KTMMIKE Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 Hey Todd, What's your thoughts on feeding bales of alfalfa to deer this time of year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted February 5, 2011 Report Share Posted February 5, 2011 I know I'm not the Todd you are asking but here is my input/question.... Will they eat it??? Here in NE MO we have hay scattered about and deer NEVER seem to touch it. I have in years past broke it up and spread it across the ground and the deer wouldn't touch it. It seems as if it was new to them so they didn't know what to do.......This year with LOTS of snow on the ground may be different but in years past I have tried and had NO success.... A straight Alfalfa bale may be different too.....let us know how it works if you do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hey Todd, What's your thoughts on feeding bales of alfalfa to deer this time of year? I would NOT! At least until I talked with a wildlife biologist or someone knowledgeable about the ruminant stomache of deer. I do know deer can eat something to fill their bellies and actually die from starvation because they can't digest it. Especially if they haven't been eating it right along. Hopefully Todd will see this post and respond. Meanwhile, I'd hold off. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KTMMIKE Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Actually what I was really wondering is if it would harm them or not? I've read some conflicting info about it lately & it got me concerned (along the lines of what Lynn stated). I have used bales of alfalfa & they really like it this time of year. I only put it out in small doses though, as in 1/2 bale per feed site, per week. I generally only use it in Jan/Feb/March each year. The reason I use it is that deer are the only ones that seem to eat it. When using corn the coons & turkeys eat a large portion of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 deer will eat and can be fed alfalfa..only if they havnt moved off to browse only like (northern forest deer),they will fill up on alfalfa, and die of compacted rumen...in other words the microbs to digest that matter have stopped being produced and have a difficult time digesting feed other than woody browse... however in farm country they do not stop digging and feeding on legumes..if you do feed.. you should have started long ago before the snow arrived. A pellet type feed for starving deer is made but very pricy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 I have tried feeding alfalfa hay before and the deer here will not touch it. I know that it is commonly feed in the northern states. Martin is right on about possible harm of feeding it. It all depends on what your deer have been feeding on at the time you want to start supplementing the hay. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crew999 Posted February 12, 2011 Report Share Posted February 12, 2011 Up here the deer love alfalfa, but it has to be 2nd or 3rd cut, they wont touch 1st cut. Protein levels increase greatly with later cuts and the deer can tell. Just be careful if they havent been eating some all year. A quick change in diet to large amounts of alfalfa can cause problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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