New Baby reindeer to my herd

Oh I hope so too. BOTH itchy, as her mother is a unicorn... Not sure why Ana only has a single antler. It could be genetic OR damage to pedicule in the wild before she came to live with me.... but it seems Freya may have two itchy bumps growing... So hope so!!! 1 unicorn is enough!

 

I don't envy you keeping them clean for Christmas outings. I've had grey horses and for some reason they loved to get themselves dirty.

 

A funny but a question to anyone that might know....

Anyone any clue how long Bumble "type" Bees need a nesting site?
Hubby very kindly was "volunteered" to top home paddock with Wilma the tractor..

Wilma's air conditioning needed activating (doors taken off hinges, she's an old girl) due to the first spell of hot weather.

She started beautifully (she's a little gem) but once her hydraulic arms started to lift a cloud of VERY angry bees swarmed out of a hole in her lifts and filled her cab...

Hubby leaping out of cab & running across paddock with knees hitting chin & a swarm of angry bees chasing, really should have been filmed!

With the heat today (and tomorrow), unfortunately, in the metal case, that is her lift arms, I think the bee larvae will cook but if not... How long before I can top paddocks... Can't leave it too long or my topper won't cope with long grass!

 

Do you have any bee keepers in the area? They might know how long (even though they don't keep bumblebees). They also might know how to safely move them to a new home. Funny aside, have you ever seen footage of a baseball game where the dugout had to be evacuated and the game held up due to bees? Amazingly there were beekeepers in the stands that offered to help out. Keep thinking it might have been the Chicago Cubs. (You know bears love honey! LOL.)

If in doubt, search the internet.

 

Now that may be a thought Noelle.
I do have bee keepers locally and they were delighted to collect a swarm of honey bees that swarmed in a low tree branch last year (they were so easy to collect)... Might have to sweet talk them though for this lot, as not honey bees and hiding in tractors hydraulics... But I might try to see if they "owe" me..

 

If they are bumble bees, yellow and black and big, be careful. They can sting multiple times and are not to be fooled with. They can sting people to death. Their nest is permanent and you definitely want a professional to take care of them.

Honey bees are the small yellow ones you see swarming in ball parks and places like that. A professional beekeeper will be able to remove them by finding their queen and removing her. The rest will follow her into a new nest, usually a white box with slats in it for them to build their nest in. Beekeepers use them for the honey and pollinating crops. It sounds like they were honey bees, or your husband would have been in serious trouble, but honey bees can only sting once and are not very aggressive, plus their stings aren't very bad.

If you get stung by any bee take a paper towel, fold it up, put baking soda on it, then add vinegar. As it foams up apply it to the sting and it will draw the poison out. It will cure the pain and swelling. Just make sure the stinger is out before applying the poltice.

Whichever type they are you will need to clean the nest out of the tractor before using it very much. Good luck.

 

They are actually trees bees (a small bumble). Unfortunately there is absolutely no way of getting to the nest/queen without taking an angle grinder to my tractor as their access point is only about 1" and their nest is within box section steel. I have spoken to the bee association and they say there is no way of removing them.

 

I don't know if this would work, but.....is there any way to start the tractor (without hurting the bees) and leaving it on for a short time, then shutting it off. Repeating this every few minutes (after they have settled each time) - half hr - hour - until - hopefully - they get so disturbed that they will re-locate!! Not long enough to hurt them, but to disturb them consistently and make them want to move! (It might take a few days, and would require borrowing a bee keeping suit.)
As I said, it's just a thought. But if there's no other way, it's better than losing a tractor!

Edit: Doc, there is another remedy for stings...it's simple and gives very fast pain relief. I can say from personal experience (v-e-r-y painful wasp sting!) that it really works great!
**Simply apply honey to the area.** That's it - and in less than two minutes the pain will be almost gone!! The redness and swelling follow quickly thereafter.
It was a totally amazing experience, and I've been unafraid of being stung ever since.

 

How are your little ones coping with this weather, Karen? Do the pale girls get sunburnt?

 

I went out to the Facebook page and it looks like life has been busy enough that she has only posted there once this week (just a few hours ago). Hopefully we will get more updates soon.

EDIT:
Rats! I live in the wrong place. There is a competition on the Facebook page for a small group (6 max and only 3 may be children) to come meet the new babies! It may be offered weekly for a short time and one group has already been picked.

 

Sorry folks, as Cassi said, it's been a bit busy but to make up, a couple of silly photos of Loki - he's 5 weeks old today.. His little antler buds are coming on well now - he's a real reindeer now!

 

You made a nice start to my week with these photos!

 

Sorry Rooster I forgot to reply re sun/hot weather - it didn't last long here but then it's the UK!

The adults have lost a lot of their Winter coats, so that helps but they were seeking the shade. Babies noses have been fine as they still have quite a dense baby coat, although it is starting to moult out. Hector has had to have some sunscreen on his nose as he is down to summer coat on face..
Reindeer friends in Alaska reached 30oC, with far more daylight hours too!

This picture of Freya looks very scary but luckily I saw her put herself into this position to groom but boy what a position, it looks as if she has broken a leg!!!! - they really know how to scare the Bejesus out of me!!!

 

That would scare me even if I'd seen her do it!

 

Freya is showing off how limber she is.

 

Reindeer yoga

 

Home paddock update... (non maternity)...
Boris must have been teaching Hector his bad habits.... Dodgy photos, but can't believe this is my "baby" Hector, he is growing so quickly... And boy his second set of antlers should be quite impressive - still another month of growing to go! (and we've got this far in about 5 weeks).

 

Is he hunting for reindeer moss?

Yes, those are impressive for just 5 weeks.

 

Hector is one handsome reindeer! He is just looking for a snack!

 

Wow, Hector is a big boy now with big boy antlers but just a mischievous and cute as ever.
Thanks for the pics.