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  Discussion on Feeding orphan foal
Author Message
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 3:05 pm:

DrO I am thinking about adopting a blm orphan foal. He is 2 weeks old and eating alfalfa and milk replacer pellets as per directions on container. He is not nursed. He seems to be doing ok.

Is this much solids ok for a 2 week old. Do you have any other recomedations?

I have only had orphans that needed to be nursed I have never had one that was this young and on solids before.
Member:
Jcsmoon

Posted on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 10:48 pm:

WOW! I have a 2 week old orphan in my barn now and he barely knows what to do with hay let alone pellets... If you take him in make sure you find out how they pulled that one off cuz this milk business is sure a mess!!!
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 1:03 am:

He is a blm repo baby the adopters adopted the mare and she foaled, the baby rolled under the fence into some hay storage, I guess he is determined to live, he is quite persistent at eating the alfalfa. I think the owners just wanted the baby to die, but someone turned them in.

He is at the vets office till all the paperwork is done. He seems to be eating ok, it just seems strange a baby that young can eat so much solids. Course if the pellets and alfalfa are sufficient I can say I won't miss the bottle feeding.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 1:04 am:

good luck with your orphan emily
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 8:05 am:

The trick here is they are Milk Replacer Pellets: imagine milk without the water, the foal must consume the water separately. Obviously this is working for this foal and it is not really a surprise but the change must be slowly forced by providing the pellets and water and decreasing the amount of nursing allowed. The foal has to be monitored to be sure he is making the transfer successfully. If he is doing well on this diet I see no reason to make your life harder.
DrO
DrO
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 8:11 am:

I raised an orphan foal years back. Never did mess with bottles, started out with a turkey baster, let him suck the milk outa that. After a few days of that we just started putting it in a bucket and he would suck it right up. It was really interesting; I had just given birth to my daughter a week before so when she would wake up for her nursing time, I would wake my hubby, he would stumble outa bed, make Foal-Lac, and head outside. I would hear "Little Guy" calling for his food and just grin knowing both my babies were getting fed. My poor hubby, he was just so tired with working and all the babies!

We spent a fortune on the special horse milk replacement; I would suggest getting goat milk replacement it's alot cheaper and closer to mares milk than a calf substitute. I don't think it's a good idea to skip that part of his feeding even if he does appear to be eating. He's really young to be eating solids and I'd be concerned about long term affects to his health if he doesn't get all he needs nutrition wise. I am sure DrO had some guidelines for you.

You will have a "buddy" for life with this one!!

Best of luck ladies!
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 1, 2005 - 8:16 am:

OOPS, I see DrO was typing the same time I was, and got a reply in before mine. I forgot that we did the milk replacer pellets also. I don't remember how soon though. I don't think using the liquid replacer is "harder" though, I think I'd still use that to be sure he's getting enough fluids, but that will depend on if he loves water or not at this point.
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