New Baby reindeer to my herd

Thank you ALL for your kind words... I bet you have guessed that I am passionate about reindeer & spreading the word, they truly are wonderful creatures. So little knowledge compared to the horse, for instance, and yet reindeer where domesticated way before the horse or any other animal, apparently...
Had to share a picture of Hector today... most of the time he is trying to pretend to be big and butch but then we still have our moments..

Twiglet (Lexi & Lotte's Mum) is looking pretty impressive this year but then this is the very first year that she hasn't broken an antler in velvet (one of my two wild children). She is finally calming this year, unless I have a needle and syringe in my hand, then she still punches better than Mohamed Ali!
EDIT when I say wild children - I have 5 imported "Wild" reindeer but 3 of which are now cuddles bunnies, it's just Twiglet and Ana that I have not, as yet, conned into believing that I protect them from the non existent (in UK) Wolves etc!

And a silly of Mischa

All seem to be so well at the moment.. why am I expecting something to go wrong??? Eek -

 

LOL .....Hector might be big & butch to the other reindeer...but then he sees you...and goes to mush! It's like he's saying..."How I'm doing Mom??? Look at me!"Wow...Twiglet is so gorgeous this year!!! She is the prime reindeer!
You are probably nervous b/c the rut is right around the corner...and who knows what can happen? Try to relax, you've done all kinds of preparing and all will go well.

 

Loki/Thor update. I miss my little baby boys so much. But have been in touch with their new owners for years and knew they would be the perfect forever home..
Their comment "the easiest reindeer we have ever had" and we can all see that they are happy in their new home...
I just insist on a daily cuddle from me..



Not sure if this works on here but owners have just shared this video.. I want them back...

 

Love the video!! How sweet that they are such best buds and stick together!!

 

Oh yes..... I love the video too!!! How cute for Thor & Loki to come running to their new owner....and so quickly!
Boy they run fast! It's so nice that they send you video's so you can really tell how the boys are doing. And then you share them with us....their fans! LOL

 

This video! Thanks to all for sharing it with us! They are growing up in such a beautiful place, and look wonderful! I love how they are always together it is really cute! I would want them back too Karen! I hope Lexi and Freya are doing well!

 

Lexi and Freya are doing wonderfully.
Today I upped Lexi's training. I had been attaching a lead rope to her head collar for a few days while she ate but today tried out our first walk and she did very well with only the occasional panic that her head was restrained..
Although the babies have been happy with strokes for some time, it is a major step forward for deer to feel that they are being restrained, especially by their heads but went very well for first time, only one real issue and that was when her antler got tangled with lead rope but m fault as I was videoing at the same time so not 100% concentration.
I will try to add the video after the pictures.

 

Yes, you can tell Lexi in the beginning was kind of ok with the lead rope, but after the water trough
it seemed like she had enough! lol She has a cute prance about her!

 

Should I be happy or feeling sad already??
Thor and Loki's new owners have just put in an order for another baby boy next year... and my girls haven't even stripped yet... so not pregnant...
I know it's a brilliant home and that they have never had such easy reindeer... but they aren't yet a twinkle in their mothers eyes...
Still feeling protective of the little embryos that aren't even there yet...

 

If you continue to breed, you know you have to find good homes for the babies or you will be run over with reindeer.

I think it is great that you have found such good people for your babies. Since you are currently keeping Hector for breeding, what are your other options for little boys? Even little girls will need to find new homes at some point. It's part of the breeding business. Without unlimited land and money, you can't keep them all. (I know this doesn't make your heart feel better but be glad Thor and Loki have such a nice home.)

Filming a leading lesson has to be hard. I've taught foals to lead and even with both hands it can be fun. We used two leads. One for the head and one around the rear to propel when necessary. I'm not sure that would work when you have antlers to worry about. We do start earlier than you. While they are still at mama's side. With someone else leading mama it gives the baby more motivation to go forward.

 

I know it is hard to say goodbye to little ones you have loved, but I would think it would be comforting to know that you have a guaranteed sale to a good home. There can be a lot of worry in a situation when you can't find a buyer for livestock or you sell to someone you don't really know and you hope they go to good homes. I think it is great that you know where they are going and that the new owners are continuing to stay in contact with you and give you progress reports on how they are doing. It is especially nice that they have sent a video so you can see for yourself how they are doing and not just rely on what they tell you on the phone, text message or email. It is hard to see them leave your family but it is a special blessing to know they are going to be loved and cared for just as much as you would.

 

Mischa has stripped today, the first of the girls.
Gestation is 224 days. Stats from last year, she calved 226 days after stripping... Hopefully Hector will be busy shortly. We will see if he gets more grumpy...
No signs of other girls stripping yet. Twiglet 224 days stripping to calving, Katya 229 days. Ana 239 but think she didn't "catch first cycle (approx 20 days)" and Freya slightly premmie...
But we are close to me boring all with COUNT DOWN!!!

 

Counting the days until new babies is never boring!!! Go Hector!

 

A silly video of Hector today, he is so confused... At times he needs to fight the world at other times he wants cuddles.
The pile of trees I gave him to play with .. some are already 100m from where I pegged them down, so he got annoyed with them!..
I only feed & give cuddles to him and his harem over a fence as yet he hasn't really lost the plot... but he will

 

I so hate it when he sticks his antlers through the fence, all I can see is him getting caught! He is still your "little boy" BUT I am sure he will change real soon! I hope his babies are as cute as he is,and some of them are girls so you can keep them! I hope all goes well with this years rut!

 

I'm sure Hector's kiddies will be as interesting as he is - can't wait to see them!

 

His Flehmen response to Mischa urine today.. so we're close to (224 day) countdown

And guessing he was chasing at dawn as he was yawning often today

 

The realities of breeding and the space available for Karen means that either Hector's daughters find new homes or Hector does. It's already hard enough for Karen with Hector's mom. Unless Karen castrates his boys, they will also need to find new homes.

 

@BlackCavier, thanks for your input! I am well aware that boys being born now are most likely going to be sold as Karen has stated in other posts, and the size of the herd is important. I was just stating that any babies by Hector might be cute and fun to watch! And if any were to be kept it would be girls!

 

If next year's girls are kept, Hector must either be sold or castrated.