I am having a problem with a couple of my does eating the hair from others. At least that is what I think is happening; I have not yet seen this first hand but have seen a hair or two in some mouths. I currently have two does that have absolutely no hair in large areas on their sides (5"x10"). In the cold Northern PA winters this is worrying me. One deer's skin has turned dark brown. Should I be concerned? If so, what should I do? Any help or advise is appreciated.
Joined Apr 2009
524 Posts | 0+
Russell, MN
seems to always be a problem this time of year and no seems to be able find the answer of why they do this. we have does pulling again too....wish i knew the answer!
Some of my does are doing this also. For years one of my more docile does would be plucked clean on her sides. Her skin would also be almost black, I always thought she had frost bite. But every year she would grow her hair back like nothing was ever wrong. I put her in with the doe fawns this year. I bet she's happy to have all her hair this winter. I've tried putting branches from apple trees into the pen...for something to occupy them besides hair pulling. Helps some, gives them to chew on.
Sandy Malone
Pasture Prime Farm
Rush, NY
Sandy Malone
Pasture Prime Farm
Rush, NY
Joined Apr 2009
524 Posts | 0+
Russell, MN
We swapped our bucks and does for the winter. So the does are in the trees and the bucks are out front. The does are still pulling hair with all those trees to occupy them. Still pulling hair....but like Sandy says, they always grow back normal. Its just a weird thing they do until we find out why they do it.
I think it might have something to do with establishing a "pecking order" among the females... I bet if the docile does showed some aggression they would be left alone, hair intact. just a thought... Is there an unharmful, bitter-tasting spray that can be applied that would repell the hair-pulling bit*hy girls?
Thank you for sharing your experiences with this. I feel much better. I guess that we could dig up the old infomercial number for the canned hair to cover these areas (lol).