Housing Conditions of fur animals
Buildings are developed according to the needs of the animals
Fur animals live in open-sided structures where animals have their own pens. Each animal has its individual ID-card. The buildings are of a light construction built on a sand bed. There are usually two rows of pens and an aisle in between.
Wire mesh allows the urine and faeces to drop down from the pen. Consequently, animals stay clean and dry, which eliminates many diseases. When the fur stays clean and airy its insulation capacity remains good. Nowadays the bottom mesh of the pen is always plastic coated or made of stainless steel.
The ambient climate is a natural environment for farmed fur animals so they adapt well in the open-sided sheds throughout the year. Good quality feed and care guarantee the optimum health and condition of the animals.
Two-row open-sided mink housing
The pen size and structure varies from one fur animal species to another. Mink pens are always provided with nest boxes, while foxes only have one during the whelping period. Because foxes like to observe their surroundings their pens are provided with a viewing platform near the roof of the pen.
Two-row open-sided fox housing
In addition to the animal houses there are other buildings on the fur farm area. The pelting house includes heated rooms for pelting, storage of pelts and a small, hygienic room for artificial insemination.
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Image 1 is of the basic construction of Mink houses in Ireland
Image 2 is of the basic construction of Fox houses in Ireland
The Picture above is of the inside view of a standard mink house
The image above shows the mink cage and nest box construction