't have their eyes open yet and one male pup that was big and pretty. He was rooting to get on and feed and shoved a shaving right down his throat. I found him that evening dead with a shaving poked down in his throat. Now later on when the pups wean and are moving around real well and the nursing is done, I like the cedar but not too early.

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David Padgett

When the tailgate drops,... The excuses just get more frequent.

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Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Kansas
Posts: 146

John D are you showing off again? j/k That sure is a nice box. It looks even better in the second picture. (full of black pups.)

I haven't had any problems with the carpet rolling up but you might try some double sided carpet tape. That way when you need to chage it out you can just rip it out of there.

Just a thought.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 4321

Darren, if I'd wanted to show off, I'd of taken pictures after I painted it and added the shutters, and landscaping. (j/k, lol)

That tape might work good, or maybe those tack strips they use to hold carpet down? I know one thing, ordinary staples are no match for a black bitch going through transition, haha.

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