Fawn Pens

I need to design pens also. This is only our 3rd fawning season coming up, and only bottle fed 2 per year.  We've used a large dog kennel in the house for thier 1st 10-14 days, then moved fawns into a 5000 sq.ft. pen. They couldn't be more friendly. This year we'll bottle feed 6-10, and need to build a structure in the small pen for them. Do you guys keep yours seperate, in pairs, or could I put them all in one 10x10 building? Like Snowman, I'm looking for ideas and some pictures.

Bob, I also did like you, I would Start them out the first 2 weeks in little pens. Some of mine started in little 4x4 or 6x6 pens. Then I would move them to my 50x50 pen with a shed in it, the fawns like goign in and out of the shed. Some of the tips I have. Make sure the pen has a good sod layer and healthy grass, and is well drained. The fawns will start to trample the grass eventually, but it helps to try to keep grass in there for healthier soil. Another thing I recommend is using smaller spaced wire, like 3x6, or chainlink. Bottlefeds like to stick their heads out when people walk by for treats, so it helps to try to eliminate that.

Snowman1004571420634625



Good morning everyone. Hope all is well and everyone had a good Holiday season. We are planning on redesigning our fawn pens. If anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated. I'm really trying to maximize the friendliness of our fawns. Thanks!   




I believe their first week is the make or break when it comes to friendly fawns. I always leave our bottle feds in playpens in a room in our house. On the mom for a day or so then in the house with the kid and dog. They all play together and when friends stop by they get rubbed all over because they are so..Cute.. and they know its you..People..that have what fills their belly!

This summer i seen some of the tamest fawns ive ever seen at one of my friend's farm. anf i asked him how he did it? He told me he put a little pen in the middle of his doe pen and used 2x6 boards 2 or 3 high and just added boards as the fawns got bigger, so they couldnt get out. the does stepped in and later,had to jump in to feed they're fawns but every day and every night he was right in there in tight quarters playin with them and walk right through them to feed rest of the deer. im wanna try that this yr i just thought it was awesome that he could get so tame fawns and not even hav to bottle feed.

Hi lajohn

Let me know how that works for you ....maybe I will try if it works for you.

lajohn, I would like to see a picture of that. How big is a little pen. A fawn can jump pretty high pretty quick.

Snowman1004801420720676



Thanks for all the replies! its really the first two weeks I was worried about, we should have around 40 to bottle feed this year. We only bottle feed doe fawns or sick ones. I was thinking baby play pens too. How many do you keep in each 3X3 pen antlershed? Four Seasons, how many would you keep in a play pen, 4?




We do 2 or 3 depending on size. We leave them inside for like a week, Then when they go outside they go into their own boxes in the fawn barn, they are alone for a couple weeks so that way whenever they see you they then get fed and are jumping and wagging their tails trying to get to you, after a couple weeks they can go in pens together and they still run to you.

Snowman1004801420720676

Thanks for all the replies! its really the first two weeks I was worried about, we should have around 40 to bottle feed this year. We only bottle feed doe fawns or sick ones. I was thinking baby play pens too. How many do you keep in each 3X3 pen antlershed? Four Seasons, how many would you keep in a play pen, 4?


i only feed 2, maybe 3 a year. I have been wanting to quit bottlefeeding because of the hard work and long term commitment, but the little critters are so cute that I always end up with a few in the house. I take them all in the house, put them together in a 4x4 pen in the basement corner. The basement is always darker, so it helps keep the fawns calm, which makes it easier to start them. Then once they are started, after a few days or a week, I take them out to a chainlink dog kennel that is all grass. It's probably 16x8', with a small shelter for them to lay in. It's only a 5' tall kennel, so I only leave them in there for a few weeks. Then they go to the 50x50' fawn pen, which ties into my alley way. Whenever I decide where they are going for the winter, I open the gate of the fawn pen that leads to the alley, then I open the gate of the desired pen, in the evening. When I go out in the morning, they are usually all sorted where they need to be.

Lajohn,

I would also be very interested in seeing a picture of what you describe. Sounds like something I would love to try.

Lajohn, 


Is that any chance of getting a picture of this as you described it? What are the measurements on the size of the pen? Does it have a top on it also? 


 


Thanks

I have to get the measurement of his pen he made but when he weaned his fawns he just slid the boards out and stored them for the winter. he didnt have a top and was up to about 40" high i think when he combined and by then his fawns were very tame. iwanna go up there and find out more so i dont talk to much out of my rear before i know all the facts! : )

Gods Grace Whitetails1005441420992584


Lajohn,

Is that any chance of getting a picture of this as you described it? What are the measurements on the size of the pen? Does it have a top on it also?


Thanks

I dont think he has them up anymore for a pic but he mite still have the posts there where he has a uchannel on them to slide the 2x6's into

Thanks Lajohn

HAs anyone put anything together like what lajohn has described yet.  I love the idea. do you think it wound work with like a two and a half foot fence. my intent would only be to keep them in for a couple weeks. Last year i had an issue with the fawns getting out of my pens the first couple weeks and i spent more time walking the pens tring to check up on them.

jasons_taxidermy1023581431476492


HAs anyone put anything together like what lajohn has described yet. I love the idea. do you think it wound work with like a two and a half foot fence. my intent would only be to keep them in for a couple weeks. Last year i had an issue with the fawns getting out of my pens the first couple weeks and i spent more time walking the pens tring to check up on them.

lajohn1024841432180472

jasons_taxidermy1023581431476492


HAs anyone put anything together like what lajohn has described yet. I love the idea. do you think it wound work with like a two and a half foot fence. my intent would only be to keep them in for a couple weeks. Last year i had an issue with the fawns getting out of my pens the first couple weeks and i spent more time walking the pens tring to check up on them.

Hey this yr im doing like a 16x16 or 20 pen with a 6 ft gate on each side i just use my original fence for one side n like 6 ft fence on other side then i just slide my boards on two sides by the gate openings n put my feeder in the middle the does go in to eat n dont feel trapped cause its open both ways. i talked to my buddy last wk n he said some of his fawns frm last yr are eating out of his hands!