We have a Momma doe with EHD. We are working with a vet who seems knowledgable and has resources to also find out more information from a vet professor who also raises whitetail. Our big issue right now is her fawns. She had twins 5 weeks ago. Has been feeding them without issue but is so sick now that we are afraid to let them continue. They are hungry and crying but we cant catch them. Any suggestions please???? We have the replacer and bottles and nipples but they have never had a bottle. Can she still nurse or is this unsafe?
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Are their any other momma does in with fawns? They might take to fawns
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Use a long handled dip net to catch them.
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do you have any other does that would let the fawns nurse from them? if you do keep an eye on them, i had to seperate a couple does cause they tried killing another does fawns. another thought would be putting a bowl of milk replacer in the pen with them if they will not take the bottle. good luck
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Yes try a bowl in their pen... Would separate them in a pen on their own so the others don't drink milk in the bowl if that does not work you need to catch them with a net as stated above......a fishing net with a long handle works........
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Catchin fawns - 5, 6, or more people to work them towards and ultimately in a corner, semi circle them, every one stay even and close in, staying low with arms spread wide...never seen one we couldn't catch!
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Try at night also when its cooler out with a flashlight, a bright spotlight may be to bright and spook them, sometimes they will try and hide if you have some taller grass or something for them to hide in and then be fast with the net! I've gotten lucky whenever I've lost a doe the fawns would always rob milk from the other does and ended up doing fine. Good luck
They have been trying to rob the other's milk but she chases them off. We are on day 2 now of this mess and the stress on both deer and people is rising as the heat is rising.
My heart is breaking as we are watching over and trying to help our Lily girl!!
My heart is breaking as we are watching over and trying to help our Lily girl!!
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Did you have any luck with the fawns?
Our Lily-girl died today, we are terribly sad. We have managed to get one of her fawns (the little buck) separated and have milk in a bowl for him. As of yet he has not taken much of it. We set up our trail camera to see how much is him. We put him in a smaller pen with our most tame doe. She is expecting her first. Thanks for the help!! The other little fawn (doe) is being allowed to eat a bit off the other momma (who has twins of her own).
They are all eating lots of hay, grass/clover, and bits out of the regular feed as well as drinking from the water bucket.
We are curious how early they can leave the bottle/stop nursing and still thrive?
They are all eating lots of hay, grass/clover, and bits out of the regular feed as well as drinking from the water bucket.
We are curious how early they can leave the bottle/stop nursing and still thrive?
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offer some calf manna pellets in a small dog dish for the fawns to eat. Mine seem to love the pellets and are doing very well with them.
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becjo said:
If they are eating ''lots of hay, grass/clover, and bits of the regular feed as well as drinking water from the bucket''...then ultimately, they will be fine.
If though you still want to see that buck fawn continue to nurse on a momma, an ideal time to attempt to make that happen would be when the doe that's with him fawns. Take the after birth from her and rub it on the buck.
But honestly, if it was me, I wouldn't. If that buck fawn is drinking water, eating foliage and regular feed, he'll be fine. As a fawn, he's apt not to grow as fast as his counterparts due to the absence of momma's milk, but by adulthood, he'll catch right up. Another reason I would lean away from looking to adopt him out would be the potential mother you speak of, it's her first time, so she might very well have her hands full with her own ''first'' fawns.
So sorry for the loss of your doe. I know how you must feel. We lost our first doe of 16 years old just this spring...and yep, when we buried her, I cried like a baby!
Hope the best for you and your fawns/deer!
Some positive news!!! Our little guy drank about 4oz. from a bottle this morning!!!
The trail camera set near water, and feed last night showed he did not drink all night. So this morning I patiently waited him out in the small pen until he was calm enough to approach me and managed to get a hold of him and introduce him to his bottle. He did very well and was VERY thirsty. I will go back out and try more in just a bit, and so it begins!!!
Thank you all so much for your advice and knowledge you share here. It means a lot to have back-up to care for these great and beautiful animals.
The trail camera set near water, and feed last night showed he did not drink all night. So this morning I patiently waited him out in the small pen until he was calm enough to approach me and managed to get a hold of him and introduce him to his bottle. He did very well and was VERY thirsty. I will go back out and try more in just a bit, and so it begins!!!
Thank you all so much for your advice and knowledge you share here. It means a lot to have back-up to care for these great and beautiful animals.
AH, I am the deer-momma!! While my hubby is the deer-papa and loves them all , works well with them, is passionate about them he is not the computer type.
Hoping that he catches on a bit more tomorrow but he did take more later for a total of about 7 oz. We also took Lost Creek's advice and put some calf manna out for him. He is a bit happier today!
Hoping that he catches on a bit more tomorrow but he did take more later for a total of about 7 oz. We also took Lost Creek's advice and put some calf manna out for him. He is a bit happier today!