3rd year having fawns haven't lost any before and today I went to check and two where dead. Central Minnesota rained all day yesterday and was cold. They where in a shed with good bedding and out of the wind. Two more don't look to healthy gave them fawn gel and warmed them up in a towel. Any other help would be great. Thanks
Joined Jan 2013
286 Posts | 0+
Cando, ND
I had also had 2 die. One a few days ago and one yesterday. These cold nights are hard on them and then throw in rain and you would be struggling to. Try to bring them inside is what I'm going to do if it gets to cold at night. Good luck
Joined Apr 2009
1,485 Posts | 0+
Vaughn, MT 59487
We have the same problem in Montana it rains and is cold with a North wind. Most of my bottle fawns come from this situation. If we don't bring them in they die from hypothermia. Our habitat in our pen just doesn't give the fawns the same chance of protection the wild ones have. The fawns just don't find cover quick enough to help themselves so we have to make them into bottle fawns if we want them to live.
Joined Oct 2011
359 Posts | 0+
Columbia City, IN
Joined Apr 2009
1,485 Posts | 0+
Vaughn, MT 59487
I don't know if this will work but we are in the process of putting in 55 gallon barrels in the birthing pen for protection for the fawns along the fence line. We are putting them in the ground so they don't move at a angle along the fence line. I think any idea that will protect them from the rain would help. Another idea I will try is a sheet of plywood 4 foot by four foot attached to the fence line with wire about eighteen inch's on the wire. Either one of these ideas might supply a fawn protection as they do walk the fence line.
Like I said pens just don't supply rain protection like fawns get in the wild because most pens are devoid of scrubs and trees.
Hypothermia is the cause of our losses so figure out a way to protect the new fawns from rain. If they are dry they can keep warm.
Sheds work great if the fawns are old enough to find them because when they find them at a week old or older they come to it when it rains. Fresh fawns don't know where to go for protection.
Like I said pens just don't supply rain protection like fawns get in the wild because most pens are devoid of scrubs and trees.
Hypothermia is the cause of our losses so figure out a way to protect the new fawns from rain. If they are dry they can keep warm.
Sheds work great if the fawns are old enough to find them because when they find them at a week old or older they come to it when it rains. Fresh fawns don't know where to go for protection.
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Joined Jan 2013
286 Posts | 0+
Cando, ND
I built a shelter similar to a calf shelter for this year. I have one fawn that always uses it but the others haven't figured it out yet so I will put them in there each time I go out there if I can.
Joined Jan 2013
286 Posts | 0+
Cando, ND
Ive heard of this but with the barrel burried in the dirt so it won't blow away. How do you secure your barrel from rolling?
Joined Apr 2009
343 Posts | 0+
Cascade, Iowa
I have been doing this for a few years, works great
I cut both ends out and tie a wire around the barrel to the fence
I tried Jim's way with only cutting one end out but they didn't go in as good
I cut both ends out and tie a wire around the barrel to the fence
I tried Jim's way with only cutting one end out but they didn't go in as good
Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
Yes best if tied to the fence. The fawns tend to walk along a fence and then find a place to lay down.
I cut barrels in half in the middle and cut a door big enough for them to get in...the cut end sets on the ground and you can push it into the ground a bit... haven't had wind issues yet. The ends stack together in a neat pile that tuck in a corner till the next spring
Joined Jan 2013
286 Posts | 0+
Cando, ND
Joined Oct 2011
359 Posts | 0+
Columbia City, IN
You can also use some bungee straps to secure them to the fence.....plus it makes them easy to put anywhere and they don't blow away.....
Dog Houses
Besides the built shed/shelters in the pens, I started using large dog houses with straw in them. Can find them cheap at flea markets etc. Have two in with my two bottle girls and they love laying in them. Put the feed and hay in them too so it doesn't get messed up from rain.
Besides the built shed/shelters in the pens, I started using large dog houses with straw in them. Can find them cheap at flea markets etc. Have two in with my two bottle girls and they love laying in them. Put the feed and hay in them too so it doesn't get messed up from rain.