Let Me Tell You About Frankie and Johnnie
Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
Some years ago, I had the great fortune to own a most remarkable pair of Fallow Deer. I consider those years an astonishing privilege of animal companionship.
My desire to enjoy the company of several deer grew stronger as the years passed. By now I had realized my desire to own Show Horses, a gorgeous Welsh Stallion, a Miniature Horse, my Yellow Footed Tortoises, several canaries, special outside flock of fowl and my delightful dogs. It was my dream to enjoy and care for deer and, finally, I decided to take action.
I lived in an area of Connecticut that had many deer poaching problems and one of my primary concerns was that my domesticated deer would not fall prey to the inevitable hunters. This meant that we had to construct our fence with limited visibility from the street and that we made it high enough, solid enough and secure enough to prevent escape.
The existing horse barn was perfectly adequate to house the deer along with my horses. We constructed the deer yard out of 8' high stockade fence; the posts were securely sunk into concrete; the front of the fence had viewing grills for our private observation; the back and sides of the fence were solid stockade. We used reinforcing electric fencing along the top of the entire fence line.
My preparations were now in place I had located the breeder and we had made arrangements for a pair of Fallow Deer does. The babies started arriving at the end of May and we picked up my little fawns in mid June. I was able to select from cream, chocolate and spotted Fallow Deer I chose a bambi-type that was chestnut with light spots and a darker chocolate-spotted. The names I chose for them were Frankie and Johnnie.
Getting to know and tame my fawns was not as easy as I had predicted. Each was a little "terror" they used their front hooves like little prizefighters. Since I was bottle-feeding them every few hours, it was necessary to gain their trust and confidence with expediency. I had the time and energy to sit with them for long periods of time, talking to them, stroking them and simply walking around with them in the box stall.
It happened suddenly and almost overnight - once they recognized me as their new "mama," they let down their guard and started playing with me. They greedily guzzled their milk, permitted fondling and touching; my successes with Johnnie became insane since she absolutely adored me.
Life was good and my fawns grew into gorgeous does. Our bond was close and respectful. By now they had learned their names and came when I called them. Mostly silent, each would become verbal every 21 days in summer, fall and winter. Their cycle lasted just 24 hours, every 21 days. My does, who were normally very docile and sweet, would become like an extension of me they were inseparable and would call to me when I left the deer yard. I could play with them, pet them, groom them, pick up their front legs and dance with them.
The one amazing trick both Frankie and Johnnie learned was especially endearing to me. Each played ball. They loved to pounce on a basketball and give it whats-it with their front feet and pounce on it over and over again. But most special was the ball playing they did in response to me each would use their nose to roll the ball to me. Sometimes they would initiate the ball rolling and other times I would, but it was unmistakable that they were playing ball with me. We could play for minutes at a time rolling the ball back and forth or dashing a ball between them. I so loved this behavior that we often played every day and, in winter, we played ball inside the barn.
I enjoyed my deer more than even my horses. They responded to me with intelligence and enthusiasm that was unique and in a way that horses do not. There was a playfulness, camaraderie and personalization borne out of trust and gentleness that was exclusive to my deer.
I had Frankie just 8 years. She ingested a small but sharp piece of plastic that took her life before we could save her. Poor Johnnie was lonely and I did not have the time to start another fawn. I bought her a pigmy goat companion and they immediately became fast friends. Johnnie lived another five years; I lost her at 13.
Over the years, I have belonged to some amazing pets. Frankie and Johnnie, Mama and Papa and at present our beloved Patrick are what can only be called fantabulous they are beloved, unique and memorable forever.
This article is written by The Old Gray Mare of www.DressYourHorse.com, www.FantasyKritters.com and www.TShirtsbyLily.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Thank you for writing this article and sharing it.Thanks Mike for reading and commenting. Life with the deer was interesting and unique. I actually miss having deer since they were so very interactive with me. But, I'm thrilled with the horses, except they don't play ball.
Janet and I feed the deer that come around the ranch. A little corn everyday that they enjoy. Then in the fall hunters kill them. At least we have some "pets" for a little while.Hi and thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Deer surely love corn - they also love salt. They'll come for apples and salt from miles around. Guard your hostas though cause they like them too. We went through great pains not to permit hunters near our deer - I'd heard so many stories. Plus with the poaching that went on in the open hay field across from my house, I needed to practice caution.
What a beautiful story, and I love that first photo of Frankie and Johnnie. I had no idea that deer could be tamed and would interact with people. Sounds wonderful.Thanks so much for taking the time to read and for commenting. I very much appreciate it when my fan friends visit esp. since I mostly write about the animals. Re the deer (I called them my deerlies) - My does were the sweetest, kindest little creatures - they actually interacted in ways that my horses did not. They had such interest in toys and just about anything that moved. You can see that in the pictures - their curiosity about the tortoise. You can see a block of wood and a plastic thingy hanging from the tree. Today it would be a horse jolly ball but when I had these guys, jolly balls had not yet come out. They did not start out tame. But they learned really fast and, as with all animals, they bond quickly over food. Then they tolerated a little petting and more handling. So every day we'd gain a little ground. It's the ball rolling that amazed me the most. They used their noses to roll the ball to me and I'd roll it back. They got so good at doing it that they'd get the ball if it didn't fall directly in front of them. It was incredible. I've never had one of my horses interact with me like the deer - although Patrick is a chatterbox. He's the talker - that is also very unique.
Hi Heidi.
What an amazing story. I didn't think you could gentle a deer, but I guess if you can gently a horse, a deer shouldn't be too much for difficult.
I'm combing through your articles today looking for one with tips on dealing with a very fearful horse. I've done a lot of reading and watching of videos online, but I'd sure like your wisdom on the issue. Maybe I should send you a personal e-mail about the situation.
Anyway, I loved this story. Makes me want a deer of my own!
Hugs,
DianneThank you Dianne. I really loved that pair of deer. We were once approached by a movie company that was looking for an incredibly tame deer for a movie shot. Of course I considered it but we had to move the deer and there was a whole lot of other regamarole - end of story is I didn't do it. No sense in upsetting the applecart. These two were the friendliest, sweetest and most kind animals I had ever come across. They were clever and endearing. There has not been another animal in my life that had a personality like these two. If maintenance (fencing) were not such an issue with me, I probably would have deer today. What I have always wanted were the tiny key deer. They're rare and probably not permitted for private husbandry. Never looked into it any further.
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