New Baby reindeer to my herd

I mentioned before that I had a group of 5 Vet Students a few weeks ago but not sure I said I had the main group on Wednesday...

Way too many... The reindeer weren't stressed at all but their herder was.
Keeping so many students engaged was a challenge but they all said they loved the afternoon, I just felt I couldn't give as much as I wanted to all.. Hey ho I have invited those who may have a particular interest in cervids to come back in a smaller group.

 

Brilliant idea, keep any of them interested in reindeer, interested!! Maybe they will further their education along those lines and be a
big help to you reindeer farmers in the UK! Good Luck!

 

I'll bet Boris told them a thing or two about how to look after him

 

Gandalf's new antlers have started to grow in earnest now, but still have to wait another month for both bulls (Frodo and Gandalf) to start gaining the weight that they lost during the rut.

The adult girls will not drop their antlers for weeks yet but two of the female calves (Luna & Lily) have started to drop their baby ones
.
And I have started "Belly Watch" nothing conclusive yet but very promising tummy movements in the pregnant girls.

 

Such sweet faces, thank you Karen for keeping us in-the-know.

 

Yay belly watch begins! How exciting! joanc123 is so right, they do have very sweet faces, makes me just want to reach out and pat their noses!

 

I agree they do have sweet faces. Am looking forward to the patter of tiny hooves

 

Keep at it girls, maybe you CAN drink your paddocks dry!

It continues to rain in the UK, I for one have had enough of this wet stuff

 

This water has more flavor, anyway we'll put it back. You have a beautiful country Karen.

 

Beautiful pictures, you can even see their reflections in the puddle! Looks like a lot of rain!

 

Love the pictures. If it continues to rain they will soon be able to swim in the puddles

 

I just got an amusing mental image of reindeer wearing swimmies like small children, playing in giant puddles. If I only had the Photoshop skills to make it happen.

 

Heehee I tried to search online but only found this and to be honest I can't see even Boris in these!!

~edit~ no outside links allowed

 

Remember the kids pool you use to put out a few years back? Well that is the image I get in my head with one of the reindeer standing in it while the others looked on!

 

Belly watch has started!
While everything seems calm in the paddocks, I am starting to see the first glimpses of new life (not only in the hedgerows) BUT in my girls tummies.
A few days ago I thought I saw a little kick within Elsa but it wasn't repeated and I always want that second kick to make sure I wasn't just blinking.
Today Mischa's tummy pulsed twice, lower than I would expect this early, but I am pretty convinced she is in calf, so maybe an April baby.
Oh and these two produced leucanistic calves (white) last year to same bull..
I am starting to get excited. Hubby just raises his eyebrows when I start reporting on belly watch!


And last photo amused me once I downloaded. I was taking a photo of herd "at rest" but reindeer are inquisitive beasties. It seems one of the girls came to investigate why I was kneeling down. I didn't notice at the time who... BUT My Spirit Reindeer was at my side... Her shadow gave her away once downloaded !!

 

Looking forward to hearing more news about the pulsing tummies! Maybe you could get your Spirit Reindeer to take a picture of you with the herd next time It is amazing how you knew who it was by just a shadow

 

Lilac, I don't know who my shadow was but I can eliminate boys as they either have little/no antlers as they are in velvet or Boris still has his but way bigger... I can eliminate the babies and also the girls in picture, so might be Katya, Ria, Eli... but guessing Katya!

 

Exciting times ahead

 

Just an antler update.
Gandalf (entire) is really starting to grow his new antlers. Frodo (also entire) isn't showing much growth yet. Boris (castrate) hasn't dropped his old antlers yet - come on Boris!
A couple of babies have shed the odd antler but no new growth yet (to be expected) and none of the adult girls have shed (they may start in April).
For now photos of Gandalfs's new antlers growing rapidly

 

Gandalf really is a very handsome young man