Bottle Feeding, Should I or Shouldn't I ???

I am pretty new to the deer indurstry and what started for me as a hobby has grown into a passion. I find myself always constantly trying to think of ways to improve my operation (when I should be working). My latest consideration is whether to build a deer fawning facility or not. I've talked to several farmers about the pro's and con's of bottle feeding and I decided I'd start a thread here on the forum and see what everyone else has to say.



I am fortunate to be in a position to go all out and build a nice fawn facility with all the bells and whistles but I am not yet certain that it's the best way. I'm wondering if I decide to not bottle feed and keep everyone on their mothers will I have a deer herd that goes berzerk everytime someone enters the pen or will they get used to having humans around them? I don't mind the time and expense involved in bottle feeding as long as the benefits outweigh the investment.



Bottle feed, Yes or No, what should I do?



Thank you in advance!

After starting with one bottlefed 4 years ago, then 5 the next year, then 26 last year and up to 21 this year, all the work was well worth it.



I just got back from showing someone the deer a couple of minutes ago, and although it's 92 degrees out, some of my yearling does still came up to say hello and even took a marshmellow from a 3 year olds hand and let her pet them. It's awesome going out to feed and having all those does come up to you instead of stomping at you, then snorting and then all you see is a tail as they run away.



Been there, done that and won't go there anymore....bottlefed does are the best around here!!

I have bottle feed every since I started, but last year I had a doe that we just couldn't get started on the bottle. After 3 days I put her back in with her bottle feed mother. Momma took her back and a year later she is a 5 footer that I think by the end of the summer I will be able to pet. I have bottle feeds that wont get this close and are no where near this calm. This year I have 3 doe fawns that I am keeping for myself and they are all on there mother. Bottle feed for a few years and then reap the beafits of a calm herd and take a few years off.

Matt...that is exactly my plan. I wanted to hit it hard for a couple of years and then figure I could take a couple of years off and still have tame does. I know some don't like them tame, but our preference is the tamer ones. They sure are alot of fun when they come to see you in the pen.

We found out over the years if you bottle feed the fawns and dont give them alot of attention they arent any tamer than or mother raised fawns when there older.When I say lots of attention I mean petting them feeding them treats dont just go out 3 times a day give them a bottle and leave they usally arent any tamer when they get older.That said or deer are right near the house so they see people,dogs,tractors,4 wheelers everday.We give them a special mix everyday and all the does,fawns,bucks come up to within a few feet of us everyday bottlefeed or not.The key is the more interaction they have the tamer they are.I have seen some deer in pens at places that are a long way from the house and when people go to the pen the deer just go nuts mainly because they never get any interaction with people much.Thats just what weve seen at or place.If you bottlefeed just remember lots of love and they will be much tamer than mother raised.

Wthollow hit the nail on the head.....this is exactly right........Bottle feeding is not worth it if you don't interact with the deer and or fawns daily........the key is the daily interaction.......even if it is a daily quad ride around the pens feeding a treat the deer will be much calmer for sure!! i am going to try the "imprinting" process that i read about this year....this is wear if your not bottle feeding you need to go in and pet the new born fawns several times a day for the first few days until they start to get up and run from you.......once they start to run from you thye say that you need not worry the imprinting process is done and you will notice once the fawns wean tat they are calm around you ....but you still need that daily interaction so they get used to you. Anyhow, bottle feeding can be a lot of funa and a lot of head aches.......it is a lot of work but I feel it is worth the effort!

Oh another thing to remember is a bottle fed doe is much more apt to sell for more at the sales than one that is not bottle fed......just another way to look at it.

Here's a question for you all sorta on the same topic (just so I don't have to start yet another new thread)...



With the two doe fawns I'm bottle feeding...when I've got them in the barn with me, they're fine....I can pet them, walk around them, etc and they're perfectly calm. Once I let them out in the pen (small pen... probably 50' long x 20' wide if that), they won't let me near them if they're up walking. If they're laying down I can usually walk up and pet them.



I want these fawns to be tame... I'm bottle feeding for that purpose and I have no problem spending time with them (heck, I'm getting paid to do so...and it sure beats doing actual manual labor LOL). What I want to do is allow the fawns access to the pen for half the day and then close them in the barn half the day. So my question is...when are the fawns most active and when would be the best time to allow them to roam the pen? Would they get more out of it if I allow them to roam it at night and then close them in the barn during the day or would they benefit more from the sunlight during the daytime and be better in the barn at night?



Also, Brett... this is my first year bottle feeding healthy fawns (tried to bottle feed two abandoned fawns last year but only lasted about 3 weeks before both were dead). It's a lot of work and can kinda kill your free time, especially if you work full time...but I don't regret doing it and I do believe all the time and effort I'm putting into it will pay off in the end.

Fawns will usually want to run and play right after they are done feeding...they get that energy burst.......I would let them out during the day......spend a lot of time with them in the pen and they will start to come up to you and let you pet them eventually.....it is all in what they get used to.