New Baby reindeer to my herd

Ana Isn't she the reindeer you asked us for suggestions for her name?

 

Ariel - Yes that was Ana, my new import in late January/Feb this year... Her training progress hasn't gone as well as my previous ones.. She is still quite untrusting. I am having to take it very easily with her... but on the positive side. The girls that like to stay a little bit wild may not come out on visits with me but they make good mothers - & the foxes don't have a chance of getting their calves!

Lots of good pictures today but decided to add a bad one!!! This is Katya, she can be difficult to photograph as she loves hogging the lens....

 

OMG

 

LOL..... Katya is too funny!!! I feel like she is wondering "what is this???........can I eat it??" Katya is obviously full of personality!
Thanks BohoKaren....again...you made me chuckle!

 

My excitement is.......

I have found a bull to "rent" for the Rut... He is only young (same age as Ana), not only VERY well grown BUT beautiful colouration and with lovely antlers for his age... He is meant to be tame BUT... from picture, not sure he's what I consider tame (mine must be p*ssy cats!!!) He is gorgeous - I just have to sort insurance... meant to be for him (but maybe for me too - bulls are meant to be easy until they strip their velvet
Original agreement was to collect 3rd week in Sept, I said I thought he'd be a bit feisty by then.. Had a call on Thursday saying he had pinned handlers to wall during worming handling - could I collect this coming week... Absolutely, just having a panic scrabble to get insurance.... Tempus Fugit..

And I have started to build a "play area" for him. Brashings for him to strip velvet and to give him something to take his temper tantrums out on... It will only last for a short time before it is demolished.. but give me something to do while I a waiting for insurance bods to get in gear!!! And my herd are enjoying the leaves during build!

 

Glad you have such a fine fellow for your ladies! Love the photos!

 

BoHoKaren, You are an amazingly busy person! I love seeing your photos and reading your stories...thanks for sharing!

 

Busy??? Not sure, as my reindeer are now my full time job... I gave up a very busy/stressful job, working for others, to invest in something I love, working with animals,... I love every second spent with these wonderful creature BUT to me it isn't hard work.. stressful at times, yes but for all the right reasons...

Nothing constructive to add today... Still trying to sort insurance for visiting Bull, Monty, but thankfully a friend is on the case, as timing is getting critical..
Have relocated field shelter in "Rutland" so that I can hop over fence (and back more critically!). Will put in hay for bedding/fodder tomorrow and need to purchase a longer length of square section guttering for everyday feeding, over fence. Need to cut more brashings for antler toys for Monty and check fencing....
Hector and Lotte still have beautiful ears but really must pluck up courage to sort their ear tags...
Photo of Hector's non pierced ear... hopefully tomorrow he will have his earring but also waiting for his abscess from inoculations to burst - it's angry but as yet not ready to "pop"

 

BoHoKaren, I am happy you have found something you love to do and are happy doing it Hector sure is a beauty and he does have nice ears!

 

Hector is so cute!

 

I was worried about Boris this morning as he only ate half heartedly (thought he must be on death's door - my Boris NOT hungry!!!!). He ate some and then went to lie down!!!

Took his temperature - and as ever he poohed on thermometer and my hand!! Temperature normal...

Diagnosis became apparent later when I discovered he had already eaten (second photo) - Not ill, just Boris being Boris - he had already eaten. He had found the extra sack of feed that wouldn't fit in feed bin! It was in hay barn, over gate, about 5ft above ground (climbing involved) BUT then, that's my Boris!!!

 

Clever boy! And a very nice photo of him as well!

 

There is always a Houdini in the herd!

 

I weaned the babies yesterday - Hector and Lotte, and put in their "earrings"

Hector & Lotte will be forever known as UKNS2844 -001/002 BUT to me they will only be known as Luxlyk Hector and Luxlyk Lotte!!!

All day yesterday, the babies didn't seem to mind, only one minor "honk" from Lotte BUT this morning the babies were "honking", mothers were grunting... Poor little Hector couldn't decide whether to follow me "honking" or run the fence line "honking" to his mother....
Soo stressful.
I cut some brashings and fed on the fence line, babies and mothers calmed down. It might be a female thing that nerves fray with babies distress call... Don't know, maybe it affects men too?? All calm tonight

 

Very nice video! Kind of reminds me of when I get stressed and hit the chocolate!

 

Thanks BoHoKaren, what a great video! It is nerve racking to hear babies in distress, but they seemed to really like those branches! I go for the chips and dip! ha ha

 

I've been showing my grandson all the pics and videos from the start and he calls them....Handsome Hector and Little Lady Lotte
Thanks for sharing

 

Very nice to see them enjoying their tree treats

 

Educational one....

People have been asking (on their FB page) for recordings of their "honking" noise.

In the early days I couldn't record it as it was so infrequent but the babies have been honking more since they have been weaned. The "honk" is far louder now and more guttural than it was as tiny babies but thought you may like to hear it too.

Reindeer don't really make a verbal noise (except between mother's and calves in the first few months of life (warm weather) - mother's grunt & babies "honk")...

Verbal noises expel warm air and hence loose body heat, so yet another wonderful adaptation of the reindeer is a clicking noise as they walk - created by tendons rubbing on a bone in their foot - meaning that they can hear each other moving in blizzards without losing body heat..

 

Thanks for sharing Karen! I was wondering what it would sound like when you talked about the honking in an earlier post. My mom's braying donkeys could be heard all over town. They are much louder than your reindeer. It never bothered me but I know it did others.