New Baby reindeer to my herd

I haven't found my pictures yet but if you want to know more about the elk in Yellowstone, you can Google Yellowstone Bull Elk number 6. There was another bull that had the same issues and his number is 10. Both have since passed away.

 

@BoHoKaren Thank you for let me know about that. I understand that now. It seems so hard having reindeer as pet. They seems so sensitive and hard to deal with. I think you are so great. This is not for everyone. Even though they are so cute
I always enjoy the photos and videos and thanks for sharing them with us

 

I wasn't going to post again until I had some interesting footage or photo's but feel I must, as I referred to them as "pets".

Yes they are "my" pets but can't be kept as such. I often hear children asking their parents for a reindeer... but this just can't happen. They need to be kept in herds and have very specific needs.... along with a lot of dedication, vets bills and high feed costs. I am not saying that that others can't keep them but their needs are way beyond domestic pets or most livestock... sorry if my analogy to dogs/cats wearing collars may seem they are appropriate pets... Will find and old photo to add so this isn't just a boring post!!!

And it's Boris' eyelashes... and Girls wouldn't we kill for them!!! He has never had an eye infection (flies are the usual cause) but with these fly screens not a chance!!!

 

I spend so much money for lashes like that!
Karen, I see what you are saying about the reindeer being YOUR pets, but they're not for everyone! I couldn't do what you do. I really appreciate how you often share the good and not so good! My husband peeks over my shoulder and says I'm looking at dinner again, and I get SO upset! I told him, they're NOT food, they're reindeer. Then I ooked it up and found that there are places where it is pretty normal to eat them.
Are there rescues for them, like there are for many other animals that people get and find they can't care for?

 

I weigh how much???
Salad diet tomorrow

"Heath Robinson" contraption until I buy livestock weigh beams (which are in excess of £1000). Today I tried 2 cheap bathroom scales and a piece of chipboard (located in feedstore as I knew they would self weigh)! Got a weight on 4 out of 7.. Boris whimped out as it wobbled!
Good weight on Mischa though
And I caught Katya feeding BOTH babies again... wish she wouldn't

 

Too bad they don't make a reindeer weight tape like they do for horses. Goes around the chest just behind the front legs and estimates weight. I'm not sure how co-operative your reindeer would be for that though.

 

My mom raised American black-belly sheep and there was one (a favorite of mine named Sarah) who was the 'babysitter' of the herd and always had other babies than her own nursing. I think one year she must have fed more than 4 or 5 lambs other than her own. She successfully had twins and triplets. She lost so much weight that Mom put her up at feeding time to give her extra grain and extra time to eat it without the others eating it too.

Though Katya is thin, she has done well feeding the youngsters as they have grown very nicely.

 

I feel Sarah's pain... Katya doesn't need to feed Lotte too - reindeer are only "designed" for one calf as their milk is so rich! Lotte's mother is drying up (Lotte is 3 weeks older) so Lotte feeds from Katya now too Free yummy stuff!!!
CaliChrome - a tape would be easy for me to use but not configured for reindeer, their build is so different... Just a silly video... missed the explosion, but when I went to feed, not a reindeer in sight...Had they been stolen/escaped??? NO all hiding away from the flies in ONE field shelter that I didn't think they'd all fit in!

 

BEAUTIFUL!!

 

yes, they are

 

Reindeer kisses camera! Thank you for that feeding video! Do they eat much of the round bale hay? (I know you've referred to "browse" and I don't think that hay is part of "browse". If they are like most "deer", they prefer tasty shoots and leaves of shrubs and trees. Like the deer that eat my young apple trees.)

 

My lot don't like hay at all - it is mostly wasted - they will "pick at" haylage and hay. It's odd the Alaskan herds eat a lot of hay but then they don't have as much graze and browse in their winter months.. that's all I can think.. My lot always have hay on offer but most goes on the compost heap!

Editing to add a photo of Hector's "loss of baby coat" he has moulted out body and facial hair... Body is now mainly the usual brown of reindeer summer coat with a little dark grey too BUT his face is still unusual, not only the white blaze but also an apricot colour around the eyes. His legs also seem to be moulting to an apricot colour.... Can't wait to see his winter colouring.. Second image is Lotte in her summer coat

 

How cute I really like the color of Lotte!

 

Waiting for the hay delivery and Boris decided to take up squatter rights in the haybarn - I think he thought I couldn't see him but the antlers showing above the dog cage were a bit of a clue!

 

Too funny!!!! Don't animals bring laughter & joy to our lives!
Classic photo...thanks for sharing!

 

A thread I have missed until now! The photos are so interesting. How wonderful that you raise reindeer! They must take a lot of time and care.
Thanks for sharing the photos!

 

Thought I'd share one of my favourite old photos - it's of Katya (Hector's mother) as a youngster. It was a lovely March morning and for all those that can remember the old ad for Colgate - from the right distance I can see the "Colgate Sparkle" on her chest where the sun catches the haylage she is trailing...
Have a few other old favourites if anyone is interested in the older herd in their younger days.
And a PS to all those who are following thread... Katya has put on 6KG's in 11 days despite feeding both calves.... go Katya!!!

 

I would love to see the older pictures!! It is throwback Thursday after all! Happy to hear Katya is putting weight back on!

 

Thanks Labmommy for responding so I can post more old cutie pictures... will post a lovely of Misha last year and hopefully have news, exciting pictures/videos in the next few weeks..

I think I have "secured a bull for the rut", will know tomorrow, rut starts mid September...
The rut may be scary (if you are brave enough to watch, I will post some video clips ) once the rut starts
Exciting, I THINK..... I won't show x- rated stuff (I never see this) just the bull destroying feeders, fences etc... Last year feeders were thrown over fences, auto drinkers were destroyed, conifers placed in paddocks were killed... interesting times
It is a VERY stressy time in the reindeer year and I will not enter a rutting bulls paddock, I feed over the fence and pray that none of them becomes ill as it takes a VERY brave person to remove a cow (girl) from a rutting bull's paddock... Already having nightmares... but the results of all the stress are Hector and Lotte...
Once the 8 weeks of rut are over - that killer bull becomes a sweet cuddles bunny for 10 months... hormones are to blame...

 

So pretty! If you did happen to catch the naughty bits and put them on youtube , it wouldn't take much to find them! I have subscribed to your channel! LOL There are tons of animal breeding videos.
You're bringing in a bull? What will you do with Boris? Or is this a trade deal?