What's Wrong with Our Deer?

This could almost go in health and wellness, but I'm thinking it's actually more related to the feed than any illness...



I know I could search for this, but it's midnight and I gotta be at work in 6 hours to feed the fawns...I've been at work since 6am this morning and finally found a whole 2 hours to sit back and relax before I pass out for the night (in other words...too swamped to search when I can just ask).



Normally, our deer are quite plump this time of year...and our bucks are usually pretty far along in their antler development. This year however, most of our deer are on the skinny side. Our breeder buck appears to be sick (very skinny and his antlers are pathetic compared to the past couple years--born in 2005)... we wormed with Safeguard 3x this spring, just as we always do...plus we offer hay and Kent Trophy Image 18 deer pellets.



The bucks in the woods get Kent Trophy Image 20 deer pellets...our breeder buck is still in with the does though so he's getting the 18.



Last year, we switched to feeding them as much as they could eat rather than a set number of bags each day...we just fill our feeders up once a week or so and they never go empty. This year our bucks haven't been eating much at all...maybe the equivalent of half a bag a day (used to take down 1 1/2 - 2 50 lb bags a day)...our does eat a bit more...but like I mentioned, they're all on the skinny side. My main concern is, while they're not dangerously skinny now...now that they have fawns, they're going to continue to lose weight over the summer while they're raising them.



I darted our breeder buck with Ivomec Plus...I think I've hit him with a total of about 5cc over the past month (spread out over the month...not all at once). He seems to be acting better...but still looks pathetic.



We used to feed Antler King pellets, but our supplier convinced us to switch to the Trophy Image because they can stock it whereas the Antler King, they have to special order it and need us to contact them with our order 2-3 weeks minimum in advance.



We've also considered switching back to our winter feed next time we order...which if I recall correctly is something like 25% corn, 25% oats, 50% Trophy Image pellets.



I guess what I'm asking is... does anybody recommend any dietary changes in order to help our deer pack more weight on? I can try to get some photos this week of some of our deer so you can see what I mean. A lot of them have their ribs showing...not sticking out like a starved deer, but normally our deer are nice and plump with no visible rib bones.

Sorry, I wasn't so clear before...let me just add in, the new feed was fine last year. We switched during late spring/early summer if I recall correctly (actually may have been earlier than that) and they ate it just as well as they did the Antler King. They ate it fine during the winter months as well. Originally I just assumed they cut back their pellet food intake due to all the fresh clover and other greenery growing in the pens...and I'm sure that is still partially true...but they're just not putting on nearly as much weight this year like they did last year.



Could be the company changed their formula around somewhat...or changed suppliers...no idea? If I remember, I'll grab one of the guaranteed analysis labels and post a scan of it tonight before I pass out for the night.



For those of you not using commercial diets, what are you feeding...what kind of percentages are you running in your mixes...and what do you do to keep the critters (raccoons/groundhogs, etc) from getting in there and eating a lot of the feed?



Speaking of...that's gotta be one of the scariest experiences I've had to date. Opened a feeder up one day a couple months ago and a racoon came launching out the door at me. I screamed bloody murder and ran...and it normally takes a lot to scare me. LOL

Interesting...I'll definitely look into a different wormer. I didn't realize Ivomec made crumbles...will have to check into that since darting deer can be time consuming which is quite difficult with someone who has very little time



After hearing that, I've got a feeling our problem is worms...we've been using the Safeguard treatment for years (3x in the spring and 3x in the fall) and IMO, it has appeared to have been losing effectiveness especially the past year or two. We dart the ones with Ivomec Plus that show symptoms of worms after they've been wormed for the spring...and it seems we've had to dart a lot more the past couple years.



I have a hard time believing it's related to the feed provided there has been no change in suppliers or formulations with the company since the deer ate it just as well as the Antler King when we first switched over to it.



Also, when you guys (and girls) talk about adding probiotics to your feed, how is that done...just dust it across their feed or what?

Well we're not 100% sure it's not worms, but we're leaning toward feed issues being at least a large part of the problem...reason being, even the deer I darted with Ivomec are still looking a bit skinny. Also, my boss went out there today with a scoop of corn and said the does didn't think much of it...but the bucks came running right up. Typically the does are interested in the corn and the bucks will eventually sneak up and eat it once we're gone...but they're usually too nervous to come near us.



That's telling us, for some reason, the deer (primarily the bucks) are not eating enough...and since we have a large feeder which we keep filled, it's not because I'm not feeding enough.



The boss man is calling our feed supplier tomorrow morning and will be switching to the same feed a friend and fellow deer keeper is using successfully (unless he decides to go with our winter mix) and also will be requesting to have a rep come out and test the feed/help us determine exactly why the deer are having issues. I'm also going to be purchasing a new wormer and will be worming all the deer with it as soon as it arrives.

As long as you aren't having issues with them becoming overweight, I don't see anything way wrong about it...the biggest issue is corn is fattening, but if they're staying a nice healthy weight, then it shouldn't be a problem at all.



During the winter we used to feed 25% corn, 25% oats and 50% commercial feed diet (Antler King up until last year)...the corn fattened them up for the winter, the oats helped them build up muscle so not ALL of that bulk was fat and then the commercial feed gave them a little of everything else.



We just got our new feed today...it's an interesting mix...has a VERY strong smell...very sweet smelling and is actually kinda greasy. I'll snag a label off one of the bags soon and get the info on it.

Don't ask...don't tell...



So, I have a horrible fly problem? Where can I pick up some of this stuff? lol