New Baby reindeer to my herd

Hi Karen,
Glad to hear all went well with your "wild" children
That picture of Boris is beautiful, He looks so handsome! I just love the snow picture as well, It finally snowed here and as Brookeham mentioned, so pretty.. everything always looks so clean and fresh with the first snows,,I can't wait to see more pictures, they have become a favorite of mine..
lol lottidah, my silly kitten always does the same thing, wanting cuddles while I am in front of the computer...
Thanks for the update wishing you and the family all the best..

 

Wolf, the reindeer in the foreground is actually Mischa (one of my girls) Boris is hiding behind her, but you are doing well starting to recognise who is who as Boris and Mischa are both similar as they are my only 2 with spotty noses.
Lottidah - your kitten's mischief made me smile and to answer you question we get very little snow in England and it has all melted by today

Hope you enjoy this, one of this morning's videos - this one of Lotte and Twiglet.

Have another fun one to add, if anyone wants to see it, then could you reply please as don't want my knuckles rapped again by double posting

 

BoHoKaren just curious, whats the purpose of the head collar?
Is it just like when we put a collar on our dogs? or is there a real purpose for them?
Your reindeer are beautiful

 

The head collars are like a horses head collar, they have a ring under the chin in order to attach a lead rope.

Attached a video of Hector trying to eat my coat. Decided against sharing him playing with his Jolley Mega ball as his play was slightly inappropriate but funny!

 

Like my cats, I think Hector is after the ZIPPER!

 

I wish we had "reindeer moss" lichen growing here - I have to import that but they also love munching on our home grown lichen on dead branches, not quite as good but still tasty.
Mischa, having a munch.

This is the type of lichen that they really love but doesn't grow here..

 

Karen - I have enjoyed the pics and videos. Hector is still a star!!! I have been wondering if all this rubbing of his antlers on you & anything else nearby.....if they itch? I'm thinking its like a baby teething or when a cut is healing it itches.
Also where does "reindeer moss"...that type of lichen grow?

 

Boy, that Hector is always up to something it seems, how do you put up with their antics? Gotta luv em no matter.. what.... their too cute not to..
Wonderful pictures, btw. The head collars or halters are necessary for reindeer, I imagine. Do you not worry they will catch hold on something while their out in the paddock? When we turned out the horses we used to remove the halters if they were to be there for awhile, less chance of something bad happening as the paddocks were not always clear, branches,trees, tree limbs and such were in there too so many things they could get caught on. It was less worry that way. Most of the horses came when whistled for and stood quietly or just followed us back to the barn because they knew there was goodies waiting for them at the end of the day in the barn

The white lichen "Reindeer moss" you pictured, I forget the other name for it but I know I have come across it in the past up in New England. At least I am pretty sure tht was the kind..

My one cat loves to play with zippers ! When I lay out my coat instead of hanging it up, He takes advantage & He goes to town.. It'll keep him occupied for hours ! Cats, They are so easy to please at times...

 

Boxes, paper bags and Klondike bar wrappers balled up are some of the "free" cat toys I have.

 

Zip ties are my cats #1 fav at the moment.

 

Mischa, What big hooves you have! That lichen looks like some that we see in Florida. Could it be the same?

 

Brooke unfortunately Hector can't get away with antlers being itchy as once they have rubbed the velvet off then there is no feeling in them, like finger nails or hair even though they are actually bone. With velvet on they are very sensitive, so once he starts growing his new antlers I doubt he'll rub - we'll see) . It's just a behaviour issue, like a dog pawing at you for attention..
Reindeer moss grows further North (Arctic circle and slightly below) I believe it needs a colder climate and prospers better with lack of pollution.

As to head collars - reindeer react a lot differently to horses. Not sure how to express but in a way they are a lot more gentle than horses (with their heads), they browse gently and if they get anything stuck (even antlers in my clothing) they very gently untangle BUT they are a lot more head shy - so putting head collars on and off can be stressful for them but they are happy once you have a lead rope on their head collar... It's really difficult to explain. Most tame reindeer herds keep head collars on 24/7. The only real problem we have (which horses don't) is their coat/hair, as reindeer hairs are hollow, to trap heat, and thus are very fragile so it breaks very easily. Where I live the climate is very mild but friends in the North Pole remove head collars in the depths of winter as shortened hair in the winter would loose their wonderful insulation.
Just adding a picture of baby Lotte who is getting a lot more inquisitive even though she is still a Mummy's girl. Once her mother, Twiglet, gets close to calving her new baby, it will be Lotte's time for lots of one to one

 

Lil Miss Lotte is just so so precious and sweet It's amazing to see her blossoming so well, after such an iffy start in life. I know her Momma watched over her, but so did you. Congrats on her success Karen!!! Thanks again for sharing so much with us

 

Thanks Guinea.. you must have watching for a while to know that I didn't think this little mite would live.. But she has AND not a chance I will loose her now. Way too big and healthy.. unless something awful BUT that could happen to any of them BUT Lotte certainly isn't on the close watch list .... Nobody is at the moment... But Wait till April and the calving girls and their May babies will be on my major STRESS LIST!

 

@BoHoKaren...
Yes I have been lurking on your thread for a while, lol... since sometime before the start of last birthing season I didn't breed my Nannie Goats last season so I was "birthing vicariously" via your thread, lol (I know, they are completely different animals, but I still got a much needed dose of soft and fuzzy newborn cuteness). And now I am in love with your whole herd, and anxiously awaiting all of the posts/pics/vids of the 2016 baby watch and the births/babies to come

 

Karen - Thanks for the info....yes, I was trying to conjure up an excuse for all the antler rubbing by your funny-boy Hector.
I too have adored all of this thread! When you don't post for a day....I miss it! Yes, sweet Lotte is a little lovey. She will need some extra snuggles when Mommy has a new baby. I'm so glad she made it and now is a very healthy, happy girl.

 

Karen, Thanks for taking the time to explain that to me, I am learning things about reindeer I never knew. LiL Lottie is a cutie and looking forward to hearing more about your herd.
A question about the babies, is there one sex you prefer more then the other ? I assume is the girls as you can't have to many intact males... ahhh I'm sure you love them all no matter, I would...

 

Wolf I don't think there is one sex I like more - maybe some individuals (but don't tell them) The boys once castrated & trained can be easier in some ways, as the girls can have a mind of their own (ie Mischa will very quickly wrap her lead rope round her antlers if I am not concentrating) but she can be more brave than Boris at times (Boris can leap in the air at the sight of his reflection in a shop window but goes to sleep when children are hanging off him!). Boys antlers are a pain - they are bigger but, "entires" loose them before Christmas and the castrates make a mess of there's by rubbing off bits of velvet so late that in their busy period they can look bloody. Girls antlers are lovely and clean by mid September.
Today's update for their avid followers...
Katya, loved the frozen fruit treats (apple, blackcurrant, raspberry and gooseberry). She was chasing the others away & I had to hold her off as it was meant to be a little for them all.
Hector had a little, the others weren't interested. Confiscated it until tomorrow or she'll have an upset stomach!


Don't worry about this last image, looks odd I know but I was just pulling her away from her pigginess and she had managed to take a huge mouthful and was trying to swallow it quickly...

 

Sometimes Mommy knows best Katya!

Maybe I missed something - how is belly watch?" Are all the girls preggie?

 

LOL @ greedy piglet Katya!!
Can't blame her tho, that fruit salad looks yummy!
Thanks for the chuckle Karen (and Katya!)