Can we overfeed almost 3 week old buck?

EllieMae · Jun 11, 2012

We have a buck fawn that will be 3 weeks old Wednesday. He acts like he's starving all the time! Last year we raised a doe on the Red Cap feeding program and she did great. We can't have a minutes peace around him. He's constantly looking for a nipple like he is starving to death. Can you feed a fawn too much milk? We give him 10oz. 4-5 times a day but he wants more! I bought some calf starter pellets which he won't touch. Mixed in a little sweet feed and he still won't eat it. Nibbles a little on grass/clover but only wants MILK!

Another question, when will his poop turn to pellets? I can't remember from last year. Have a hard time getting him to poo and when he does there is quite a bit of mucus also. A couple of times it looked like it was turning to pellets but now it's just soft clump. Never had any blood just quite a bit of mucus.

Thanks! Katrina

Lanasvet · Jun 11, 2012

Mucus can be suggestive of coccidia, salmonellosis or parasite overload.

Katrina, I would get a stool sample (fecal test) done at your vet's office. It shouldn't cost more than $30 to do so.

They will tell you if the buck has any parasites, or bacteria issues so that you can treat. There shouldn't be mucus in his stool, I know this for sure.

Try adding some pumpkin (crushed, no spices) to his formula, and perhaps try some goat milk from the store to try to firm him up.

It took my doe fawn over a month to go to pellets, maybe even longer. All that I can tell you is that goat milk helped her to get pellets.

My doe really didn't like the taste of Calf Manna, and she took better to COB (corn, oat and barley mix) topped with sweet feed. But she much preferred fruits of all kinds to grains...

Lanasvet · Jun 11, 2012

Good guidelines for fawn care:

http://www.ildfa.com/images/Fawn_Care_Guidelines_Dr.pdf

Scott Heinrich · Jun 11, 2012

sprinkle a little milk replacer powder on the feed.

LJwhitetails · Jun 12, 2012

The minute you pull the bottle out, slip a pellet in their mouth and gently hold the mouth shut after awhile they will start chewing on it. Continue the process for a couple of more pellets. If you can't get the pellets in just come in from the side of the jaw, between the front and back teeth you can slip one in there.

This has worked for me, starting to eat pellets at 19 days old.

We only use the small pellets 5/32 I think is what they are called

EllieMae · Jun 15, 2012

I didn't think it was good either! Picking up som Albon today. Hope that will help. THANKS!

EllieMae · Jun 15, 2012

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions! I'll let you know how he's doing.

Can we overfeed almost 3 week old buck?

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