The Reindeer at Lilidorei are from a herd kept in County Durham who have the largest breeding herd in England

All of the Reindeer have names and most will feed from your hand with the Reindeer food. Unfortunately the only time they like carrots is on Christmas eve.

The breeder that these reindeer have come from have – over the years – made many links with the traditional herders of Reindeer called Sarni, particularly in Northern Norway and they regularly visit.

They recently came back from an Arctic trip where they saw many wonderful sites including the migration of the 14000 strong herd have moving from the Summer feeding grounds to the safer Winter area.

In the herd you will find the full spectrum of Reindeer coat colours ranging from the very dark brown through the grey/fawn standard colour to pure white where even the velvet is white.

Reindeer have the same nomenclature as cattle with the male called a Bull, females called Cows and hahies called Calfs.

Breeding season starts in the Autumn when the males and females have lost the summer velvet. The rut as its called involves the males gathering and fighting over a group of females to breed with.

The young are born 7 months later, usually in May but births have occurred in April and as late as July.

Reindeer are the only species of deer where both males and females have antlers, with even babies growing them a couple of weeks after birth. Intact males will loose their antlers before Christmas and females generally loose theirs shortly after giving birth in the Spring.

The castrated male Sleigh pulling Reindeer will lose theirs in late Winter well after Christmas.

(This antler subject has caused a lot of controversy on the internet with people suggesting that all of Santa’s Reindeers must be female because they have antlers on at Christmas – no just castrated, as castrates have historically and are still used today for sleigh pulling as draft animals)

These breeders have also been involved in the setting up of The British Reindeer Herders Association and are also members of the Reindeer Owners and Breeders Association.

Reindeer welfare ,understanding, education, breeding and health are uppermost in our aims with both of these organisations.

Stockton Rd, Cold Hesledon, Seaham, Co Durham, SR7 8RW rentareindeer.co.uk Licence DCC/ALA/080387