New Baby reindeer to my herd

Did someone say it's Monday tomorrow????

 

Perfect! I love it!!!

 

Did somebody lose a baby tooth? (Or is that apple I see?)

 

Caviar, Reindeer don't have teeth at the front on their top jaw, just a hard pad of gum.. The bonus is they can't bite, at worst you get gummed to death!!! BUT what you can see is an apple quarter - reindeer teeth are tiny

 

Lotte....Your'e on "Candid Camera"!!!! Say cheese...or apple. LOL
BoHoKaren- I just got home from a hard day....and this picture(and all your video's & other pics) always brightens my day! Thanks!!!

 

Reindeer teeth might be tiny, but I still wouldn't want to be bitten by one.

 

Love the photo!

 

Love your pictures Bohokaren. I had no idea they didn't have top teeth. So cute.

 

Picture is just a lovely of Boris, my castrate..
But the educational information this week is that my "rent a Bull" Monty is scheduled to return in the next few days but he hasn't gone out of rut yet. The glands under his eyes are still open, he's still an honary beastie. I have about 5 days to sort a solution to loading him in a trailer without anyone being hospitalised!

 

How much longer will Monty be in rut? Can he stay until he is safely over those hormones and then go home?

 

How big is your trailer? Does it have a divider to cut the front off from the back? Can you load a female in the front, close off and then maybe entice him into the back? Haul both and just let him out of the back at home? How much would he fight the trailer? If you think he might harm himself, ask the owner what they would like you to do. (If they really want him home, will they come get him themselves?) If he is that ornery, I'd let him be.

 

My trailer has a divider but the back section (ie load a female first) is far less secure (back, which would be his bit)... Don't think he would harm himself, just people and maybe even a female if she can't escape under close confines... Had been thinking "Pig Boards" and extreme sports for anyone who might be locally available (surprisingly all my friends seem to be busy when I have these problems!!! .. ) ... but now thinking ( going with our strengths)... I have been getting him used to a "prod in the thigh - through gate" ready for his worming shot before he goes home... but in order to do this have been feeding him close to gate... ... PLAN "A" first attempt, Thursday, I am "hoping" to get a VERY long line attached to head collar (through gate)... back up trailer and take long line up ramp and out of jockey door, before gate opened. Providing I can trust hubby to hold the strain I can get behind him, inject wormer and push him into trailer... Providing he doesn't out fight hubby all will be safe... I can now see how to box Monty safely BUT still have to fix in my mind how to sort him and stop girls loading in trailer... they love it and always self load!!

 

Do reindeer kick out behind? I would worry that the shot in the rump might make him unhappy and possibly hurt you. Too bad I don't live nearby. I'd be willing to hold a "pig board" to help get him in. What you really need are some assistant handlers from the local horse race track. You know, the guys that load the unruly horses into the starting gate! (Offer them a Christmas or other time reindeer visit to the track and maybe pizza and beer for their time.)

 

Awww what an awesome pic of Boris. His eyes are gorgeous!

Eeek I worry about you loading a hormonal male. Especially if the girls self load(that shows they like going on trips). Please be careful and yes...get anyone/everyone to help you. Or...ask Monty's owner if he can stay a little longer until the rut is over?

 

Started my plans for Monty boxing, this morning. Decided to inject the two stupidly tame girls with wormer today, so that I can sneak them out of the rutting paddock tomorrow and put in Boris' paddock (they are the 2 most likely to trot into the trailer with Monty). It was rather fun hanging over the fence to put a lead rope on them and then inject as they seem to know when it's injection time and Monty was watching a little too closely too! But all done safely..

PS sorry forgot to reply that reindeer don't seem to kick backwards (only 2 of mine have ever put up a fight - Twiglet and Ana, the rest wouldn't dream of kicking), when they do use their feet it tends to be a forward punch with a front leg & boy Twiglet is a cracking shot, had a thick lip from her several times, she sure can get that leg up high!! Eeek!

Picture just another silly of Boris - soon you'll get close-ups of the girls too! Can't wait to get the herd back together again...

 

BoHoKaren, are the reindeer separated because of Monty or because of the rut still going on? Or if the females didn't get pregnant, you don't want it to be Boris? It's not a big deal, just trying to understand. Don't know anyone but you who lives where they can raise reindeer. I appreciate all the info I am learning.

 

Baw, they are separated because of the rut And because of Monty, as he may attack Boris and the babies while his hormones are raging.
Boris can't be a daddy any more..... he's had the snip (i.e. like a gelding in the horse world), that is why Boris is still a sweetie despite being "that time of year".
Once Monty goes home, I will put the herd back together - then my only entire male is Hector but he is still a baby. Although he seems to forget sometimes when he is "playing" with his Jolley Mega Ball - naughty boy! The Girls will tell him off if he tries anything on with them though, as they should be pregnant & they wouldn't consider him a suitable father anyway!

Edit to provide an update picture... Have taken the two really tame girls out of the rutting paddock (and boy that took strategy to do it without Monty noticing) so that they don't self load when I am at full stress levels trying to load Monty tomorrow!!!
Picture Mischa in with Boris and the babies...

 

Hi, Love it. were you able to get Monty loaded?

 

Done it!! A day I have been dreading since I hired Monty, just in case he wasn't out of rut... and he wasn't!!! Taking him HOME!

Had to use cunning and guile to get him loaded but managed it without injury "this end".. had been feeding in a tiny bowl close to fence for a week and managed to get a very long rope on him through fence... loaded him with pulley system (and while that was tight was brave enough to tickle backside to get him in)...
At delivery site he fought like a trouper, heehee poor lads are covered in bruises. I have never seen an animal move so fast. The lads were very brave and went into trailer, grabbed him by antlers but he punched both repeatedly, he never missed a beat, those front legs hit both repeatedly every second - very impressive..... They put him in a paddock with older heavier boys "to put him in his place".. didn't work, he took on all 7 one by one and floored them all!! ... GO Monty...
I have a video of his 3 minor wins, (might upload tomorrow) his major battles I didn't film as I was so worried and wanted to bring him back!!! But instead of being "put in his place" he is now in charge of a paddock of big boys... (bet he's dreaming about being back with my girls though!!!)