New Baby reindeer to my herd

I try with the lichen when Boris isn't looking but she won't come close (not a chance of touching her yet)and then Boris spots her in my vicinity and he chases her away. There is a lot of jealousy within the herd.... I could separate but that creates very serious stress so I just keep working slowly, slowly. I am hoping once she has a calf that maybe she will be happy to be separated with it then I can work with her??? Ana has come round greatly since Freya was born and Freya is on track to be a female Hector...

 

Brookeham, I was thinking the same thing! When all else fails "bribe" them lol I can see where the stress of being separated would not help the cause, nor will Boris being jealous and chasing her away help much either! Hopefully she is expecting and will then be a kinder more trusting Elsa! Oh yes, I can so see Freya as the female Hector, how much fun is that going to be!? I just know Hector is loving being himself again and getting loves from you Karen! He is and will always be "Your Cuddle Bunny!"

 

To be totally honest, most of my herd are silly tame.

Elsa possibly behaves better than a lot in other herds, so I am not too worried.
Eventually she will become a cuddles bunny, it's just a little harder starting at 5 years old.. She'll get there but maybe in her dotage!

 

That's right, Elsa is the first teenage(?) addition. Teenage girls often give mom the cold shoulder, especially ones with boyfriends.
I like your positive attitude! Everyone is right, you will get it done. One question - What is dotage for reindeer?

 

Love the pictures of the "lazy lumps" and I hope that it isn't just that Mischa and Twiglet "have eaten all the pies"! As Sanddollar said you are definitely the reindeer whisperer and I am sure that Elsa will learn to trust you soon.

 

Some herders believe old age for reindeer is 10 but I feel more like 14, with a few living on a few more years but with arthritis and other obvious signs of old age. So think similar to a dogs life span.

Mischa now completely naked but for once antler was easy to find. Right by the door to the feed store, so I'm guessing it had only just dropped as she was waiting for breakfast.
She's got a good head start, for hopefully, impressive new antlers this year. She does look rather bovine though.

So much for the lovely weather here - it's rained and rained and rained today...

 

Wow Mischa does look like she loves your pies. " Want some Apple pie girls?"

 

It seems that my recycled 2nd hand cot (crib) is working as a hay manger. While most reindeer are still in hard antler they haven't "played" with it, which was my biggest worry that they would convert it to firewood.

 

Working like a charm!

 

Looks good!

 

That really is a brilliant idea! Great pictures, thanks.

 

Very clever of you!

 

Well that's another girl dropping antlers, this time Elsa. Lets hope it isn't boding ill for Hector's "prowess". I won't doubt him yet...
At this rate of drops it won't be long before Freya has the largest antlers!!! Heehee.

And just another random of today, I had quite a few...
Katya "posing"

 

I am really hoping that the "dropping antler thing" is an old wives tale, and that Hector is the stud
we all think he is! Thanks for the giggle about Freya and her large antlers!

 

Katya seems to saying "I'm ready for my close up". LOL I'm waiting for the day when Freya does have the largest antlers of the herd!!!!

 

Well Karen a "Watched pot never boils"! Sooo, give yourself a break and what will be , will be!
In due time you will know for sure who is and isn't expecting! Maybe they will all surprize you...fingers crossed!
As for breeding here on the farm game, well I almost never get the results I would like! lol You use 4 to get maybe 1 or two so it is still up for grabs no matter how we look at it! I will keep a positive attitude for both of us!

 

Twiglet, who still has antlers.

To be honest, the more I watch, the more hopeful I am. Some tummies I have seen "bouncing" only during specific gaits. ie if they take a couple of short trot paces there is a definite reverberation bounce which I am sure won't be seen once calf is larger/taking up more space and also sure their stomach contents wouldn't be that heavy... We'll see but exciting time of year for me...

 

Yay!! Hopeful is good! It is an exciting time of year watching and waiting to see if it has been a successful breeding season, and how many new baby calves there might be! And like you
we are all waiting...waiting...waiting!

 

So exciting!!!! Baby watch is on!!!!