No milk sack

We just had the tiniest triplets born to a momma who while loving on them appears to have no milk sack. Does the milk sack ever come in after birth? They are not crying although trying to suckle. Advice? Do we wait a few hours and pull them for colostrum if nothing happens? Anyone have this happen before? These are her first fawns.



Thank you, Rebecca

I Would Say That It Would Be Less Likely If They Are premature Than If She Went Full Term To Come To Her mI'll. Oxytocin May help.

We have a first time mother this year with twin Rolex bucks... she has no bag at all, but she is feeding them just fine....Never saw it before either...

Good luck...Marv

Rebecca, As long as they seem satisfied don't sweat it. I had a yearling this year same way very very tiny sack and 2 weeks later shes feeding her own plus we see 2 or 3 other fawns stealing a snack from her and her milk bag is alot larger.



Best of luck

The babies were too little to reach what she did have. They were crying and very weak. We brought them in and fed colostrum as well as gave anitbiotics and dex as perscribed by the vet. 2 died last night and the biggest (1.5 pounds) is doing well. Praying so hard she makes it!! The EHD wiped out all our older deer and all the moms this year were first timers. All our does had preemies this year and out of 8 fawns we only have a 2 week old buck and a 3 day old doe left. Between the weather, preemies, and first time moms with issues this was a horrendous year for our babies!!! My heartbreaks and I am glad we have no more fawns due because I cant watch this anymore!!!

Rebecca, There are a lot of joys being a deer farmer but sorry you are not enjoying it like it you should be.Just remember that they are the LORDS animals and you are just the caretaker doing the best you can with what you have. We have gone thru this many times but have to put it behind us and look to tomorrow. Hang in there and don't get discourged as better days will be coming.

Rebecca, Very Sorry for your loss! I sent you a PM

My heart breaks for you. I am sorry.

Sorry to hear your unfortunate news Rebecca. I hope your 2 fawns you do have grow well and prosper for you.

I kind of feel what your going through, in 2009, May came and went and I had no fawns. June came and went, no fawns. July came and went, no fawns. Finally on August 30th I had a single buck fawn. that was all for me in 2009 out of 7 "bred" does. Apparently my buck was infertile that year, nothing is harder than to lose a fawn crop, they are our future.

The only thing I can say to comfort you a little, keep plugging along. Next year will come, eventually, and it should be a huge improvement compared to the mess of a year you expirenced this year. I am very sorry for your losses, I think if you talk to anyone that has been in this business a while, you will find that everyone has a down year, so we all feel for you, you just have to find a way to stay positive and get through it. Better fawning days are ahead of you. Take care.