Questions about feeding and stool

Hello all. Might I start off by saying how wonderful the people are on this forum! My husband and I are new to deer farming and without this forum and the helpful people on here we would be seriously stressed.



Our first fawn ever is currently 7 days old, 9.5lbs drinking 5.5 oz 4 times a day. We feed her a 1/2 cup of milk replacer with red cap milk. Very active healthy girl so far.



Stool Question

1. Is it normal to have quite a bit of mucus in her stool? Since her stool has turned to soft pellets she's had the mucus mixed in with it. She is peeing on her own



Feeding

1. How does everyone increase their milk intake? Over 1 day, 2 days and how many ounces each day increase?



2. How do you go about decreasing the feedings from 4 to 3 and make sure they are getting enough milk without giving them scours from increasing milk too much in one feeding?



3. Am I feeding her enough? Again 9.5lbs 5.5oz 4x day.

Hey Tim,

I'll email you a feeding schedule that I was given.

Thanks Dave.



FYI-I was the guy that spoke with you a week or so ago about possibly coming out to tour your Farm.

Yep, that's how I had your email address

Dave,

When you up their amount of milk from week to week do you increase from 6oz to 8oz in one feeding or do you increase 1 oz per feeding till you are at the correct oz?

You could do it in 1 ounce increments but I wouldn't think a 2 ounce jump would hurt anything. If you are feeding 4 times a day I would just bump it up 1 ounce that day and see how it goes and if she has no problems give her the other ounce the next day. Just my opinion.

I only do one ounce increments. Upping in the morning and night for 2 days to make sure it is setting well with them, then they get the full ounces 4x per day. I think a 2 ounce jump per feeding right away is too much, but I've never tried it. Seems slow and steady is a much better way and I don't like to rush them into having a too full belly.



For example....I just up from 7oz to 8 oz. I did 8oz in the morning and evening feedings for 2 days. They were all good, so on the 3rd day I did 8oz for all 4 feedings.



I think feeding schedules are great for a guideline, but once you get going and have more experience....use your own instinct as to when they are ready for more ounces per feeding. Some are ready to bump up sooner than others. If they are handling it great....bump them up even though the "schedule" doesn't say its time.

First off let me apologize. I can't figure out how to start my own thread. I have a 5 week old fallow. I was hoping to get input on a feeding schedule. I am currently giving 4 bottles daily of 8 oz. She isn't eating much for grain or greens. She will eat it if I put it in her mouth but doesn't eat on her own. Is this typical at this age? Don't dare cut back on bottles yet but didn't know if cutting back might encourage her to try to eat on her own? Thanks!