Joined Feb 2013
780 Posts | 1+
Markleville IN
now that the fawning season and bottle feeding is coming to a close I thought it would be interesting and educational for people to share their experiences and share what worked for them and maybe what they though didn't.
Anytime we can prevent issues or learn how to treat them makes us all more better farmers and more profitable.
a couple things I would like to share
1. The pumpkin experiment.
I shared earlier in the season about putting pumpkin in the bottles for stool consistency and help prevent diarrhea. I will have to say I will be doing this EVERY year I bottle feed. I had the least problems digestive wise that I have in 4 years. Less loose stool and better eaters. I let them eat til they are full, I feel that the mother does not restrict their milk so why should I.
2. There always seems to be one in the crowd that is a major pain in the rear. The only thing I think kept this fawn alive was c/d antitox and penicillin. He ate pretty well for 2.5 weeks then started backing off the bottle. He is now about a little over a month old. His womb mate was a great eater an looked like a million. I began treating this fawn periodically with c/d ant. Then I had to treat daily or he would completely back off the bottle, but he was not still eating like I would like. At one point I had to start him on SQ fluids because I thought the end was coming. But he perked up and came to life with the fluids. I was attributing it to him looking a little premature when he was born and maybe something was wrong internally. I tried whole milk instead of our replacer and that was worse. Later I tried goats milk and that was not any better. I decided to try Lactaid milk(lactose free) and wow what a difference it has made in the last 4 days. He downs his bottle instead of nit picking, his very mild bloat has subsided and is starting to come to life. Just shows you they can have the same issues we do.
His nickname is Stinky because his poop has been so foul smelling. This too is getting better. His stool has always been solid.
If this can help a few of you, I thought I would share.
Anytime we can prevent issues or learn how to treat them makes us all more better farmers and more profitable.
a couple things I would like to share
1. The pumpkin experiment.
I shared earlier in the season about putting pumpkin in the bottles for stool consistency and help prevent diarrhea. I will have to say I will be doing this EVERY year I bottle feed. I had the least problems digestive wise that I have in 4 years. Less loose stool and better eaters. I let them eat til they are full, I feel that the mother does not restrict their milk so why should I.
2. There always seems to be one in the crowd that is a major pain in the rear. The only thing I think kept this fawn alive was c/d antitox and penicillin. He ate pretty well for 2.5 weeks then started backing off the bottle. He is now about a little over a month old. His womb mate was a great eater an looked like a million. I began treating this fawn periodically with c/d ant. Then I had to treat daily or he would completely back off the bottle, but he was not still eating like I would like. At one point I had to start him on SQ fluids because I thought the end was coming. But he perked up and came to life with the fluids. I was attributing it to him looking a little premature when he was born and maybe something was wrong internally. I tried whole milk instead of our replacer and that was worse. Later I tried goats milk and that was not any better. I decided to try Lactaid milk(lactose free) and wow what a difference it has made in the last 4 days. He downs his bottle instead of nit picking, his very mild bloat has subsided and is starting to come to life. Just shows you they can have the same issues we do.
His nickname is Stinky because his poop has been so foul smelling. This too is getting better. His stool has always been solid.
If this can help a few of you, I thought I would share.
