Please bear with me and my story....
I have a 2 1/2 year old buck that I raised since he was probably days old (he was in a ditch near a doe that had been struck by a vehicle). He is very tame and is best buddies with my sheep. He roams freely but chooses to return home to sleep in a covered pen area attached to the side of the barn.
He wears a neon hunters orange collar and most people in my area know his story and wouldn't think of killing him during hunting season. I can't say for sure if others would follow suit. Which brings me to my dilemma:
Last year I kept him enclosed in the barn over the weekends (when most hunters are out) for the last four weekends. Basically, it was he and the sheep living in a spa. Cozy warm bed and room service.
As I write, I have just put him (and sheep) in for the weekend. It hasn't happened yet, but should he begin to get antsy, is there a sedative I could give him?
Thanks for your time and suggestions.
I have a 2 1/2 year old buck that I raised since he was probably days old (he was in a ditch near a doe that had been struck by a vehicle). He is very tame and is best buddies with my sheep. He roams freely but chooses to return home to sleep in a covered pen area attached to the side of the barn.
He wears a neon hunters orange collar and most people in my area know his story and wouldn't think of killing him during hunting season. I can't say for sure if others would follow suit. Which brings me to my dilemma:
Last year I kept him enclosed in the barn over the weekends (when most hunters are out) for the last four weekends. Basically, it was he and the sheep living in a spa. Cozy warm bed and room service.
As I write, I have just put him (and sheep) in for the weekend. It hasn't happened yet, but should he begin to get antsy, is there a sedative I could give him?
Thanks for your time and suggestions.
