[nutterly_uts]

Anyone know anything about them? Do you need any specific permits or licenses?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Anyone know anything about them? Do you need any specific permits or licenses?

I have no idea, all I know is they need to be TB tested and protected from poachers. A friend of mine had terrible trouble with poachers!

[nutterly_uts]

Wouldn't have put poachers on the list of things to look into! Wonder how come

[Marches Farmer]

I know someone who owns a Christmas tree pantation, who looked into keeping them (for obvious reasons).  Was greatly discouraged when he found out they have an alarming propensity to drop dead for no apparent reason.  When we were in the Arctic Circle (long story) we were warned time and time again to watch out for their antlers - difficult to handle an animal that only has to lower its head to become a metre longer.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Also I mean't to say..... reindeer are very expensive it is in the £1000's for just one and also if you keep any cows, or other farms around where you live have cows, it may be better not to buy them, as reindeer are very prone to TB and the other farmers wouldn't be too happy. Where I live a guy used to keep alpacas, another breed prone to TB, thankfully none came down with the dreadful disease, I haven't had a single TB reactor yet, thankfully!

[Carse Goodlifers]

We came across the herd while walking in the Cairngorms once.
They were actually quite calm but I think the herd is very used to humans.
I thought that they were quite small too.

What are you thinking about for them?  Meat, tourist stuff, festive stuff?
I would have thought that you would require a wild animal permit.

[nutterly_uts]

I don't want any (antlers are too much like horns!) but I'm just curious to know more about them and if they need any specialised care

You don't really hear or see of any all year then loads make festive appearances so it had me wondering

[waterbuffalofarmer]

There's an estate in south Wales, always got TB though, they keep a massive herd of deer, you could ask them. Deneavour castle I think.

[devonlady]

Pennywell Farm on Dartmoor have some. They pull a sleigh with the children's gifts at the "live" nativity each year.

[oor wullie]

According to the dangerous wild animal act you need a licence for "reindeer" but not "domestic reindeer" (so that means if you find one hanging about in your house doing the ironing and cleaning it's fine).

The Cairngorm ones must be "domestic" ones as they are not securely fenced in.

[clydesdaleclopper]

According to the dangerous wild animal act you need a licence for "reindeer" but not "domestic reindeer" (so that means if you find one hanging about in your house doing the ironing and cleaning it's fine).

Can I have one of those please - it'd be more use than my OH 

[adamhfc]

You get carabo reindeer and forest reindeer can't remember what one needs a dwa

[paddy1200]

Apparently difficult to keep when we have warm weather. Drop dead for no reason (bit like sheep i suppose)
so climatic dependant.

[HesterF]

Pity they're so hard to keep - we lived in Sweden for four years and I absolutely LOVE reindeer meat. My favourite meat in the world. We have a reindeer centre near here - all festive related - so I dropped them a line to find out whether they ever had to cull deer and, if so, could I have some meat. Never had a reply.....guess eating Rudolph is not popular here.

[Kimbo]

agreed Hester, reindeer is absolutey delicious. Ive eaten it in Norway where they use their hides to make fabulously warm picnic blankets!