New Baby reindeer to my herd

They do have tiny teeth. Molars at the back, a big gap (similar to horses) then at the front just tiny little teeth on the bottom jaw and none at the top just a pad of skin (even as adults they only have front teeth on bottom jaw). Designed to strip leaves from branches (browsers) rather than grazers, who mainly chomp grass.
The grass he is sampling won't actually be doing him any good yet as, as babies their rumen is not working yet so they cannot digest anything but milk... But he wants to try to be a big boy.

And, as of this evening he is now Christened - it's taken me over 24 hours of looking at him and throwing names around from a very long list but eventually a name came at random... Most will hate it but he's HECTOR Sorry folks but I know he will grow into this name...
He will most probably have to be a castrate unless I sell him on and as he doesn't mind about being picked up and moved into the shade when the sun comes out, he is going to be a very laid back boy... a "Wallowy Old Hector"
Mother Katya looks really scraggy but that's normal as the reindeer loose their winter coats... no amount of grooming can get it out quicker (it's easier for them and me to pull out in clumps when it is ready.. )

 

That is such a sweet picture! It looks like they really love each other already! Hector sure is on very handsome baby boy! Thank you a million times for keeping us updated and sharing the pictures and video!

 

Lovely Hector ...the video sure was cuteness overload. I know you must be worn out but what a wonderful and rewarding experience you must have being around these gorgeous creatures every day..heaven!!!

May I ask what you mean about he will have to be a castrate unless you sell him on. Does that mean he would have to be castrated and if so may I ask why you wouldn't use him for breeding?

 

fifi, I believe she wouldn't use him for breeding as she doesn't have a big enough herd to have an entire male so closely related. He shouldn't be used to breed to his mother and the other females may be too closely related to him as well. Plus managing more than one entire male during the rut might be a big problem.

 

Absolutely right CaliChrome. I only have 5 females (cows) 1 of which is his mother and another his sister.

Entire males are lovely and happy living together for 10 months of the years but for 2 months (during the rut Sept/Oct) they would happily kill each other and even me if they got the chance! Their hormone levels go through the roof, they stop eating and can think about nothing but their girls and attacking anything else that may approach one of their hareem, launching feeders and anything else they can find into the air with those pointy antlers.. Keeping two girls in a separate paddock would not be feasible as he wouldn't rest until he had destroyed all separating fences and got to them... (Rutting time is fun!)

Castrates stay lovely all the time.. Entire males also drop their antlers before Christmas but castrates and cows keep theirs on until Spring....... Rudolf was a girl

 

Ah right I see! I didn't think about the relation side of things . Thank you for the info Calichrome and Karen. 'Men' eh, always trouble when it comes to their hormones!!! (I use that term to keep things appropriate for the forum!)

 

Or a castrate!

 

Lotte.. 2 weeks old today... but still a tiny wee (smaller than her 2 day old brother) trying solids..
Go girl... thought she was too tiny to survive but this little premmie is proving me wrong... I hope!!!

 

Looks like little Lotte is doing just great! You go girl!! Get IN that feed bowl!! LOL Thank you for the updates Karen. I know they are keeping you very busy!

 

I'm in love ...and who can blame a girl for piggin out now and again

 

She is still a very lovely little lady even if her feet are in her bowl I am glad to see she is thriving.

 

Beautiful pictures Karen & thanks for the updates, I am learning so much about reindeer. ( even stuff I didn't want to know, poor Rudolph! )

I your name choice, right now he is simply adorable (as is Lotte -wtg lil one!)
but soon he will be Handsome Hector

I hope you are get some well deserved rest!

 

It's bliss. Just gone 9pm here and off to bed but the first time for about 6 weeks that I feel confident enough to sleep past 4:30/5am either watching for calving, stressing about newborns or worrying about Misha who needed help delivering getting a uterine infection. I feel so confident about these two now (and Misha now has stopped moping since losing Eric) that I can feel a lay in till at least 7am... ah bliss and sleep through without dreadful dreams... )) Happy reindeer herder here

 

Keeping good thoughts for your entire reindeer "family"! Sleep well.

 

Both getting more inquisitive too.

 

They are adorable! I'm glad to see they are doing well!

 

Just another today sweeties photo...And so happy.
My father & stepmother came to see the babies and with hubby there were 4 Big People.. Possibly a little much for mother reindeer, so after they left I spent quiet time with them. Stroked Katya gently and sat down on grass... little Hector wandered across and nuzzled my hand.. not looking for food just smelling to see if it was me.. It was lovely. His mother is very tame, despite being wild bred, and he will be easy too.

 

Wild or captive bred, the instinct remains with most animals. A very touching picture! I have a service dog, a blue healer or sometimes called Australian cattle dog. He had never seen a cow in his life, but when he finally did, he knew just what he was bred to do! Mom there can impart some wild instincts, but it will be great that they are gentle with you. In your herd, do you just have the one male for breeding? I know you had said that during the rut, they become very aggressive. I was wondering what you do to separate, or if you had just the one. If it is just the one, do you ever trade them out for another so that the blood lines are more diverse? Eventually father would be going after daughters and granddaughters. I know some of how it is done with dogs and what is/isn't safe, just not sure about your reindeer!

 

Small herd, and only ever 1 entire male and never breed related animals... That's my big problem with Hector... Would make sense to sell him and buy in fresh blood... or if I can't part with him as he is so beautiful and will be so tame, then he must be castrated... As there is no way I can sell his mother but would also mean selling Lotte too if I kept him entire... So he will have to be a castrate or sold on...

 

For purely selfish reasons, as you are so kind to share their story with us, I couldn't bear to hear that he had been sold on. Might just have to take his manhood! He is so beautiful!