Anybody have an idea why or how to stop a bottle fed fawn from pulling it's hair out and nipping at other deer. It looks like it's trying to eat the hair off the other deer. They have plenty of feed. About the time it started, we got a bunch of snow. Threw a bale of hay in but it's still doing it. Thanks in advance.
Fawn pulling hair out ??
- Thread starter Willows & Whitetails
- Start date
I have had some do that from time to time. I have put out minerals, extra hay, tried all sorts of things, and have not had any success controlling it. They stop on their own, eventually. I notice it most often right after weaning, or if they have been moved to a new pen, or if they have been sorted out of their fawn group and put in with other deer. Makes me think it might be nerves/stress related.
Joined Apr 2009
519 Posts | 1+
Rivesville, WV
I agree that it does have a relation to stress. I have seen this in fawns and yearlings at times. I have had success in helping this with moving those deer to larger pens. I also had success with giving these deer more roughage and brows. Cut some briars, rose bushes and tree limbs to give them something to chew on. This has helped me.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Joined Apr 2009
810 Posts | 0+
Burlington, West Virginia
We have had this problem in the past also. An old timer told me to increase the amount of Black Oil Sunflower seeds in my grain mix. The reasoning behind it being that they need the extra oil for their coats to help repel moisture. Using the seeds has helped considerably. It hasn't stopped completely, but the pulling is at a minimum. Hope this helps, Allen
Tundra Ridge, it looks like the hair is being eaten as it's pulled but I can not be positive.
Thanks, Robbie and wvdeerman, my wife was thinking it may be due to stress also. We just hope things mellow soon or there won't be enough of a coat left to keep the poor thing warm through the winter.
Allen, my understanding of your post is it may be because the coat is dry and lacking necessary oils. If you have more information you can give me on this, please do. I will try the black oil sunfower seeds and also the extra brush as Jack suggested and keep my fingers crossed!
Thanks, Robbie and wvdeerman, my wife was thinking it may be due to stress also. We just hope things mellow soon or there won't be enough of a coat left to keep the poor thing warm through the winter.
Allen, my understanding of your post is it may be because the coat is dry and lacking necessary oils. If you have more information you can give me on this, please do. I will try the black oil sunfower seeds and also the extra brush as Jack suggested and keep my fingers crossed!
Joined Apr 2009
810 Posts | 0+
Burlington, West Virginia
Willows, It was explained to me that in a captive herd, the deer may not have access to what the wild ones do to build up the necessary oils in their coats.So to ward off moisture in the winter the next best place to get the oil is from the other deer's coats. I use about a pint of seeds per 5 gal. of their pellet/grain mix. I wonder if they could also be picking up some oil from the browse that Jack suggested. Good luck. Allen
seems to me if they are just pulling it could be stress. if their eating it they are missing something in their diet. just my thoughts
Usually a lack of or low fiber content in their diet. Can be stress sometimes as well. I used to have it every spring. I thought they were just hot and were taking their coats off(ha). After raising the fiber level in my feed I have not had it since.
Tim
Tim
Possible lacking vitamin b complex, As well should check copper levels in your feed. Copper very important to maintain health hair coat.