Males Jumping Fences

Wow, nothing gets the adrenaline pumping harder than seeing the wrong alpaca in the young male pasture.  It seems Fionn and Maverick jumped the fence to the front pasture.  Maverick was interested in the greener grass and Fionn wanted to put the youngest male in his place.  This is  done by chasing, neck wrestling and mounting the youngster.  Fionn is a very big male and he does know that.  Rich and I quickly got the two larger ones back where  they belonged only to find Maverick was back over and the rest of the mature males were scanning the fence line to find a weak point where they too could cross.  Rich repaired the fence and we are set for another day.  We know we need to replace some fencing . . . soon.  We are just pleased that we do not have any fencing that is common for the males and females.  That can give a very different ending to the story!

I took Illapa on a walk.  He hasn't been haltered for a while, so it was nice to see he handle so well.  I like to take them out of the pastures and out among the gardens and pines for their walks.  Delilah and Alexi seem to have a stronger bond and she has become a very attentive mother.  I think she knows she feels better when he nurses.

Yet, Another Dreary Day on the Farm

It is a dreary day and you can tell the alpacas are affected by the light.  They long for sunshine as much as humans do.  I did an extra speacial cleaning of their barn, in hopes that may lift their spirits.  Besides, we are suposed to have snow moving in tonight.  I am sure they have a better sense of the forth coming weather than our weather people and all their sophisticated equipment.  If there is wind with the snow the alpacas will park themselves inside, but near a door where they can see out.
Today they stayed in the barn after they ate.  I took my daily walk down to the creek, which is behind the pastures, and no alpacas came to greet me.  On a sunny day they would beat me down there.  Everyone is looking very scruffy and I am beginning to think about shearing.  Shearing is such a busy time, but so much fun.  It is the one time of the year that I am actually organized!
Here are some pictures I have taken recently for you to enjoy.

These three beautiful males are our herdsires.  Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Dancing Paws and Maverick ( full of dust in this pic).

Got to get to work, I am knitting
Alpaca Lady

A Beautiful Alpaca Day!

There is nothing like a crisp, sunny day on an alpaca farm.  The alpacas are ready to eat when I go out and then after a rest they are ready to play and bask in the sunshine.  I have the girls trained to stay out of the barn while I am doing the chores, however, they are through the door as they hear the grain hit their dishes.  This time of the year they look like big teddy bears.
Maverick seems to favoring a back foot.  I have been keeping an eye on it for a few days and it seems to be getting better not worse.  That makes me less worried about him.  I took many pictures of the boys this AM.  I take my pictures as they are in the barnyard.  They still have bits of hay on them, etc.  I really hate to see pictures air brushed or touched up so much you wonder if the alpaca in picture might be stuffed. 

Dancing Paws