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.

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.