how do you get the fawns to start eating grains or feed? mine will turn up their nose and walk off.......I use Max Rack, some oats, tried some sweet feed, just trying to get them started. They will graze in the pen though
I started with one pen feeding them calf manna and they eat it perfectly and have already seen some differences between those in a pen where we are not feeding this product yet. However, at first some does started crawling against the floor to get to this feed as it is much sweeter that regular feed. I had to build a small 8' x 8' corral about 25" HIGH and with wooden bars all around it with 8" SPACES so that only fawns get in and out. Seems to be working well and am already building them for the remaining pens.
Hope this helps.
Eduardo
Hope this helps.
Eduardo
BamaMom said:
Just continue to keep it in front of them and they will eventually take it. Many start them on calf mana. It is extemely strong in smell(anisette/licorice like) and seems to be very palatable to them. But the feeds you mentioned, with the exception of the oats(mine eat them but they are the last thing left in their food tray) they will eat sooner or later. Sounds like you must have some good browse avaiable for them, or have you just now started to make the grain available to them? Patience BamaMom
- they will eat it soon.Mine didn't take off on the grains until she was like 6 months old. She much rather would eat fruits and veggies. Now she is a pro and loves her Corn Oat & Barley top-dressed with Sweet Feed. I have her the Purina Deer Chow (she didn't particularly like it from 4-8 months of age), but NOW she is just chomping it all up and packing on the pounds. Funny, how some tastes just develop with the process of aging. The deer chow is by far the best product for the creation of PERFECT PELLETS. So are fresh leaves from trees and shrubs.
if u are bottle feeding them try missing a feeding and make sure the grain is out by the time u go to feed them their next feeding they will be all over their grain.
ive missed feedings, top dressed it, offered fruits and veggies too....now they will tear up some carrots and bananas, but heck no to any of the pellets.....even the calf manna..got nothing but 8 fawns (oldest about 2 months)in a large pen and 2 in the house. i can tell they are grazing also because of the bowel changes ...lol
Mine really never liked the calf manna. She did like the corn, oat, and barley mix from the feed store (organic COB), top dressed with sweet feed (for horses by Purina).
well today i mixed some sweet feed, calf manna, and record rack apple......they are interested, and nibbling..i know they are still young, but i wanted them to maybe just get the hint lol
Deer love apples, pears, sweet fruits and berries. They love goat milk and young leaves/shoots/ dandelion leaves. They don't love grains when young. Mine didn't begin to like grains until 12 months or so. Honestly, I just don't think deer are meant to eat so many grains. They do, because they are forced to do so. When mine eats too many grains- she gets huge, clumpy poop. For me that says it all... Hug out to you BamaMom... sounds like you've had a rough week. Be well, all will get better soon.
i have those out there too they have great browse in the pen and access to the grain mixture for nibbling.. i add fresh apples, carrots, broccoli, and assorted fruits and veggies daily.. just want them to have what they need to grow healthy and be released in March )
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