Orphan Foals
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Orphan Foals
Lost a mare yesterday. Foal doing well, drinking formula etc. Any tips on raising as to how to socialize etc.
We've only had to deal with that once (which was one time too many.) We actually got another mare to accept the foal; she nursed and mothered them both. If you have any way to use a nurse mare or a mare who already has a foal by their side, it will enable the proper socialization of the foal; which in my opinion is SO important. Good luck...
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"Don't be a boorish buffoon" -Hokies Respect 'Jerk Alert'
"Don't be a boorish buffoon" -Hokies Respect 'Jerk Alert'
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skywatcher
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so far I've never had an orphan but any one I've talked to who has has said if you can find a nurse mare (or donkey) do it!
Human raised foals tend to have problems when they're grown as they never quite learn boundries and how to behave.
For feed. goat's milk makes a good substitute, you can raise almost any baby on goat's milk
Human raised foals tend to have problems when they're grown as they never quite learn boundries and how to behave.
For feed. goat's milk makes a good substitute, you can raise almost any baby on goat's milk
orphan
Ive used goats milk pure when there was a goat farm nearby for full supply, Buckeyes Mares milk does magic! they will ship it if not near costly but you can leave out 12 hours at a time & they love it. My vet sent me a near dead baby said he doubted hed make it & I had him standing & bucket feeding mares Milk in 2 days! I also have used day old dairy calves to raise with orphans when nothing else availalbe more their size then a goat kid. Never have had human bond troubles with the 4 completely raised by hand.
Jean, it's very important that you get him on a bucket right away and not feed through a bottle. Even with a bucket, they can aspirate milk, so I'd recommend making a chart for him. Record his temperature four times a day to start; later you can back off to twice a day. This saved my colt's life when he got pneumonia, as his temp went up and he was on antibiotics before he ever looked sick. Also record his bowel movements. Foal-lac tends to make them too loose and goat's milk can constipate them, so I used 2/3rds Foal-lac to 1/3 goat's milk. At first I got fresh goat's milk from my neighbor's, but after a while I noticed that he liked the stuff from the grocery store more. If you look closely at his manure every day, you may head off a colic. Magic colicked repeatedly on Equine Junior, so be on the lookout for that if you use it. I know a lot of people use that, but it didn't work for me.
I had several professionals and veterinarians warn me repeatedly about orphan behavior, to the point where I was really sick of it, and yet I still had trouble. They tend to rear up, kick, bite, and be generally disrespectful, so you have to be on guard all the time, because they keep getting bigger than you are. If you can't find a nice mare to adopt him (the vets can give them a hormone now to let down milk if you can just get a nice mare), then I'd recommend getting Clinton Anderson's DVD on foal handling for respect, because you are going to need it. Magic had a catheter in his neck for four months from the pneumonia, and I kept protecting him, so he didn't get turned out with other horses and didn't get punished enough from me, and he is still a big huge handful when he was such a doll for the first few months. He was such a puppy I got used to doing everything with him bareheaded, and one day I suddenly realized I hadn't put a halter on him in a while. When I did, he was so bratty I was stunned. Orphan foals don't think they are horses. They get terrorized when they are turned out with other horses, so get him out with young horses as quick as possible even if you have to board him out. But watch out for other mares. An orphan foal can get killed quick. If you've got some small yearling you can turn him out with, that might be better. He will be scared to death, though.
Try very hard to find a kind mare to adopt him. Ask around; right now there are probably a lot of old broodmares someone would like to lease out for six months. If by any chance you are near Northern California, I've got a great one for you. Good luck! It's such a tragedy, but I love Magic like he is my son. It's worth it.
I had several professionals and veterinarians warn me repeatedly about orphan behavior, to the point where I was really sick of it, and yet I still had trouble. They tend to rear up, kick, bite, and be generally disrespectful, so you have to be on guard all the time, because they keep getting bigger than you are. If you can't find a nice mare to adopt him (the vets can give them a hormone now to let down milk if you can just get a nice mare), then I'd recommend getting Clinton Anderson's DVD on foal handling for respect, because you are going to need it. Magic had a catheter in his neck for four months from the pneumonia, and I kept protecting him, so he didn't get turned out with other horses and didn't get punished enough from me, and he is still a big huge handful when he was such a doll for the first few months. He was such a puppy I got used to doing everything with him bareheaded, and one day I suddenly realized I hadn't put a halter on him in a while. When I did, he was so bratty I was stunned. Orphan foals don't think they are horses. They get terrorized when they are turned out with other horses, so get him out with young horses as quick as possible even if you have to board him out. But watch out for other mares. An orphan foal can get killed quick. If you've got some small yearling you can turn him out with, that might be better. He will be scared to death, though.
Try very hard to find a kind mare to adopt him. Ask around; right now there are probably a lot of old broodmares someone would like to lease out for six months. If by any chance you are near Northern California, I've got a great one for you. Good luck! It's such a tragedy, but I love Magic like he is my son. It's worth it.
"When I am on my deathbed, I imagine I will say, 'Thank God I did that'" - Arthur Hancock, on buying back Gato del Sol from Europe after Exceller was killed in a slaughterhouse in Sweden.