Crappy questions

I have seen alot on these forums about scours but nothing on mud. Got two 5 days old. Started with semi- firm/formed poop. Progressively getting less formed to just now thick mud. Feed 5 times a day, about 5oz per feeding. They are otherwise healthy. This may be normal, dont know. Just guaging it with humans on breast milk vs formula. Using river city replacer. Adding probiotics to bottles. Bowl movements are on time just light tan and now cow patty like. No bloat. Completely obsessed about clean bottles. What ya'll think?

Are you giving them fresh dirt? They need fresh dirt I like to go back in the woods and get the real good topsoil. Also feed some pumpkin in the bottle. I would not worry too much if its not just running out them. If its still thick keep doing what your doing maybe every other feeding give them a little pedialyte instead of the milk replacer it will help ease their stomach. I had the same problem last year and it cleared up on me. I would hold off on giving them drugs. Hope this helps

Ryan excellent advice, I agree with you.

I would not treat your fawns any differently yet Jeremy. As long as it's not watery, they are ok, just get dirt like Ryan suggested if you don't have any, mine eat a lot of dirt, especially when they are real young.

If you do start seeing full blown scours I will let you know what has worked for me. When I notice scours, I will give some fawn paste right away. Then I will let that digest in them for a few hours. Next feeding I take less than one ounce of their milk, pour it in the bottle and fill the rest with water ( you can add electrolytes to the water if you prefer). The milk is just flavoring to get them to drink the water. We humans would never drink milk when we have diarrhea so why should the fawns? Now I relize the fawns aren't getting many nutrients, but they will be ok for a day. The trick to this is to do it strictly for 24 hours, even if the fawns begins normal bowel movements before then, don't give more than an ounce of milk, do mostly water. The next day, start sneaking the milk back in. Start with maybe ounce and a half, then by days end maybe 3 mixed with 2 ounces water (going by your 5 ounce per feeding) if the diarrhea comes back, you probably put to much milk in so back it off a little. It also don't hurt to give pepto bismol between feedings. I have had great success with this treatment, no meds other than probiotics and pepto. It usually clears them up in 24 hours or less. I got the basic Idea from a forum member years ago, but I cannot remember who it was. I tweaked his or her instructions a bit to fit my liking over the years.

Thanks guys. Their 6am feeding resulted in firm poop for green 2 and a little firmer for #3. Since this is the first time ive bottle fed, i may be thinking too much. I will say this, 3 eats really fast so i may need to slow her down for fear of allowing too much air into her gut.


I would like to say that this forum has THE BEST people in the world on it and i think its because of the true passion that we share. God bless all of you. I wish you the best.

Jeremy,


      I agree with the above. A little soon for pellets. But would like to say that I would feed a little less formula.


The label says 16-20 oz. per day for the rest of the first week. This should be 3.2-4 oz.  -  5 times a day.


On week 2 It says 18-24 oz. per day. This should be 3.6-4.8 oz.  - 5 times a day  (at this point I would drop back to 4 times a day and feed 4.5-6 oz. at a time.)


 


I take the total per day and divide by the number of feedings per day. This has worked for us. We also added shock effect liquid dispersible to a bottle once a day.


 


I have also used yogurt with active live cultures. (not greek yogurt) in place of the Liquid dispersible,   If we give pumpkin, I don't put it in the bottles because it clogs up the nipples.


 


Good luck,

Yes yogurt is very good also!

I have always questioned the feeding of dirt while bottle feeding due to the health risk of increasing the clostridia load in the digestive tract. I would be more inclined to add a probiotic if I was looking to add beneficial bacteria. We painstakingly try to sanitize everything knowing the value, but then offer dirt?? I know many have been successful with feeding dirt but would caution some depending on their total management practices.


-Len

So i quit adding a small amount of probiotics to bottles and they seemed to firm up a little. I know when i use probios, i have like 5 minutes to find a bathroom. May be to much information LOL. When should it turn to pellets for something that resembles pellets? When you start adding creep feed? Heard that after week one, you can introduce creep feed and sprinkle milk powder over it to encourage consumption. Love the learning........just without the anxiety. Maybe each newborn fawn should come with a prescription for Prozac or xanax...............

Make sure you have free choice water available at all times especially before introducing creep feed

mulberry river whitetails927231401543659

Thanks guys. Their 6am feeding resulted in firm poop for green 2 and a little firmer for #3. Since this is the first time ive bottle fed, i may be thinking too much. I will say this, 3 eats really fast so i may need to slow her down for fear of allowing too much air into her gut.

I would like to say that this forum has THE BEST people in the world on it and i think its because of the true passion that we share. God bless all of you. I wish you the best.


It is so easy to over think........ I am an Obsessed mom. But, it is Always better to be safe than sorry. As babies can go down hill Quick!!

Congratulations on your babies. Once they are weaned, well, I can not wait for mine to be born!

If its not liquid or "milkshake" keep a close eye on them. I think Antlershed is right on, cut the milk add water. One of the largest mistakes is overdoing the milk, keeping them hydrated and loaded with energy ensures they stay alive. I will give good clean dirt as soon as bottle feeding begins, but always test it! I have heard of guys just grabbing dirt that looks good and then to find out it was where a chicken barn used to be or in the path of run off from a cattle operation. Water on the other hand I would not suggest giving free choice until ten days old. Just like fawns in the pen, I've never seen them go to the trough until they are close to a month old. This is some advice I got from a respected deer vet last year. Ryan