New Baby reindeer to my herd

Oh pooh, I didn't see that you had responded, so deleted my previous post in order to do an update!!!
So update of Mischa's strip and the baby bunny I found are now not in order... If you are interested, you will need to scroll up.... I am rubbish!!!

 

Oh that baby bunny it just the cutest thing! What beautiful antlers Mischa has, they are a red color right?! Very pretty! I really enjoy your posts BoHoKaren, thanks!

 

Adorable bunny! And a great pic of Mischa!

 

Thanks Sanddollar - yes Mischa's antlers are red, for now - always look scary at time of strip, as the "velvet" that covers growing antlers is full of blood to feed the growing bone- while they are growing (covered in velvet) the velvet is full of capillary blood vessels and underneath it is bone marrow and very fragile. But at this time of year it has hardened to bone and no longer growing... When they first strip their velvet there is residual blood from the velvet but it will fade soon...

 

Thank you, very interesting and I'm glad I got to see them red, to me it looked like some branches do that have red in them too

 

Often wondered/worried about posting on day of velvet strip, it looks scary but is a natural process and it is educational. Today, as it rained, Mischa's antlers are far less red and you will see the other girls in the foreground haven't started stripping velvet yet... Just guessing but presume as they have been feeding babies their hormones aren't marching as quickly... Picture two is Ana (my young unicorn) who has started stripping in earnest today (thought she would be last as youngest)... Last two to strip are the mummies!!

 

It wasn't as scary for me (not knowing) as for you knowing all about the striping and the blood vessels Ana's looks sore to me as the coloring is very different than from mischas! All very natural and very educational!

 

I could post today's problem or cutems photos and ignore problems but I think it is better to show everything and not pretend livestock keeping is easy (especially reindeer).
So I will start with picture of baby Lotte who has an eye infection again (caused by flies as the weather warmed up again), picture looks dreadful but that is because I have administered a thick paste of an antibiotic cream - she was so well behaved during treatment but then home bred are very easy

And Boris had a silly moment (or two) using trailer hitch as a wonderful rubbing post

And baby Hector having a snooze with the rutting bull Monty in the background... Hector is getting quite tubby - weaning hasn't held back his development at all..!!

 

Poor Lotte; we are having some very stupid weather here at the moment, so it's no wonder she's poorly (jumper last week, sleeveless t-shirt and sunglasses today!).

 

Poor Lotte I know Hector has many fans, but I've always found Lotte the cutest

 

That is quite a belly on Hector!

I put plastic caps on my T-Posts to prevent injury but my mare just keeps rubbing on them until they come off. When there is an itch they can't reach, animals are very inventive.

 

Oh yes.......poor little Lotte. I hope her eye clears up soon! You're such a good reindeer mommy! She already has her medicine!
Hector is NOT fat! He is pleasantly plump. LOL I'm sure he is going to be a complete stud of an adult male reindeer. All the ladies will be swooning!!

 

Nice pictures! Hope Lotte is much better soon. Love the scratching post pic!

 

Thought I had taken a picture of Lotte's eye today but I hadn't. Today looking slightly better as it is open but hazed blue and very little vision through it. Don't overly panic I did when I first had this problem (with her mother) 2 years ago and thought she'd always be blind. It may take a week to recover and always the chance of a little scaring but I don't think so as I caught it on day 1...

So today's pictures are educational (not sure any of you may need them BUT....) as to how to know a bull reindeer is in rut - and don't mess with him...
MONTY.....Firstly, the vents (glands) under the eye open

Secondly, you get the look (this isn't the best example) but usually the white of the eye above and not an "I'm scared" look..

And thirdly, don't even get in this position unless you have a fence between you or can get out of the field in under 3 seconds... you can see the antlers close up.. In this one he is only scratching BUT he has grunted and attacked fence where I am standing several times in the last few days... NOBODY comes near my girls!!!

 

The vents are something I have never seen before. What is their purpose?

 

Not sure Black Caviar but guessing they let off pheromones.. They only open during the "rut", when testosterone is going crazy and they are a very strong warning to be careful/Run!!!! Eeek!!

 

I hope you didn't find out about the 3 second rule the hard way!

Thanks for all this great info and sharing the photos; I am learning so much about these wonderful animals from you!

 

I too am learning so much about your wonderful reindeer!
I love the pic with the whites of his eyes showing................he seems to be thinking................."my that perfume(pheromone) smells good!!!"
No wonder pheromones are so expensive in this game! I had no idea how powerful they were?

 

I'm so pleased you explained about the antlers Karen, as when I first saw the pic of Mischa with her dreds, I was worried as they looked 'bloody'. How heavy are the antlers Karen? Monty looks a fine chap for your girls! I'm sorry if you've already mentioned about this and I've forgotten, but will Ana's other antler grow back? I think the pic of Monty showing the whites of his eyes looks a bit . It's like a "you know what I'm here for, now leave me to it or I'll stab you with my antlers look" Have you found anymore bunnies yet?

 

Mischa has got rid of her "dangley dreadlocks" now - they actually try to eat the velvet which is funny to watch (a bit like apple bobbing)! Her antlers are no longer pink, so scary look gone... Ana has also lost the red colouration but still waiting for Katya, Twiglet, Hector, Lotte and eventually Boris to strip their velvet.... with Boris he may need some help.... Castrates can be lazy!!!!! Last year Boris and I had to get to work with Brillo pads - took hours!!!

Your "Monty" comment is absolutely right.

Ana - I am not sure, she may always be a "unicorn" as I don't know what caused the lack of her second antler before I purchased her. She may have damaged the growth point during her first year in the wild (antler can be badly broken during the months of growth, April to July, as they are VERY fragile at that stage and if she got it stuck and wrenched it would have broken in the skull - like ripping a nail out from the nail bed - this is my guess as they are rounded up twice a year, to brand etc...), it could be genetic or poor nutrition can cause lack of antler growth (but that is ruled out as she wouldn't have any antlers & they are fed like kings!!!...
Bunnies, no I haven't spotted my tiny white baby again BUT unless I picked up the fence post that day I wouldn't have known it was there anyway... I think/hoping it was really too young to have ventured far from it's warren... Time will tell...