DE20205435U1 - Litter box for rodents with heating device - Google Patents

Description

Whelping box for rodents with heating device Description

The invention relates to a temperature-controlled heating device, integrated in a whelping box, in particular for the birth and rearing of rodents, preferably rabbits, according to the preamble of claim 1.

When raising young, freshly born rodents, a lot of experience has been gained with regard to the needs of the newborn young. It is vital that the young, which do not yet have fur after birth, are not exposed to the cold environment for the first ten days, as they need more warmth than the furry mother. This is especially true in the cold winter months. Furthermore, shortly before giving birth, the mother always looks for a dry, dark, cave-like and warm place to give birth.

It is well known that heavily pregnant rabbits were brought from the outdoor stables to heated rooms during the cold season to give birth in order to ensure the survival of the young animals, but these animals then often aborted their offspring due to the unfamiliar environment.

In order to ensure the survival of the young animals, infrared lamps were placed over the rabbits' nests in some cases, but these represented a significant financial outlay due to their high energy consumption. The high heat generated also posed a fire hazard. Laying the electrical cables was also problematic because the animals liked to chew on them.

Since such devices do not comply with the required safety regulations in the breeding facility, this application is not recommended.

According to DE 19926859, piglet resting places heated by floor heating are known. However, these resting places are not a closed, transportable unit that is introduced into the mother animal's living space.

The task is solved by placing a portable whelping box with a heating device in the stable of the pregnant mother animal before giving birth. This box represents a cave-like dwelling and thus enables natural and species-appropriate husbandry.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by claims 1-8.

The subclaims indicate possible designs with which additional advantages can be achieved.

In recognition of the fact that the animals have a third of their body surface in contact with the lying surface, the heating elements (7) were built into the base plate, which otherwise radiates cold, in particular to warm the nest material and the young animals. The whelping box with heating device not only functions as a source of heat, but also forms a nest boundary in the form of a cave, as it prevents the uncontrolled removal of the young animals from the nest, which at low temperatures means the certain death of the young animals.

The new type of whelping box with a heat-emitting element (7) for heating the rodent nest from below corresponds to the basic physical and technical principle of thermals, whereby the heat rises from bottom to top. The heating device can be powered by direct current, for example, with the advantage that the energy can also be taken from accumulators, meaning that the user is no longer tied to a location. The energy supply can also be carried out using other energy sources.

The floor heating used also ensures that the nest does not cool down when the young animals leave it, for example during suckling, and that the young animals always find a warm nest.

With the heating system presented, the required nest warmth is achieved even at low temperatures. Furthermore, the young animals develop better because they do not have to expend the energy required to warm themselves.

In order to ensure a better heat transfer into the nesting area (8), a flat heat-conducting layer (5) is placed between the heating element (7) and the nesting floor (2), which corresponds in size to the area of the

A thermal insulation layer (4) can also be attached to the underside of the heating element to prevent heat loss downwards.

The use of plastic feet, which are attached to the four corners of the underside, prevents cold from being transferred from the stable floor to the whelping box floor. On the other hand, the rising of manure and moisture into the nesting box due to capillary action is prevented. The height-adjustable feet ensure a secure stand on almost any surface.

The whelping box forms a cave-like dwelling, as it has a loophole (10) in the upper half of one side, which is always round or rounded to avoid injuries.

In order to enable successful nest inspection and stress-free rearing for the animals, an access hole is provided for the breeder, which is normally closed with a flap.

The energy supply within the pen is preferably via bite-resistant cables or hoses to prevent the animals from gnawing.

One of the great advantages of the invention is that the whelping box with heating device is mainly used in the whelping doe's stable and can be removed and used elsewhere after the rearing phase.

The accompanying drawings show in:
Fig. 1: Side view of the whelping box
Fig. 2: Cross-sectional drawing of the whelping box

Legend to Figures 1 and

01- Box bottom

02- Nest floor

03- Spacer wood

04- Insulation

05- heat-conducting layer

06- Stand feet

07- Heating element

08- Nesting room

09- Lid

10-Loophole

Claims (8)

1. Whelping box with heating device for temporary introduction into an animal stable, in particular for rodents, characterized in that an intermediate floor ( 2 ) is attached as a nesting floor above the whelping box floor ( 1 ), and that a heat-emitting element ( 7 ) is attached in the space between the nesting floor and the whelping box floor under the intermediate floor ( 2 ). 2. Whelping box according to claim 1, characterized in that a thermal insulating layer ( 4 ) is arranged between the heat-emitting element ( 7 ) and the whelping box floor ( 1 ). 3. Whelping box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an additional heat-conducting, planar element ( 5 ) is attached between the heat-emitting element and the nesting floor for even distribution of the heat over the entire nesting floor. 4. Whelping box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy supply of the heat-emitting element is guided via a bite-proof hose. 5. Whelping box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat supply is adjustable. 6. A whelping box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is constructed in a form that represents a cave-like dwelling for the animal and contains a loophole ( 10 ) for the young animal and the mother animal. 7. Whelping box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains a closable opening for cleaning and care by the breeder. 8. Whelping box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that height-adjustable feet are attached to its underside.