New Baby reindeer to my herd

Oh good grief, that poor reindeer. Are those sores on his back?
I'm hoping this was a temporary problem, as it did happen just before the father-in-law's death, presumably.
Reindeer certainly are tough.

 

I am not pushing her just yet as she has only just shared how bad he was when she first asked for help..
I am guessing that father in law had been using pour on wormers which had burned skin, maybe over using as he lost weight, rather than looking elsewhere for issues. If he was a sheep/cattle farmer then pour on wormers are often used BUT they burn reindeer. His recent photo shows no white pigment so guessing it was burn damage not pigmentation.

 

That 1st photo really tugs at your heart strings! The poor thing looks like it is suffering! So very very disturbing to me!
I am glad that farmer has listened to you and with proper feeding and meds, look at the wonderful turn around! I hope she can
and will continue to ask for advise and use the knowledge you have given her, as she can see for herself what you told her to do is working!

 

The first photo broke my heart. Thankfully your advice was sought and has brought about a great turnaround. I truly hope there will be full recovery for the poor creature. You have stressed how different are the needs of reindeer, and surely many of the issues that have happened are the result of not understanding those differences as well as you.

Have you considered writing a book? With such a limited amount of literature on the care of reindeer, your experience could make a real impact. Please think about the idea; you have much to offer!

 

It isn't just me that tries to keep their reindeer in tiptop condition. There are many herds in USA and UK too, in great condition but there are many more in UK, and elsewhere that struggle... You only hear from me... I don't claim to be the answer... I just try hard and not arrogant enough to tell others how to do it unless they ask for help..
For today's update...
Frodo who has just clicked up his 1 year anniversary with me. He has stripped his velvet (first sign of Rut), so has been separated with a couple of girls but as of today not dangerous yet.

As yet Gandalf (15 months old entire boy) hasn't stripped his velvet BUT he greets me with his antlers, he's sniffing all the girls bottoms and pacing Frodo's fence line - he's all male! So as soon as he strips, segregation for him and his girls.

 

I just the little tuft of white fur at the top of Gandalf's head and his spotty nose! As for the "amazing Frodo", well just
take a look at his amazing antlers this year, his lovely coat and is beautiful body. He is the picture of health!

 

Thank you Sand... He's a different boy this year... He'll loose weight over rut but so too will Gandalf. It's just the way hormones go. Frodo I won't worry about, Gandalf has grown so much this year that he may be a little underweight at the end of rut BUT neither of them I am worried about as they aren't skin and bones at the start.

 

Nice greeting from Gandalf, "Check out these Bad Boys..." He makes me giggle. First year feeling his hormones.
Thanks for the pics, Karen. Your Frodo strikes a nice pose. With his sweet nature he will make a great Santa Helper some day.
Boris could be his teacher.

 

Frodo can't be let out before his antlers drop with any elves (forget Elf on a Shelf... Elf Kebabs) unless he gets the snip next year! You will see in a couple of weeks this sweet faced boy will be an angry demon trying (and possibly succeeding) to destroy fences and kill me for just supplying food close to his girls!! For a couple of months per year the entire boys completely loose the plot..... Hormones!!! Back to being cuddly in January ... HOPFULLY! Eeek!

 

Raging hormones in a reindeer with big antlers IS NOT a good thing! More like elves on a stick, the new Christmas treat this year!
I know "my bad"! Sorry!

 

Lyrics from The Miami Sound Machine( Gloria Estefan)This song comes to mind when I think of Frodo and Gandalf at the start of rut season!

Bad boy, bad boy, bad boy, bad boy

[Repeat x2:]
Boys will be boys
Bad boy, bad boy

Boys will be boys
Always get so restless
Bad boy, bad boy
Boys will be boys
Nothing but trouble
Bad boy, bad boy

 

Please tell your farmer friend that they have done miracles. Hopefully the reindeer under their care will continue to improve.

Also, try not to become reindeer shish kebobs.

 

We certainly don't want to hear about BoHoKaren kebabs

 

You are all right... I used the wrong words, it should have been some year.
We would not want any Santa / helper on a stick / kebab. Even lovable Boris was an entire male once.
Nice song Brooke.

 

Gandalf has been busy overnight but he didn't continue during the day... Hopefully by morning he will have got rid of his dreadlocks. Trouble is if they don't do it in one go it can dry on once blood supply stops. Not a health issue, just looks untidy.

 

Most teenagers like to annoy so untidy dread locks are par for the course!
If you put a picture of Frodo from when he arrived next to his picture above no one would believe that was the same reindeer!
What you have accomplished is remarkable. If any of the girls are not impressed with Frodo's rack, they need to have their eyes checked. I'm impressed and I'm not a reindeer. Just curious, how many points on Frodo's antlers? You'll have to be sure to save Frodo's antlers when he drops them & find a special place to display them as an example of his incredible will to live!

 

I think Gandalf is letting the girls know that Frodo is NOT the only boy on the farm!
@dafodily, brilliantly said!

 

Thanks @sanddollar15

Karen, I know losing your heart Hector was so hard last year, but you would not have looked for or risked adding Frodo to your herd, if you had not. And Frodo would not have lived thru last year's rut, if not for your TLC.

The ban on importing reindeer is still ongoing ... yes? Keeping two intact males is not in your plan. But before snipping Frodo, might you see if any of your fellow reindeer herders (that you trust) want to add to the genetic diversity of their herds? Whether you lend him out or sell him, his strong genes would be a boon to any herd.
Just a suggestion as I've heard you prefer Gandalf's spotty nose genes.

 

Dafodily, yes imports are still banned and to be honest I don't think ban will be lifted as RVC (Royal Veterinary College) have been concerned for a while about the number of reindeer dying, caused by many imports being sold without back up on how to care for them. I support this stance, until/unless gene pool becomes an issue in the future and then hopefully they would allow under special license - who knows. I think there are sufficient ethical owners not to worry about the ban and support it. As to keeping Frodo entire - I will see, I did think about that and know another good owner that has an entire bull that can only be used on a few of her girls but would I swap - not sure I would as he's 7 - just his age doesn't worry me but his bulk does. Last year he was so scary that he was attacking/wounding his females & ripping down fences - he had to be given human female hormones to calm him down... Would I trust someone else's older boy? Would they trust mine? At the moment I am working on keeping breeding boys entire up until about 5 (castration also extends their life span - massive surges in hormones seems to shorten their life drastically).

No pictures today but this reindeer herder had her first Twitchy bottom moment ever! I hadn't separated Gandalf with his girls as there are always days between stripping velvet and boys getting angry BUT during feeding, Gandalf cornered me in field shelter and decided it would be FUN to pin me against wall. No ill intent involved (yet) but spikey antlers and games just can't compute! I wasn't injured at all but it worried me.. It took me the next 4 hours to sort him and his girls into a separate paddock. Human's can't play teenage boys games! Still a couple in wrong paddock (Bruno found a way of getting through fence to his mother) but not too worried about that (I wanted him weaned but I have let calves stay in rutting paddocks before with a young bull)... At least both of boys are in their paddocks... Hopefully pics tomorrow when I have time to breathe! Eek! Just a teenage Arm Wrestle but too much for me - I bruise like a peach!

 

Personally, I don't think I would want an angry 7yr old bull in with my females with the chance they might get injured!
Sounds like Gandalf is starting his reindeer games early and you were chosen to play along! Good thing you have it mostly sorted now before he gets to rough! Looking forward to pictures and maybe you can tell us which girls are with which boys!