New Baby reindeer to my herd

I am also pleased to hear that Lexi is doing better. I can not understand how people can just abandon pet rabbits like that. I used to have rex and lop eared rabbits as pets and it makes me very angry that people are so cruel.

 

No picture, unfortunately BUT so funny..
3rd Silver Birch sapling needed to be planted and in "Rutland"... The Rut is still ongoing so needed hubby to "keep cave".
All went well.. I built an enclosure first (to initially protect me but then the sapling) bearing in mind I had a step ladder propped to fence (and used it twice when my bottom got twitchy My rutting boy Hector is the most adorable reindeer ever but he gets playful with his antlers).. Others have far more problems with their rutting boys...
Anyway, this afternoon he spent about 10 minutes licking, pawing and prodding panel... he walked off quietly and then did 2 star jumps... so weird legs came out sideways... then he quietly walked off to join his girls.
Reindeer never cease to amaze me.

 

That would have been a million dollar picture!

 

You really just have to Hector! I am sure that picture would have had me giggling for days! So did you get the sapling planted?

 

All 3 saplings planted. They have tree guards around them to stop bunnies eating the bark (that's what killed previous ones).

Lexi has her mother back today.. All my girls (not sure about Elsa yet) should be covered now. I am sneaking covered girls out of Hector's paddock when he is otherwise engaged. Ana and Elsa will remain with him for company until he drops his antlers.

Today was Twiglet's turn to join the rest of the herd... (All sounds rosy, unless I add that she had a set to with Katya and not too lovely with Lexi at first, but all good now)..

 

I can just picture you sneaking the girls out when Hector isn't looking. I hope that he can't count, otherwise he will be wondering what is going on with the girls disappearing!

 

Oh he knows... and gets pretty upset once he spots (smells) them in another paddock... He was climbing fence once he scented Twig in a different paddock... and having a serious "male problem".

Hope his hormones drop in the next few weeks, if not I may saw off his antlers (for his own good)- doesn't hurt once they are no longer in velvet.
Reasons for thinking of this option (or not wanting to)...

Positive reasons for sawing them off...
His pecking order will drop, so he will no longer be in charge of the girls, no longer will the girls accept him chasing them, therefore he won't run off anymore weight.
He might be able to be reintroduced to castrate Boris and the calves paddock as hopefully no longer angsty.
Negatives... Let nature take it's course BUT young boys can take forever to come out of rut. His antler drops have been ordered..

I am keeping this option open... Hugo never came out of rut, kept losing weight until March... won't let that happen again.

Paddock change and Boris broke down fence to willow plantation, so gave up. I'll make it reindeer proof before Spring growth!

PS they are meant to be in pasture outside this area... Where they are is meant to be a NO Reindeer Zone!!!

 

Well don't they look proud of themselves in the Willow patch! Wow, leaving Hectors antlers on or sawing them off is a big decision, but since you have had to deal with it before it will be easier for you to know what to do and when to do it! In the perfect world, nature will take its course and they will fall off sooner rather than later!

 

Looks like it is back to the reindeer proof fence drawing board! (Dumb animals my foot, .)

 

Your pic of the willow patch...with reindeers in it...........is hysterical!!!!! Your wee girl is looking at you...and gleefully saying "Look what I did Mum!"

 

I forgot how much "Fun" it is with the herd back in Home Paddock where the feed stores are...
Me, filling buckets with pellets, my back turned to apple store and Katya playing Goldilocks and deciding which apple tastes best..



After taking a short video of her I find Boris opening dried lichen box and helping himself to contents... Joy.... He did have a coughing spell as he gulped down so much while I was trying to drag him out.. The bit he coughed up was about the size of a rugby ball!



Lovely to have them in home paddock again but feeding times are a little more time consuming!

 

They do know where the goodies are!

 

Just like kids raiding the cookie jar!

 

Thought you may like this photo of the Lovebirds (Hector & Elsa).

She has met her match in more ways than one, as he is the only one she defers to...

Shared this picture with her previous owners.. and they said "phew, about time she deferred to another reindeer" as she was causing chaos with their castrates. She's still a handful with the other girls BUT she is keeping Hector company until he drops his antlers and then maybe when it's time to get them all back together I may remove her antlers... don't worry once reindeer are in "hard antler" it's just like cutting toe nails for them... a bit of sawing for me (and potential punches from her as she's not very tame).. but we can cope with this "prissy missy" GO HECTOR!

 

Great picture Karen, They should have beautiful babies! Maybe she will calm down if Hector did indeed do his job!

 

Love the picture Karen. I am sure Hector will keep her in her place!

 

Yeah for Hector!!! He's the man! What a great pic! I'm so proud of Hector....what a prize specimen of a big, strong and gorgeous reindeer he's turned out to be!!! Yes, yes I can't wait to see his babies!!!

 

Oh It's going to be a LONG and boring route for you all... as I am certain most have already been covered... 224 days... and counting from covering... You will need to hide come March when I am tummy gazing 24/7!!! And boring all with pictures of abdomens or reindeer udders in April... Deep breaths all you can stand down till April...

 

Some of us are used to 330 days for a horse. Talk about boring. Until the last 90 days when we start watching for signs of impending parturition.

Reindeer are not boring!

 

Updates, pictures and tummy watching are not boring. It is always exciting (and sometimes anxious) waiting for the new generation.