New Baby reindeer to my herd

Frodo looks amazing at 11 months since he came to live in your "reindeer paradise"!!! Kudos to you Karen for all your fabulous care of him. He is truly a stud now! I do pity you not having your usual grass to feed your herd. Must be expensive buying....is it hay?

 

Brooke, they won't eat hay or haylage (but both are available if they change their minds!) & silage is too rich for their tummies. I have finally found a product of just grass in pellets form which I am mixing with their usual pellets. Since finding these pellets I have been able to double their usual pellet ration but couldn't before without finding a safe and edible roughage. They are also having additional beet pulp and a horse feed called mollichaf but they pick through that and waste most. I am harvesting any willow that is offered by followers.... It's a fun year!

 

It sounds like a NEVER ending battle, either with Mother Nature, or just the genetic make up of each reindeer themselves!
How you deal with it all I don't know, BUT Karen you do an amazing job! I hope you get lots of willow coming your way I am sure that helps a lot!

 

Today's problems are all pesky fly related...
All three babies have an infection in one eye - so started the day baby wrangling to get ointment in. Little Bruno managed to tip me on my backside (on gravel again), good news I suppose as it shows he's getting stronger - heehee. This morning Mischa had damaged the growing tip of one antler, only skinned it, so she was next on my to do list - I got there before flies so only Aluspray needed to keep flies off.
This evening's feed I noticed a fly sitting on a small cream coloured bead on Lexi's antler. I swiped at it and found it was pus. Closer inspection she has 4 or 5 tiny nicks all have a little bits of pus... oh joy. Lexi is one that is happy for me to stand beside her but tactics needed to catch her. So morning feed it will have to be, but it will mean mixing up Hibiscrub and getting can of Auspray shook up, hiding a lead rope in pocket, all while Katya and Boris wrestling me in feed shelter waiting for their breakfasts - it's going to be manic.

On a positive note "Baby" Belle, my last year's unicorn is really trying with her second antler. It isn't as big as her main one BUT it's there.

Lexi in background and no signs antler infections this morning... Darned flies!

 

Hugs to you Karen, for all the "Fun" you are having. I hope you get some help with the willow harvesting.
Belle will be less lopsided now she has two antlers. Will she ever have both antlers get to same size, or will one always be smaller?

 

The flies are terrible this year! I hope that you manage to get everything sorted tomorrow morning it sounds as though you are going to have a very busy and chaotic time. "Baby" Belle is doing very well with her second antler bless her heart.

 

What a chore list you have! And having to deal with feed problems as well. Hope the weather improves and the fly problems lessen. So Belle's little antler is still growing? I'm also interested in whether there is a chance of it matching the other in size.
Frodo's photos are a joy to see. He is beautiful; and a testament to your love and skill with reindeer.

 

Bless little Belle, she is working hard on getting her other antler! It is looking good though. I just can't imagine how irritating those flies are to your herd! I hope they go away soon!

 

Karen, might you still be able to contact the manager of the royal estate that so kindly offered you unlimted quantities of willow after their visit last year. Given the drought and your need it would be worth a try.

 

Dafodily . not Royal estates... just Ducal Unfortunately the Forester grubbed them up as they were planted for biomass but weren't economically viable... I turned up to harvest a few months ago and nothing there..
Update from Ythanbank who are the proud owners of Thor, Loki, Freddy & Storm (that I bred). Best home ever. Elaine has decided to keep Freddy and Storm entire until Spring. Yearling rut isn't too bad but have suggested she does't let the kids cuddle once they strip velvet. Beautiful photos - Freddy

Storm


PS I am delighted to report that Freddy has become a real "heart" reindeer, not only to Elaine but her young daughter cuddles him daily too, loves him to bits and is having problems understanding that she won't be able to cuddle him September on wards, until he drops his antlers.... He was a difficult baby to part with but they love him as much as I did.

 

Freddy and Storm look so happy at their new home!!! I adore Freddy's pic! He looks like he's hamming it up for the camera! Another "heart" boy? Dear, sweet Freddy is a cuddler? How cute is he?
'

 

Brooke, I think Storm is doing a Vogue. They are beautiful pictures of your beautiful boys, Karen.
Please tell Elaine, Thank you, from us Farmerama Followers of your massive Reindeer thread.

 

I agree with what everyone has said, they are beautiful pictures of two very handsome young men.

 

Thank you Ythanbank for taking such wonder care of your herd! I bet that Storm and Freddy will have just the cutest babies ever!
Thanks Karen and Elaine for sharing your pictures with us all!

 

Such handsome boys! It's nice to know they are in as wonderful a home as yours.

 

ops that one thing.. Freddy and Storm will never have babies, while Elaine has decided not to castrate this year, she only "runs" a castrate herd, no girls at all and they will both be castrated in the Spring. So we all just have to love them for them and not their future babies as there never can be any. x

 

Oh, well that takes care of that!

 

Baby Fergie says this years trend for antlers is definitely the scissor action

 

Awwww adorable Fergie is a trendsetter!!!!!

 

Yes! What Brookeham said! lol She is Soooo cute!