I purchased this doe in Dec. of 2010. She was a bred doe. When I received the doe her hair was fine. Sometime during the winter, her sides turned white. It was present on both sides. Almost looked like she was rubbing on something, but I could not find any evidence of this in the pen or on the fence. I assumed it was because she was nervous and not used to her new enviroment. By summer her coat was fine. This winter she had the same problem, no other deer in my pen have this. Any ideas. I hope the pictures are clear enough.Thanks Todd
Looks like she's pulling her hair out. Got one that looks just like it. Most likely others will start missing hair also.
Joined Oct 2011
359 Posts | 0+
Columbia City, IN
I always have 1 or 2 that do the same thing. It's very symmetrical on both sides of her rump (like I shaved it) Only in the winter, down to the skin and it looks terrible. I've tried putting bag balm on it, but they'll lick it off. I didn't want to use the "spray on bandage" just in case they tried picking that off too and made it worse.
Todd, what is your fiber levels in your feed? Is she the only animal in the pen that is pulling her hair? Is she a dominate or submisive doe in the group? Any other health issues with her?
Looks like hair pulling to me...but I wouldn't necessarily say she is doing it to herself.
I would sooner think that it is more likely that others are doing it to her. I personally have never seen a deer pull it's own hair out like that, but I have witnessed others doing it to others. I'm not saying she didn't or couldn't pull her own hair out, only that I've never seen it.
Guess if it was me and this starts again next winter, I would separate her before she loses her ability to stay sufficiently warm.
I would sooner think that it is more likely that others are doing it to her. I personally have never seen a deer pull it's own hair out like that, but I have witnessed others doing it to others. I'm not saying she didn't or couldn't pull her own hair out, only that I've never seen it.
Guess if it was me and this starts again next winter, I would separate her before she loses her ability to stay sufficiently warm.
I think Russ has it with the low fiber in the diet or lack of it. Depending on what is available to them naturally in their pens.....I know others that put Christmas trees and other fresh cut trees to supplement them.
Todd,
You might also want to try feeding with whole white bread. They might be slow at first but I use a loaf per pen every other day and raw peanuts in the shell. Just what works for me is all.
You might also want to try feeding with whole white bread. They might be slow at first but I use a loaf per pen every other day and raw peanuts in the shell. Just what works for me is all.
It may be the fiber???? I am not sure, she is the only deer I own with this problem. I always have hay available to them. The mix of feed is basically corn,oats, and minerals. We adjust the protein level depending on the time of year. She seems fine in every way, very healthy, that I can see. It just seems odd to me she is the only one. I will try the bread mix. It can not hurt. Thanks fr all your advice. Todd
Joined May 2009
204 Posts | 0+
St. Ignace, Northern Michigan
Had the same problem a few years ago.A bottle fed doe with no hair on either side and a three inch wide mohawk down her back.We watched her pull her hair out. The other 18 does were ok and they ate the same 16% pellet. Our vet thought it was a nervous condition. We had to put her down because she was pulling hair on every doe and buck she came in contact with. She was moved into 3 diffferent pens but would not stop. Thats what makes deer farming so interesting.
We have a doe fawn with the same symptoms. She was born late and I just thought her winter coat did not fully develop. I spend a lot of time with them and have never seen her or any other pull on her hair. It just never filled in when she got her winter coat. She has the thick wooly under coat. Which is what is grey. She just doesn't have the outer long hair coat on her sides.
Oh I forgot to mention, She is the only one like this, she lives with 11 other deer, and all get the same feed.