Monday, May 12, 2008

My first blog!


I have never blogged before but it sounds like a good idea, to let people know what is going on. My plan for blogging is to let whoever is interested know what life is like on a working alpaca farm or ranch, whichever you prefer.

I will start with current stuff and will fill in the blanks eventually. Right now we are awaiting the arrival of Daisy's cria (baby alpaca). She is on day 336 which doesn't really mean anything except that she could have it any day now. Her first cria Jenis, who is due in July was born on day 323 but most of my girls have gone past day 345. Usually alpacas give birth between 10 am and 2 pm, but there again if she decides to have it at midnight who am I to stop her, that time is just what is usual.

Right now Daisy's mood is grouchy!! She tends to lay around a lot and when she gets up either to eat or go to the poop pile (those are the only reasons she gets up) she will spit at any of the girls who get within 10 feet of her. That is not how she usually is, so that is one clue that the time is near. Another clue is that she is making a bag and her teats are filling up, which is even a bigger clue. I really hope that she doesn't have it tomorrow, we are supposed to get SNOW, yes you read it right SNOW on May 13th. I do have a cria coat and we have heaters in the barn but it is hard for the cria to regulate its own temp during the first 2-3 days. Plus, for some reason the wind has been blowing lots and that goes right to the bones.

I really hope she doesn't have it tomorrow, but has it before Friday. We are shearing on Friday. We have another farm bringing their animals here, so we will be shearing about 30 Friday morning then we head up the mountain to another farm where we will be shearing about 40 more. Then on Saturday we head to another farm to help out with their sheering. And, we repeat the whole process next weekend too. It is a lot of hard work, but it is enjoyable being around friends and everyone pitches in.

To explain shearing.... we hire a shearer, ours comes from New Zealand. We catch the animal and bring them one by one to the shearing mat that has been set up. There are four loops, one for each foot, we get them on their feet, someone pulls the rope tight and we gently lower the alpaca down, they are secured there and we can trim toenails or teeth and give shots or any other herd health stuff. The whole process takes about 5-6 minutes and the alpacas don't seem to mind to much. Probably because they are getting all that fleece off and it is hot. I do think they are a little embarrassed though.

I plan to get pictures of Daisy's cria and also of shearing. I will post them on my next blog update

No comments: