New Baby reindeer to my herd

@BoHoKaren, Looks like Katya has her velvet tied up out of her way so she can eat better! LOL

 

Doh moment! I'm even the one that mounted the things in the cabinet and labelled them as antelope horns! I blame it on a long day and a pickled brain!

 

Katya is wearing a fashionable fascinator!

Great idea on recording stripping to see if there is correlation to calving. Do the ladies all seem to have the same gestation period?

 

Gestation is about 7 1/2 months but the embryo's seem to lay dormant over winter. What trigger the spurt of growth, I do not know.. I had my girls scanned (2 years ago) on March 18th, 5 months in... scan results said no, but 3 weeks later they were either pregnant or had aliens having a battle in their bellies! I no longer waste money on scans... just spend hours tummy gazing!!!
The Alaskan herds girls calve in April here in the UK ours Calve in May yet our bulls seem to come into rut at the same time... so there is something that triggers embryo growth... daylight hours or spring forage... not sure...

 

I think Monty looks a fine chap. Very handsome!

 

Could be right on the length of daylight. Horses are triggered by it. Many breeders place their mares under lights to "trick" them into coming into heat earlier. Stallions don't have any time when they are not ready to go. Personally, I prefer to stick with nature as it is timed for the foals to arrive just when the grasses are at their best. Man has a hard time manipulating that!

 

Babies not too happy as I have been confining them and Boris overnight (for several days) to stop them pigging out on all the rich grass we have growing at the moment. Also gave these 3 worming injections - so expecting "wooses" limping tomorrow. They are brave for most things BUT not injections.. Might need extra cuddles!!!

 

"Let me out!"

 

@BoHoKaren, Poor babies, injections are never fun, even when given gently Extra hugs and cuddles for sure!

 

Oh SC!!! I agree...Lotte does seem to pleading with her sweet eyes..."Mommy...please let me out!"

 

The boys today...
Hector napping, Boris teasing and poor Monty trying to keep everyone away from "his" girls.
Cameo appearances from Lotte (in Boris' paddock) and Mischa in "Rutland"
The rest of the girls in "Rutland" too far away to capture..
Enjoy (or I hope)..

 

So they ever get their antlers stuck in the fence? Mom had a sheep who got his horns stuck in the fence and was injured pretty bad trying to get out.

 

Rutting bulls can be tricky as they thrash about... The videos don't actually show "manic time" - dawn and dusk... all sorts of things can happen - scary at times.. Have had them stuck (outside rut) easy to sort... getting stuck during rut will be dangerous...
Last year when I had a mega problem during rut (two males fighting - at the time it seemed to the death).. I called everyone I knew for back up.... everyone was "busy" luckily no reindeer died --- alone, as no one to help, I drove my 4x4 and almost rammed them, honking my horn in their ears - Nothing worked - they still fought until one gave way. I was so scared that one would die!!! They didn't BUT the rut is scary!!! Hormones!!!!

 

Nice video! Hope there are no problems with this rut. Speaking of rut, the deer in our area are doing it and my neighbor lost a tree she planted this year - the buck left only six inches of the trunk!

 

I am pretty sure it was Mischa's Day yesterday... Monty was chasing her and this morning she had a clump of hair lose on her back (hoof) so 7 1/2 months and counting!
First Mischa this morning second VERY grumpy bull Monty!

 

Let's hope for a very pretty and healthy baby in the spring!

 

This morning, Twiglet was being chased ruthlessly but this afternoon Monty was a lot calmer. So I am guessing nobody else in oestrus just yet.
Picture is Twiglet having a drink after the chase.
Nothing more than the chase witnessed, with either of the girls but usually nothing seen, as the really important bit is usually at dawn but the chase is part of the "courtship".

 

Beautiful pic of Twiglet Karen! Am I right that she has distinctive stripey markings across her head and neck? Bit like a zebra crossing if you get what I mean?

 

I wonder if those are shadows that make it look like stripes on her coat?

 

birdiesaunt, I was wondering the same thing, but I do believe her nose is darker though.