I am planiing my first litter at the end of the year, before anyone asks, yes my bitch will have a ll the health checks and if ok, then i will go ahead with the breeding.
I have been looking at the Snowsilk whelping boxes, as much as i like them, at this moment in time i can't afford to buy one. It would be great if i could buy a second- hand snowsilk but i know that is not advised.  I know people use cardboard boxes, i have seen the disposable boxes advertised in the dog papers.
My question is dfoes anyone have a good plan on making there own, if so i would be interested in building one, but i'm not very good at DIY, neither is hubby.

I hope you can help me

Lorraine

hi lorraine, have a peek at the thread above and see what you think. there is also a company which makes cardboard disposable whelping boxes, but im not sure of their name, hopefully someone on here will know :-)

We used a cardboard disposable whelping box for our last litter.It withstood the ravages of 10 Belgian pups and my bitch seemed very comfortable in it. I added a puppy pen as they grew and finally got rid of the box when the pups were 8 weeks old.

Yvonne

Oops forgot to mention the name of the manufacturers: they are AMP products ,their site is www.whelping-boxes.co.uk

I make my own, using white contiboard from MFI - they cut to size.  for aprox 3'x3' I think it costs me about £20.  they are very easy to make.  Just take the size you want (probably best to make sure that a standard vet bed will fit)  and work out how high you need the sides - mine are 15".  then work out the sizes you need cut.  For mine I get 3 pieces cut at 36" x 15", (sides and back) 2 pieces at 36" x 6" (front).  For the base I get a piece cut 39" x 39"  - make sure you choose sizes which will convenietnly come out the sheets as available.  Simply drill the sides, back and front in the corners, using "L" brackets to mark the placings of the wholes, then fix together with the baakcets, bolts and wing nuts (so you can screw and unscrew easily)  Get bigger bolts and wing nuts to fix to the base, plus more L brackets.  Place the assembled top on base and fix L brackets to 2 sides, front and back, with the flat face down on the base (outside the puppy area) mark, drill and fix the larger bolts sticking up.  You can then place the vet bed down, making slits at the positions of the bolts,and then the top  sits down on top, with the L brackets slipping over the botls, and fasten down with big wing nuts.  This holds vet bed firmly in place regardles of houw much digging and scratching up takes place.  Forgot to say, the front, fix the first 6" pices exactly like sides/back, then cut plastic channel to fit and screw on sides above this, so the second 6" piece can be slipped in to make the entrance higher if needed.

Previously I have put 2 runners on the bottom, but this time I used castors so it can be moved if needed.  I also fix spring clups on the side so a pole slots in from which the heat lamp is suspended.  Also previously I have drilled holes and used broomshank/dowel for pig rails, but this time I used poly pipe, fixed onto the brackets to fit (from plumbing dept) so much eaier to keep clean.

sorry if this is all a bit confusing, but hope it gives you some ideas.
bye
Gwen

Thank you all for your replys.

I think i might just have a go at making one, we have justy had the kitchen refitted, so there is plenty of conti-board left over.

I'll let you know how i get on.

Lorraine

Lorraine, we made our own out of conti board and its fab !! if you PM me i will give you details on how etc.

Emma
x

Same here Lorraine.  I made my own for just a few pounds and it did the job a treat.  Our local plywood supplier had black contiboard doors as offcuts for £1 each and I used brackets for the corners and dowelling for the rails.  It took me about an hour or so to put together and was very simple to assemble.  I used an offcut of vinyl (£3) for the base which was wipeable and disinfectable.  Now its time is over I have cast it aside without a thought, I doubt I would do the same with a snowsilk box!  I shall make another one IF I ever need one!  IF ... ...

PM me and I am happy to send you a picture.