BRC Fallow Deer

I have always been fascinated with the idea of turning trash into treasures. In fact, my family and close friends would fondly refer to me as a “dumpster diver” prior to being known as The Deer Wife. For the record, I have only actually been in a dumpster twice in my life though. I love that Brendan also shares the desire to use what is available, save what can be saved, reuse and repurpose items. Why spend full price for something you can make or modify yourself? 

The cost of food seems crazy high these days. This is no different in the animal feed world. When you add in the extreme drought conditions here in south central Kansas, it also drives up the cost of hay. We have joked that alfalfa is starting to look like gold and priced like it too. So how do you extend the life of hay bales and ensure the animal feed isn’t wasted? Simple. Use the correct feeders. They are also costly, but where there is a will, there is a way! 

Our latest trash to treasure projects on the deer farm have been feed bunks. My husband acquired some 55 gallon plastic barrels for free. Yep! That magic price that makes us happy. Free. He cut them in half lengthwise then secured scrap wood and metal pieces to the bottom. This helped stabilize the rounded edges and created a base. TaDa! Free feed bunks for the deer. Even better is the fact that they are low to the ground and our half grown fawns can eat out of them too! 

Earlier this summer, Brendan converted a large metal barrel into a standing small bale feeder. He did this by adding scrap metal legs to the barrel. He then cut out the bottom of the barrel and used some leftover chain to drape an X under the hole. Viola! Another minimal cost feeder that should help extend the feed and improve the eating experience for our deer. Now that we have divided our main deer pen into 5 smaller sections, he has been working on making some more of these small bale feeders. I believe his latest feeder utilized old t-posts from the fence we removed from the pasture. There is a good chance the third feeder will be made from an old swing set frame.  

I can not let Brendan have all the creative fun! So I started my own little trash to treasure sewing project. My mother gave me some unused fabric from her basement clean out that I turned into face masks for the deer. We use these face masks on the fallow deer to help reduce stress when we are working them in the chute or when they are sedated. It is an easy way to provide comfort for our deer. I love that I was able to put my sewing skills to use for our deer farm. It is not every day that I have a chance to convert a free resource into a needed item for the homestead. 

I love how Brendan can look at the resources at his disposal and transform them to meet a need. It’s swoon worthy! And protects the pocketbook. This level of creativity should be showcased in a farm art showing. Only the right viewer will be able to appreciate it for its true value. I’m definitely that person, but I am sure there are others that would appreciate it as well. Do you appreciate “farm art”?

~The Deer Wife
BRC Fallow Deer