Spine-chilling winter is here, and deer feeding is the talk of the town. If you have a deer farm and got your axis bucks recently from the livestock provider in Texas, you should know that deer are one of the most profitable animals to raise. During winter they need to feed more winters compared to other seasons due to the demand of the body to combat the weather. If you are having a deer farm and you are a beginner in this field.
However, if you’re new to raising deer, there are some important things that you should consider before bringing them home. Here are 10 tips to help you increase your success with your new herd:
Do Remember These Points
Make sure you have your stocks refilled for this winter, and ensure you have the food that is compatible with your deer farm. Provide an ample supply of clean drinking water for them; so that they stay hydrated during these cold months when it’s hard for them to find natural sources like running brooks or creeks where they can drink freely without having to fight through deep snow drifts or freezing rain storms!
Make sure you know where your animals are located, especially if they have young ones with them. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall in the winter months or if there is a lot of rain or ice on the ground, then you may need to feed deer earlier, than normal because they will not have access to food sources as they would during normal seasons
There are several ways that you can feed the deer in your yard. You can use hay or corn, but these foods tend to be expensive and hard for most people to find during winter. Instead, you can use grain, which is much cheaper and easier to get. Grain feeding is also more effective than hay feeding because it takes less time for the deer to eat all of it compared to hay. Also feeding excess corn could be harmful to them. So plan it out accordingly
Deer need at least one pound of grain per day during winter months. This will give them extra energy and help keep them warm during cold weather months when they need it most.
You need to know how much and what kind of grain to feed your deer so that they don’t become sick or die from malnutrition or dehydration. You should also be aware of any diseases that may occur among your herd so that you can treat them early if necessary
Keeping your deer farm clean, so that it’s not a breeding ground for pests and diseases that could kill your deer before they have a chance to prosper
Provide bedding for them to sleep on as well as some shelter from inclement weather and predators such as coyotes and bears.
If at all possible, provide some form of electric fencing around the perimeter of your property so that they can’t get out and get hurt or killed by cars or other animals that may come onto your property in search of their favorite food!
If you have a small yard, consider moving your feeders every couple of days so that there is always fresh food available for your deer to eat.
Say NO To These Things!
If you have got your deer recently from a livestock provider near you. We would recommend that you don’t get started with the new food in the winter. It could be dangerous for them to acclimatize to the food. If you do decide to increase their feeding then make sure that you do so gradually and over a few weeks, so that they don’t get sick from too much food all at once.
First thing first, always check for signs of stress such as drinking an excessive amount of water or urine or leaving their habitats without reason. If you notice any such signs then immediately stop feeding them and call a vet for advice on how to manage your deer farm properly so that they do not get stressed out while living there.
A big NO to overfeeding. Overfeeding is one of the main causes of deer mortality in deer farms. It is also one of the most common problems that deer farmers face during the winter season.
It’s easy to overfeed your deer during the winter months because there’s so much temptation to give them more than they need. But this can lead to health issues and an upset stomach. So, try not to overfeed them at all, even if they seem hungry. In fact, during winter, feeding programs should be reduced as much as possible to avoid overfeeding which leads to obesity and stress on the immune system, digestive system, and kidneys.
Deer love corn, and it’s a good idea to feed them in the winter months when they don’t have enough forage. However, overfeeding can be harmful to your deer and you. If you are feeding corn, keep in mind that deer can become very fat on too much of it. Also, feeding excess corn can trigger acidosis in deer by damaging the rumen lining, which can be dangerous to the deer. Also, feeding corn can become costly. Feeding pellets can be comparatively cost-effective.
These tips might be useful for you to manage your deer herd in this snow filled winter!
