Description
Maintaining an optimal temperature in the piglet nests during the farrowing period is crucial. This minimises hypothermia in the piglets and reduces the risk of piglet loss. This phenomenon often contributes to the mortality of newborn piglets in the first few days of life. The VERBA piglet huts are specially designed to tackle this problem and ensure an excellent microclimate.
These functional VERBA piglet hoods are easy to install and can be adapted to the specific requirements of different farrowing pens. Not only do they provide protection against cold temperatures, but they also help to promote the growth and vitality of the piglets during the crucial early stages of life.
Thanks to the VERBA piglet nests, pig farmers can confidently optimise the farrowing environment and maximise the health and survival rates of their newborn piglets.
Comfort piglet pen
The Verba Comfort piglet hutch offers a smart solution for optimising the microclimate in your farrowing unit. With this durable piglet hutch, you can create a warm nest for your newborn piglets. It also helps you maintain the room temperature for your sows at the desired level. This not only results in lower energy costs, but also promotes feed intake in the sows.
The Verba Comfort piglet pen is available in various designs and can be adapted to almost any size and configuration. You can choose between UV-resistant transparent plastic or black HDPE plastic. The piglet huts feature a 100 mm high front edge. This ensures that warm air circulates effectively within the piglet nest and is not lost.
This versatile piglet pen can be suspended freely above the heating plate, across the partition wall between two pens, in the corner or along the length of the pen. Optionally, the Verba Comfort piglet pen can be fitted with a 230 mm opening for a heat lamp, including a cover plate for this opening.
A really great real-life example from our dealer Coppens Westerhoven, at Niels van Engelen’s, which we were delighted to be involved in: Link: Van Engelen/Coppens Project, Westerhoven
Fold-down piglet pen for enclosing the piglet pen
Our range of piglet pens also includes a transparent model that folds down very easily. This allows you to temporarily separate your piglets for inspection or other checks. Thanks to the transparent panel, the sow can see her piglets at all times, which reassures her. The piglets themselves also remain calmer because they can see their mother and do not feel as though they are being shut away.
This lockable piglet pen is fitted with a simple hinge that clamps onto the partition, allowing it to function as a standard piglet pen. When you wish to secure the piglets, simply lift the hinged lever and move the piglet pen forward. This allows it to serve as a transparent partition. It takes virtually no effort to move the piglet pen. Furthermore, the latch is designed so that the sturdy stainless steel latch automatically moves over the partition wall when you fold the piglet pen back down, saving you extra effort.
The piglet pen is made from transparent sheeting that is UV-resistant on both sides. On both sides, the piglet shelter is fitted with a stainless steel protective strip featuring the unique and extremely strong VERBA beaded edge. As standard, the piglet shelter has a depth of 500 mm and is suitable for a rear wall 500 mm high and 35 mm thick. If your rear wall has different specifications, we can make it to measure. The width of the piglet crawl-under can also be produced to your requirements, which is ideal for renovations. You can supply the side walls yourself or have them supplied by us; in this case, we use 18 mm thick HDPE sheets with stainless steel corner profiles for both the rear wall and the floor.
WELL-NEST Biggen Cabin
VERBA acted as producer during the Pro-Dromi project from Wageningen University, in collaboration with a network of 14 sow farmers. One of the outcomes of this project is the WELL-NEST piglet pen.
The piglet pen is fitted with a plastic rear wall and a piglet entrance, which can be closed off using the sliding panel supplied. The fully transparent front wall is made of 6 mm thick polycarbonate; it is lightweight and easy to remove. The lid remains open automatically once it is opened.
Why use a piglet pen?
Piglets require an ambient temperature of around 35 degrees and will actively seek out warmth. Heating the piglet nest sufficiently and in good time is crucial to prevent them from getting cold and to minimise the risk of crushing. Research has shown that the sow’s comfort temperature during the fourth week of farrowing is around 18 degrees. Every degree above this results in a reduction in feed intake of approximately 175 grams, which can lead to significant weight loss. During the lactation period, a sow should lose no more than 10 per cent of her body weight. A shelter above the piglet nest is essential for creating better climate zones and can reduce the pen temperature by up to 2 degrees. This results in significant energy savings during colder periods.
