New Baby reindeer to my herd

Love the photo of the two boys enjoying the rain. Their antlers are amazing

 

Boris!
You have to have one lazy reindeer, and for me it is.... BORIS.
He has been watching/helping me fit out new field shelter, lay paving slabs etc. etc. It's thirsty work, just watching! And the water trough in his paddock is at the other end of his field, so his solution, maybe he could exercise his tongue rather than walking the length of a paddock.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2652012798372538

 

it! Boris is smart as he figured a way to get a drink without taking a long walk in the heat!

 

Good old Boris, where there is a will there is a way. I hope he offered you a drink and didn't keep it all for himself

 

Clever boy!

 

Are the boys' different antler colors chance? Their coats look similar but their antlers are so strikingly different!

 

Love it, clever boy Boris. I don't blame him, I wouldn't walk the length of that field either with a handy water source right there!

 

Not lazy. Smart reindeer!

 

The fun has started - The Rut.
Gandalf stripped his velvet overnight and is already exhibiting his antlers to all.
I think time for a Frodo change of paddock too, as he is taunting Gandalf through the fence. Guessing Frodo is close to stripping

 

I hope that all goes well and that you stay safe. Gandalf's antlers look very dangerous, you do not want to become a kebab

 

Scary, but magnificent boys! Hoping for no dangerous incidents this year.

 

It's just that time of year when my entire bulls become pumped up with testosterone. They were cuddly last week but no longer. I just have to work out strategies to get us through the next couple of months.

 

You have always done your best to make sure both you and your reindeer are safe during the rut (as well as the rest of the year). We have confidence in you. Just be careful and plan out your strategies with the utmost care.

 

Will you get your bulls girlfriends during the rut? Does that help at all?

 

They have 2 each at the moment but more will be joining them. Girlfriends don't actually help, as the boys feel the need to protect their breeding rights with anything/anybody who comes close..
Without girls they would also fight fences, trees, feeding troughs, just anything they can. Their hormones spiral out of control and they just need to prove their strength and aggression. But I know it's only for a couple of months, so we find ways of tending/feeding without having to enter the entire boys paddocks unless they are chained to something VERY solid.
As an aside, in preparation to going into rut, the boys really pile on the weight over the Summer, they gain huge neck muscles. You just wouldn't want to mess with them.

 

Thank you Karen for sharing your Reindeer adventures with us.

 

As impressive as Gandalf's antlers are, I think Frodo's look more scary! Having said that, I would not want either one of them head butting me! Thanks for the great pictures and stay safe!

 

Frodo stripped his velvet a couple of days after Gandalf but Frodo is still an absolute gentleman. Yes he will become hormonal but a week after Frodo stripping his velvet I still dare go into his paddock (only close to gate) but Gandalf it hasn't been possible since day one
)

 

Frodo is just such a beautiful reindeer!

 

Frodo really is amazing