Timberview Farm

Sparkles at 5-1/2 months old. She’s still a firecracker but much more calm. Very curious. We’re working on lead rope training now. @

Well, here we go!! Breeding time begins. Todd is with Noelle & Vixen in the bottom field. They are calm for the most part but Vixen would like to see her little buddy Sparkles, who she has morning races with. They will resume their races in Nov.
Crash is waiting for his girlfriend’s Dancer & Ginger. Since Sparkles knows how to army crawl under stock panels if she is separated from her Mom, I need to make sure she is not in with Crash. And it is time for her to be weaned from Ginger. I always prefer a gentle weaning, so they will be able to touch noses through the panels.
One by one, the girls are losing their velvet. Both boys have lost theirs.
Joy & Cookie will be taking the breeding season off & entertaining the calves. Yule, the little bull calf, has grown by leaps & bounds. He struggled for a few months but is now racing around & has changed to a beautiful black velvet coat with white accents along his spine & on his tail. His antlers will be small this year. Sparkles antlers looks like she went to a gift store, bought a reindeer ornament & borrowed those antlers. They are unique & precise. Each side has multiple tines & matches. She’s such a cutie. Yule is my snuggler.
Now to get through the next few months of many changes before display season begins!!

Two weeks earlier than normal & Crash, our bull calf from last year, is in prime condition & ready to go!! Too bad for him the first heat won’t happen until around mid-Sept. He will need to be patient, which is not something he excels at. Still a lovey boy today but that rut will be kicking in any time.
Yesterday morning he had all velvet antlers without a mark on them. This morning, almost all velvet is off.

Update on various reindeer things.
Crash, a bull calf from last year who destroyed the barn every night during his 12/1-3/6 unexpected rut is now Mr. Cuddles. So loving. We have about 6 more weeks before that changes & he goes into rut. Working to set up an area for him where damage caused will be minimal. Sadly, the antlers will need to go as soon as velvet is rubbed off in August.
Little Yule may need a new name. I noticed that he had a heart on his knee. Maybe his name needs to be Valentino? We’ve already had a bull named Cupid, so I can’t call him that. He is the sweetest boy. Dancer (his Aunt) & Joy (Mom) take very good care of him.
Sparkles is still 100% a ball of fire! She rules everyone but Joy. Joy just does not go for being bossed around. Sparkles has no fear & no boundaries. Her antlers are growing a little every day. She’ll never be a cuddler but she does like to sneak up behind us & poke her nose against the back of your calf when you are busy doing something.
Both calves are growing so fast. Yule will be 2 months on 7/5 & Sparkles will be 3 mths on 7/5.

Happy 1 month birthday to Yule & Happy 2 month birthday to Sparkles. Both growing big, getting antlers & still all legs. From the top, Sparkles looks very alpaca. She has a crinkly coat & big eyes. From the side, all reindeer.,Still opinionated & independent but has settled down & is much friendlier. Her antlers have gotten slightly taller than her hair.
Yule has a nice smooth coat. He’s still very dark. I can feel his antlers but they haven’t broken through above his hair. He is an absolute sweetheart. It seems I can’t get a bull here that isn’t super friendly. The friendly ones are the most dangerous when they go into rut. But what am I to do when he comes to me for snuggles🥰

And so begins Aarre’s favorite time. Introduction up close & kissing noses with the calves. Aarre is so gentle with all livestock & birds & never barks at them. This will be an every day thing until Mom stops being protective of the calf. By that time, the calves & Aarre will be the bestest of friends. Sparkles is already on board & barked at Aarre to say hi.

Sparkles was 1 month old yesterday. She has lightened up considerable. And has made some people friends. She’s very curious about everything. Still sassy as can be. The most confident calf I’ve ever had.