New Baby reindeer to my herd

The best reindeer photo ever, BUT...
I was so envious of my friend today as she had 2 calves born within a few hours. All was okay until second calf born and then first cow abandoned her baby to second mother.
The most beautiful photo ever but behind is the issue, can Snowy raise both??? A massive worry, they are not twins, BUT on the very rare occasion that reindeer do have twins then neither survive. Personally I would let the interloper suckle colostrum from any mother that will share and not attempt a bottle until 36 hours of collostrum... but second calf may need bottle raising (I have hinted that if Jennie can't cope, I will buy her and try!

 

Oh Oh Oh... is that a Hector-like stripe/blaze down the face of the calf on the right???

 

A truly beautiful photo I just hope that both calves survive. I agree with baw815 Sookie's motor was loud and clear to me as well.

 

It does look as if she'll have the Hector stripe but he was orangish with the white blaze... Lest we forget. But we never will
My Rainbow heart boy as a precocious baby - Hector!

 

My Granddaughter and I don't always remember Hectors statistics, but we remember his unique personality(and that picture).
Ariah says Santa remembers him, too.

 

@joanc123, Awww!, how very very sweet! Karen thanks for sharing again your (our) beautiful Hector! Seeing that picture just took my breathe away, he is and was so special!
I just love the video of your reindeer practicing what looks to be the "pulling Santa's sleigh leap!" up,up and away! Frodo
looks wonderful, bless his heart!
I think Sookie realizes you literally have saved her life!

 

I just lovvvvve the wide blaze/stripe on reindeer faces, it's so striking and unique to me, no matter their coat color... it's all Hector's fault tho, he set the bar with his amazing over the top cuteness, lol.
THAT baby pic of him is absolutely priceless !!!! RIP to that sweet cuddly (but hornery) precious boy. For those of us who follow your herd, he is and always will be a legend! I SOOOOO want to smooch on that soft pink nose!

 

What I forgot to mention was the mother that has "stolen" the calf from another cow is actually Gandalf's mother. So if he becomes very precocious I know where he has inherited that from!
Snowy today with her calf and her stolen one all still doing well thankfully.

 

That is a very sweet picture! Fingers crossed she will continue to care for both babies!

 

That is a beautiful picture and like sanddollar I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well. I hope for your sake that Gandalf takes after his dad and not his mum!

 

There are times I really stress... this reindeer "owner" believes keeping them on grassland is bad for them so keeps them enclosed individually in muddy pens and this is her first calf... I have gently sent my advice to get the calf and mother on clean pasture/browse asap BUT I may get hate mail in reply as the person who has given her advice has knowledge since 1986!! Hey ho think my lot are happier??
Would you think this is a great environment for a new baby??? or is it just me getting twitchy about bacteria etc... reindeer calves can be rather delicate..

 

Looks like a baby pig would be right at home?!?
Maybe a visit to see your happy herd would change her mind. You could disguise the invite as a visit to see Gandalf.

 

What a shame

Are the pens their permanent 'home'? Do they never get to socialize and run with each other? Not an ideal environment for developing babies, nursing moms or anything living. Sometimes animals have to be put up temporarily but then I would think you would want them to be turned out as soon as possible. Obviously she has received erroneous information. I mean what does she think wild reindeer eat? When you say she believes grassland is 'bad' for them, what exactly is harmful about it?

It is hard to tell what size the pens are from the photo. I would think they would get bored standing around an empty pen all day.

What a shame....how very sad for those animals.

 

Good idea joanc! Seriously though, who would want to raise any baby animal in that mess?! And if it were me, that person who has been giving her advice and has knowledge since 1986 could send all the "hate Mail" they want, after they brush up on their knowledge! Times change, and this is no way to keep any kind of animal in my humble opinion! So very, very sad, it looks like such a beautiful little baby!

 

So very sad. This is apparently the year round accommodation her reindeer have, but only brought to my attention when she was asking for advice for her unexpected calf... I think I started with blasting out the fence panels and finding them acres of grassland and browse...
The very sad thing is that it was her that drew my attention to the Travellers that were advertising reindeer bookings and stealing other peoples photos.. I thought she knew how to take care of reindeer??? I despair.

 

It looks like a very bad place to raise any animals, although as Joan said maybe a baby pig might feel a little at home. I can not understand why people do not do more research on how to look after animals properly. I feel so very sorry for her herd and just hope the little one is able to survive without having a lovely pasture area to be raised on like your beautiful herd have.

 

Had a busy weekend and am just catching up with posts. I loved the videos of the reindeer playing and dear Sookie! What a purr! She has found the home she has been looking for.

Hope all goes well with two babies and Gandalf's mom. Is it common for abandonment/stolen babies to occur?

The last photo made me cry. I can't conceive of anyone thinking that is proper for reindeer (or pretty much any other animal) - so different from their natural environment! Perhaps the owner will listen to your advice; which I'm sure you offered a tactfully as possible. Loved joanc's idea, if it could work out. So concerned for that little one!

 

She might have had a bad experience with turning reindeer out on grass (too much, too soon?) and has therefore decided that grass is bad. Maybe a gentle note to say that it needs to be eased into?

 

Now Mille (the Millefleur Pekin Bantam) has decided that my kitchen is part of her range. For the last 3 days if backdoor is open she wants to join us.. My Labradors are traumatised as they know they aren't allowed to approach any livestock... but when said chicken backs them into a corner of their homespace???... Must sort out this problem soon as I can't have my dogs traumatised by a chicken! Heehee

 

lol