New Baby reindeer to my herd

Ohhh thank you all, so very much. All your words are so, so very moving. I share my problems and pleasures as a way to de-stress.

Mostly we reindeer owners fight alone as vets do not often have the answers to our many problems... So you are all my sounding/screaming board. Thank you all.

I am now confident enough to share Frodo on my social media page... In the past I have had to share on a personal message to the wonderful Lilac Lady in order to share here. He now looks so well he's regularly on their FB page and wanted to give you all an update... His coat is gleaming, his muscles are rippling, his antlers are growing well and he is eating me "out of house and home"... Boy done well!

 

Frodo looks absolutely magnificent, a wonderful testament to all the love and care you give to your herd, you must be so proud of him. Like everyone else has said your thread is my most favourite one to read. I have also learnt so much about reindeer, and through reading it I was so lucky to be able to visit. I think myself so very fortunate to have been able to actually meet your wonderful "heart boy" and to have a little piece of him to keep forever. It is actually bringing tears to my eyes again to write about him. I hope to be able to arrange another visit soon, before the babies are all grown up!

 

You are welcome anytime Lilaclady - we loved meeting and would love to welcome you again. An arty friend also has a piece of Hector's antler to turn into something for me to treasure, I just have to be patient But memories are what matters.
Munching willow, the scraggy coats..

 

Frodo is just amazingly beautiful! I remember the pics of him you showed to us and cried then too, thinking "How could someone let this happen?!" It does my heart good to see how (Lilacladys word) magnificent he has become! You dear lady, have brought him back from the brink!

 

Heehee When I purchase him and now!!
Must say I spent many months doubting that I made the right decisions about introducing him to my healthy herd and thinking I may be introducing something that may kill off my herd too... but it's all worked out well... He looks pretty good now and nothing odd introduced (so far) BUT FRODO has turned the corner and then some.

Spot the difference... hee hee!

 

OMG it is almost painful to look at that picture! I wonder what his former owner would think of him now! lol

 

I'm kinda not wanting to share as she wanted one of his calves... and I think NOOO would prefer her to think he didn't make it... I'm keeping a low profile there!!!
PS September should be when they are looking at their best (first picture)!! His feet/legs were even skinny not an ounce of flesh anywhere.

 

Oh gosh NO!!! She would not get anything now or ever! Yup poor baby just did not make it! The more I think about it Karen the more I know he was sent to you to save, because he did have the will to live! Just my humble opinion!

 

What a dramatic before and after!

It seems apparent that the previous owner just isn't as knowledgeable about reindeer husbandry. You have shared that he didn't have an underlying illness that you needed to treat so your nutrition is far superior to what he was being given previously. Not only has he survived but he has come through winter with a weight gain, not loss as you have described is typical for reindeer, and he has just blossomed during the spring and early summer. What a happy ending to his story! I'm so very happy for you. All the worry from last year about possibly no babies and the concern over Frodo has just made a complete turnaround to a beautiful animal and adorable babies. Even Disney couldn't write a better ending

 

Frodo looks soooo good! Despite the real challenge to bring him around, I always believed you would succeed and he would be a joy to you. Congrats!

 

It's quite funny, at this time of year I am usually tightening all adults' head collars as they loose their thick Winter coats but not Frodo, I've had to loosen his 2 notches... Not that I'm saying he's a fat head! Partially due to the fact his coat was very thin but he must also be putting muscle on there or maybe growing, who knows???
Katya looks like a child wearing her mother's clothes!

 

I think it's Frodo's jaw muscles - from all that munching! And perhaps a growth spurt for the young man, since his return to health.

Reminds me of my nephew, a former skinny runt, that grew three pant sizes and two shoes sizes in 6 months! Family had to pool together to replace his wardrobe!

 

Baby Herman is sprouting his baby boy antlers. Still battling with "blindness" in one eye - but we'll get there.

Had to include this photo of Bruno as I thought it was pretty cute but no story to attach - just hiding under the picnic bench I was sitting on.

 

Oh my look at Herman grow! Antlers already?
Awww.... Bruno looks so sweet smelling the wee flower!

 

Beautiful picture of Bruno.

 

Bruno does have the sweetest face, and those eyes just melt my heart!

 

Overnight Frodo's antlers have bifurcated in several places, so the most recent count of points will be at least 13 and he has several more weeks of antler growth.. Kind of beats his four prongs of last year!
(Some of them are only starting to show today but they are there).

 

He is doing so well bless him. Before long he will be King of the herd, watch out Boris!

 

Go Frodo Go!!!! You've done an amazing job of nursing this gangly, malnourished boy into a stud muffin of a male reindeer!!! Kudos to you Karen!!!

 

So funny, last rut he couldn't take the skin off a rice pudding... This year I will be approaching his paddock (girls) with RESPECT! Eeek but so happy that he'll be potentially dangerous... that means he'll be a healthy boy.
I am creating my own assassin!