We are moving our blog to our new website
www.fallowdeerreserve.org
Check it out!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Antlers, for sale
We have three sets of antlers that have not been spoken for yet this year. Prices range from $85 to $100 for a matching pair of naturally shed antlers along with a photo of the buck wearing the antlers. It's a great way to support the Reserve. Lengths vary from 24-29 inches and palm average about 5 inches.
For more information, please email us at
jmcd@reztel.net
Thanks.
For more information, please email us at
jmcd@reztel.net
Thanks.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Antler Sweepstakes 2011
Antlers started falling on April 8 this year about three days later than last. Here is the order. There is some thinking that the most dominant buck loses his antlers first
2011
1.Moki, April 8
2.Bash, April 8, 9
3.Mike, April 13
4.Buddy, April 14, 15
5.EGee, April 16
6.Spike, April 16
7. Max, April 16
8. Murph, April 21, 22
2010
1. Moki, April 6
2. Bash, April 6
3. Murph, April 8
4. Buddy, April 12
5. Mike, April 15
6. Spike, April 15
7. Max, April 15, April 16
8. EGee, April 18
2011
1.Moki, April 8
2.Bash, April 8, 9
3.Mike, April 13
4.Buddy, April 14, 15
5.EGee, April 16
6.Spike, April 16
7. Max, April 16
8. Murph, April 21, 22
2010
1. Moki, April 6
2. Bash, April 6
3. Murph, April 8
4. Buddy, April 12
5. Mike, April 15
6. Spike, April 15
7. Max, April 15, April 16
8. EGee, April 18
Sunday, April 10, 2011
New feeding stations
This winter we developed a system using the large bowls that came with the AP-18 mineral licks rather than just putting the grains on the ground and hoping each one received adequate nutrition or meds. By quickly pouring the grains into the bowls, all the bucks were able to consume equal amounts. Don Murphy designed some simple troughs that allow for quick pouring of the 600g portion. As this feeding has been a daily occurrence, the bucks soon got used to it. Only the same number of bowls as deer to be fed are filled, so they tend to stay put rather than waste time moving from bowl to bowl.
Problems with the bowls on the ground occurred when the bucks knocked the buckets about so that we could not reach the bowls from the outside of the fence or, as does happen, someone pooped in a bowl. Snow, ice and rain also caused some difficulties. Sometimes, antlers got hooked into the fence if the bowl was too close to it. This system with the bowl on a slant keeps the grains as far away from the fence as possible and the bowls are big enough to allow space for brow antlers.
We tried the prototype yesterday using EGee as our test buck. He paced back and forth a few times sniffing the air and trying to figure out this new contraption. After about 30 seconds, he had no trouble digging in as these photos show.
Thanks to our godchild, Miesje Stewart and her cousin Logan Stewart, we have put together six feeding stations and should have all eight at the Reserve by tomorrow.
Monday, April 04, 2011
Update: EGee
EGee, April 2, 2011
EGee continues to remain skinny but otherwise okay (eating, pooping, pronking, etc). He is still in isolation and receiving daily grains with added probiotics in addition to hay.We are waiting for the antlers to fall before we release him back with the others in the herd. Last year the first antlers fell on April 5, so soon he will be back with his buddies. We are just too worried that he will lose any fight as he weighs significantly less than the other 7. Or, he may think he is the king of the castle having not had to jostle or fight for position in the herd for the past two months. So that’s the reason for the delay in introducing him back to the herd.
At the very least, we no longer worry that we will find him dead, and we dare to think he is going to make it for awhile longer. Thank goodness for warmer weather.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Insight from the Dalai Lama
The creatures that inhabit this earth -- be they human beings or animals -- are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Annual General Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the fourth Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 in Kingston, Ontario
Present: Don Murphy, President, Jane McDonald, Treasurer, Allan Park, Head Deer Keeper, Wendy Workman, Secretary, Lorraine Alderman, Aida Sulcs, Annie Wilcox, Board Members
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm. The Agenda for this meeting was approved as well as the minutes of the 2010 Annual General Meeting held in February 2010.
The President welcomed all present and gave a brief summary of the activities of this challenging year in which we lost two deer, Gulliver (August 2010) and George (February 2011). We have learned a great deal from these losses. With help from volunteers, we completed the isolation paddock (approx 3/4 acre) in the Fall and put it to good use with the rehabilitative care of E Gee who continues to require special care due to his underweight status. He especially thanked Allan Park for his dedication and compassionate care of the herd and recognized the contribution of Jane McDonald, too. He made several suggestions for future planning detailed below.
Copies of the financial statements for the period January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 were distributed to those present by the Treasurer, reviewed and accepted. Generally income and expenses were half of those in 2009 showing that some fundraising efforts need to be made in 2011 in order to meet the increasing costs caused by the aging of the deer (increased nutrition, more shelter from cold, higher vet bills).
The Head Deer Keeper, Allan Park, thanked the board members and noted the contributions of Jane McDonald, Don Murphy, Wendy Workman throughout the year as well as volunteers, Susie Rance, Chris Grooms, Paul Nixon and Drew Sauve in the creation of the isolation paddock and Emerald Murphy for hay and equipment, Bob and Norma for donating hay. He also noted the loss of our oldest volunteer, 93 year old Bruce Burt, who died in May 2010. He was a regular visitor and donated over 130 bales of hay each year. He recounted the circumstances of and lessons learned from the deaths of Gulliver and George. The coldest winter in many years, depth of snow and aging presented the deer and their keepers with extraordinary challenges. He thanked Wendy and Don for their care of Mike in early December when he developed a large abscess on the throat and required anti-biotic meds that successfully treated the problem. Dr. Brian Willows visited the herd at that time and noted the general good health of the herd. We treated E Gee the same anti-biotics when he developed pneumonia in mid-January 2011. Allan also described the winter feeding program established following the death of George and opening the barn to provide additional shelter. The herd hierarchy is shifting with Moki, youngest and strongest, establishing himself as leader trying to replace Max without his gentleness or intelligence. The more mean-spirited Moki is keeping the others from the lean-to shelter and hay. Deer keeping in the upcoming year will involve continuing the daily enriched diet (corn, oats, barley, dairy ration, 600g total) until the pasture is established. Then feeding enriched diet 2 or 3 days per week until post-rut when daily enrichment will resume. The herd will be de-wormed at the end of April and thereafter every six months following advice from our vet, Dr Brian Willows. One positive note has been how well the herd has taken to the daily feeding procedures (using former lick plastic bowls) with minimal fighting or jostling. We are able to administer de-worming meds, probiotics via this feeding and be reasonably assured that each buck receives the recommended dosage.
Board of Directors and Officers, 2011. The group welcomed Annie Wilcox a new board member replacing Monique Cloutier who had informed the Treasurer via email that of her resignation. Everyone expressed gratitude to Monique for her service to the Reserve and Jane agreed to convey these thoughts to her on our behalf. Annie has been a regular visitor, contributor and friend of the Fallow Deer Reserve since the days at Scotland Road. All offices were declared vacant. The following were nominated to serve as officers in 2011:President: Don Murphy, Secretary: Wendy Workman, Treasurer: Jane McDonald
The above nominations were approved by unanimous vote.
Future plans, considerations:
Veterinary care: As above, treating the herd with SafeGuard every six months. The medication has been purchased this year and should last for the next 7 years!
Shelter: Plans will depend on how much money we can raise. It was generally agreed that if funding is low, nutrition should trump any building projects this year. Nonetheless the changing hierarchy and the aging of the deer make improving shelter from extreme cold essential. A system of modular units to house one or two deer (in stalls) approximately 12-16 feet long was envisaged and involving high school students (Ernestown, Bruce Todd, community service) in the design and construction would be ideal. Don agreed to check into this. Offsite manufacture (Don and Wendy’s house?) would be best as there is no electricity at the Reserve and it would be safer for the volunteers to be doing most of this building outside the enclosure. Other plans could involve creating more openings in the barn or stable, filling entrances/exits with rock to make more level and safe.
Snow removal: Explore the possibility of plowing some tracks inside the enclosure to allow deer to use more of the available space in winter. Because the deers’ metabolism does slow down in winter, Allan Park was unsure that the deer would move too far away from their food source (i.e. the barn) in the cold weather by choice but this can certainly happen if they lose a challenge.
Additional feeding station: Explore the possibility of a more permanent feeding station at eastern side of the Reserve with a small building outside the fence to hold hay and grain rations. This safe feeding place away from the barn could be used by an injured buck hiding in the woods when isolation paddock is already occupied.
Water: Warm water system for isolation area needed, possibly solar. Needs to provide about a dog’s dish amount of water for one deer (approx 1 liter per day).
Sponsorship Program: Needs to be revamped. Donors should be encouraged to donate to the well-being of the entire herd rather than one specific deer as we deal with the likelihood of death or disease as the deer age.
Fundraising: It was agreed that we need to increase our efforts in this area as we have less antlers to sell and calendars sales are down, too. Create a wish list (hay, whole corn, oats, barley, salt licks) and write to those who have sponsored or donated in the past talking about the change in needs/circumstances. Jane agreed to do this and see about changing the website to reflect this shift of emphasis. Wendy Workman is considering offering a “day in the country” fundraising event as she did successfully in 2009 involving lunch, Reserve tour, workshops. Annie suggested skill-building workshops such as canning, medicinal herbs, etc.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45pm.
Present: Don Murphy, President, Jane McDonald, Treasurer, Allan Park, Head Deer Keeper, Wendy Workman, Secretary, Lorraine Alderman, Aida Sulcs, Annie Wilcox, Board Members
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm. The Agenda for this meeting was approved as well as the minutes of the 2010 Annual General Meeting held in February 2010.
The President welcomed all present and gave a brief summary of the activities of this challenging year in which we lost two deer, Gulliver (August 2010) and George (February 2011). We have learned a great deal from these losses. With help from volunteers, we completed the isolation paddock (approx 3/4 acre) in the Fall and put it to good use with the rehabilitative care of E Gee who continues to require special care due to his underweight status. He especially thanked Allan Park for his dedication and compassionate care of the herd and recognized the contribution of Jane McDonald, too. He made several suggestions for future planning detailed below.
Copies of the financial statements for the period January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010 were distributed to those present by the Treasurer, reviewed and accepted. Generally income and expenses were half of those in 2009 showing that some fundraising efforts need to be made in 2011 in order to meet the increasing costs caused by the aging of the deer (increased nutrition, more shelter from cold, higher vet bills).
The Head Deer Keeper, Allan Park, thanked the board members and noted the contributions of Jane McDonald, Don Murphy, Wendy Workman throughout the year as well as volunteers, Susie Rance, Chris Grooms, Paul Nixon and Drew Sauve in the creation of the isolation paddock and Emerald Murphy for hay and equipment, Bob and Norma for donating hay. He also noted the loss of our oldest volunteer, 93 year old Bruce Burt, who died in May 2010. He was a regular visitor and donated over 130 bales of hay each year. He recounted the circumstances of and lessons learned from the deaths of Gulliver and George. The coldest winter in many years, depth of snow and aging presented the deer and their keepers with extraordinary challenges. He thanked Wendy and Don for their care of Mike in early December when he developed a large abscess on the throat and required anti-biotic meds that successfully treated the problem. Dr. Brian Willows visited the herd at that time and noted the general good health of the herd. We treated E Gee the same anti-biotics when he developed pneumonia in mid-January 2011. Allan also described the winter feeding program established following the death of George and opening the barn to provide additional shelter. The herd hierarchy is shifting with Moki, youngest and strongest, establishing himself as leader trying to replace Max without his gentleness or intelligence. The more mean-spirited Moki is keeping the others from the lean-to shelter and hay. Deer keeping in the upcoming year will involve continuing the daily enriched diet (corn, oats, barley, dairy ration, 600g total) until the pasture is established. Then feeding enriched diet 2 or 3 days per week until post-rut when daily enrichment will resume. The herd will be de-wormed at the end of April and thereafter every six months following advice from our vet, Dr Brian Willows. One positive note has been how well the herd has taken to the daily feeding procedures (using former lick plastic bowls) with minimal fighting or jostling. We are able to administer de-worming meds, probiotics via this feeding and be reasonably assured that each buck receives the recommended dosage.
Board of Directors and Officers, 2011. The group welcomed Annie Wilcox a new board member replacing Monique Cloutier who had informed the Treasurer via email that of her resignation. Everyone expressed gratitude to Monique for her service to the Reserve and Jane agreed to convey these thoughts to her on our behalf. Annie has been a regular visitor, contributor and friend of the Fallow Deer Reserve since the days at Scotland Road. All offices were declared vacant. The following were nominated to serve as officers in 2011:President: Don Murphy, Secretary: Wendy Workman, Treasurer: Jane McDonald
The above nominations were approved by unanimous vote.
Future plans, considerations:
Veterinary care: As above, treating the herd with SafeGuard every six months. The medication has been purchased this year and should last for the next 7 years!
Shelter: Plans will depend on how much money we can raise. It was generally agreed that if funding is low, nutrition should trump any building projects this year. Nonetheless the changing hierarchy and the aging of the deer make improving shelter from extreme cold essential. A system of modular units to house one or two deer (in stalls) approximately 12-16 feet long was envisaged and involving high school students (Ernestown, Bruce Todd, community service) in the design and construction would be ideal. Don agreed to check into this. Offsite manufacture (Don and Wendy’s house?) would be best as there is no electricity at the Reserve and it would be safer for the volunteers to be doing most of this building outside the enclosure. Other plans could involve creating more openings in the barn or stable, filling entrances/exits with rock to make more level and safe.
Snow removal: Explore the possibility of plowing some tracks inside the enclosure to allow deer to use more of the available space in winter. Because the deers’ metabolism does slow down in winter, Allan Park was unsure that the deer would move too far away from their food source (i.e. the barn) in the cold weather by choice but this can certainly happen if they lose a challenge.
Additional feeding station: Explore the possibility of a more permanent feeding station at eastern side of the Reserve with a small building outside the fence to hold hay and grain rations. This safe feeding place away from the barn could be used by an injured buck hiding in the woods when isolation paddock is already occupied.
Water: Warm water system for isolation area needed, possibly solar. Needs to provide about a dog’s dish amount of water for one deer (approx 1 liter per day).
Sponsorship Program: Needs to be revamped. Donors should be encouraged to donate to the well-being of the entire herd rather than one specific deer as we deal with the likelihood of death or disease as the deer age.
Fundraising: It was agreed that we need to increase our efforts in this area as we have less antlers to sell and calendars sales are down, too. Create a wish list (hay, whole corn, oats, barley, salt licks) and write to those who have sponsored or donated in the past talking about the change in needs/circumstances. Jane agreed to do this and see about changing the website to reflect this shift of emphasis. Wendy Workman is considering offering a “day in the country” fundraising event as she did successfully in 2009 involving lunch, Reserve tour, workshops. Annie suggested skill-building workshops such as canning, medicinal herbs, etc.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45pm.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Deer People 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
How to feed a fallow deer in winter, re-evaluation
We have revised our thinking about winter feeding especially since the loss of George and the severity of this winter that never seems to end. In addition to fresh hay daily, we sought help from Lloyd Lee of Ontario Whitetail Ranch for his recipe -- each buck gets daily: 1 1/2 part corn, 1/2 part oats/barley mix and 1 part dairy ration. We are using a 16% protein dairy ration because we were unable to get the 18% protein dairy ration that Lloyd uses. We started feeding about 200g on the first day and have worked up to about 600g of this mix per deer per day.
EGee is getting a bit more dairy ration in his 600g as his weight is down. We also de-wormed all the deer with Safe-Guard in the mix for three days (Feb 11, 12, 13). We also added some probiotics (FASTRACK) to his diet and he seems to be holding his own. He is not yet gaining weight, Our vet, Dr. Brian Willows, thinks he will not start gaining weight for at least two weeks.
EGee is getting a bit more dairy ration in his 600g as his weight is down. We also de-wormed all the deer with Safe-Guard in the mix for three days (Feb 11, 12, 13). We also added some probiotics (FASTRACK) to his diet and he seems to be holding his own. He is not yet gaining weight, Our vet, Dr. Brian Willows, thinks he will not start gaining weight for at least two weeks.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Sudden death in the snow
Just as we were celebrating the recovery of EGee from a suspected case of pneumonia, George started to show signs of lethargy on Monday, January 31. On Tuesday, February 1, he showed no signs of improvement, so Allan started him on the antibiotics that morning. When he arrived at the Reserve in the afternoon to give George his second daily dose, there was no sign of him. Allan spent about an hour searching the 10 acre enclosure and found George dead in the snow in an open area -- his legs tucked under his body and no signs of trauma.
George was the most social of all our deer, the first to come to Don and Wendy when they took over the Scotland Road herd, the first Don and Wendy identified and named, "Curious George"...The first to take food or medication from Allan and Jane's hands. The first to let us touch him. The first to knock over both Allan and Don and remind us to always remember the wildness and unpredictability of the fallow deer. He was the deer that travelled the furthest away (as far away as Sydenham) when the fence was cut in November 2008. He taught us so many things about his species. It was an honour to have known him. We will miss his presence and large personality.
Jane and Allan took his body to the Animal Health Lab at the University of Guelph, Kemptville for an post-mortem examination. We are awaiting the results hoping that what killed George will not affect the eight remaining bucks.
George was the most social of all our deer, the first to come to Don and Wendy when they took over the Scotland Road herd, the first Don and Wendy identified and named, "Curious George"...The first to take food or medication from Allan and Jane's hands. The first to let us touch him. The first to knock over both Allan and Don and remind us to always remember the wildness and unpredictability of the fallow deer. He was the deer that travelled the furthest away (as far away as Sydenham) when the fence was cut in November 2008. He taught us so many things about his species. It was an honour to have known him. We will miss his presence and large personality.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
EGee in Rehab
Here's a photo of EGee tucked into the horse trailer in the isolation paddock. He'll be here for 5 days as we have to give him Novo-Trimel twice daily. He is responding well to the meds and the symptoms of lethargy and raspy breathing (pneumonia) are diminishing. He seems to be enjoying his special status!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Osprey Platform
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)