Straw will be hard to keep clean, it will make a mess all over your shop. I recommend that you cover the floor of the pen with MANY layers of newspapers. You can just fold up a section or a layer when it is soiled, which will be about every 15 minutes. The pups are probably already eating puppy chow of some sort, just stick with whatever they are used to. First shots at 6 weeks, they will be checked for hernias, etc at that time.
The mom might not want to nurse them much, or stay in their pen. Their teeth will be causing her some pain by this age. She should stay nearby, and put her with them and encourage her to nurse them for a few minutes 3-5 times a day, if she will. Then let her go back out of the pen. Give them safe toys to chew. Even an old towel is a good tug-of-war toy, but only give it when you can be there to watch them, you don't want them swallowing loose thread, etc. If weather permits and you get a fence up, let them stay otuside as long as it is warm, and come in and sleep at night.
If mom will not nurse them, you can get a replacement milk formula at the pet store (Second Step) and that will help with digestion and with missing their Mom's milk. Keep water available, but choose the bowl wisely, they will tip it over and make a big mess, walk through it, etc. Look around the pet store and ask for some advice. See what you friend has been using.
If the pen is large enough, the pups will pick one spot to poop in, away from their bed. Then you can gradually start using less newspaper, leaving the area where they DON"T poop bare. In the end, they will associate papers with pooping, and will be paper trained.
Good luck, this mom will need to be spayed, and I hope you can find homes for the pups, try to list them on sites that don't charge for the service.
Marcia Potts, Bonnie Collies
