when is a good time to start leaving feed or trying too get them to start eating feed and alphalfa. my fawn is about 1 week old
bottle fed babies
- Thread starter White Oak Whitetails
- Start date
Spanky at 7 days I introduce feed to my fawns. They have the clover and grass that they have already bin nibbling on. Not all will take right to feed but some like to nibble so it will always be there when they are ready. A fresh handful every day lets me know when I need to set my feeder in the pen.
We have a tray with dirt in it that they nibble on within days of birth with relish. Just crumble up some pellets in with the dirt when your ready to intoduce. They get the taste for it then you can add bigger pieces and in our case the oats roasted beans and cracked corn later. We intoduce them to clover right away but they don't really eat much at first. Just sort of play with it and mouth it and then spit it out but eventually they well start swallowing it. They really like the clover flowers. Rick
thanks for all the info everybody, your all a big help.
ps. why do you put dirt in their pens? just for them too lick on?
ps. why do you put dirt in their pens? just for them too lick on?
Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
Some bacteria is good for their tummies. Some dirt intake is how they get it. Don't misunderstand this to mean they have to eat very much though.
I to give fresh dirt every day 1 shovel full i only use probiotics if i see fawn start to scour. Dirt seems to do the trick for me and is natural probiotic.
When a fawn is born it does not have a completely developed ruminate stomach. They have an esophageal groove that bypasses the rumen and sends milk directly to the abomasum part of the stomach. Long story short they essentially have one stomach until the rumen completely develops. Dirt help to start development of the ruminant microorganisms in the rumen. this can take a couple weeks for they 4 chambered ruminant stomach to completely develop. It is important to reduce/ eliminate the amount of air that the fawn consumes to reduce bloat due to the monogastric-like stomach. If this there wasn't an esophageal groove the milk would enter the rumen and sour, not good. Isn't it amazing how these things are designed?
Before you first use new bottles, nipples, and rings, you should sterilize them by submerging them in a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes. Then allow them to dry on a clean towel. After that, a good cleaning in hot, soapy water or a cycle through the dishwasher is sufficient.
Joined Apr 2009
1,231 Posts | 0+
PA
Joined Apr 2009
1,231 Posts | 0+
PA
