We now have three geldings, all 13 years old. Their names are: Faro, Fyta and Fergus. We started keeping Alpacas with these 3 boys plus a fourth, Fidget, in June 2007 and although we had up to eight boys for several years, we have now reverted to keeping our originals. Sadly Fidget passed away in January 2019. Through this blog we hope to show how much pleasure can be had from owning Alpacas.
OUR SMALL HERD
Our original four boys came from Ardo Alpacas in Aberdeenshire. We are not alpaca breeders and have our boys purely as pets. Our experience is that you don't need to be a breeder and that a 'batchelor herd' can give much pleasure to the owner.
We have 5 acres including our big garden and grazing for the boys, 15 miles north of Inverness, Scotland. I spin, knit, felt and crochet with the fleece from the boys.
Clicking!!
Just a reminder that clicking on (most) of the photos will show them greatly enlarged.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Gotit and Turkish returned home to Aberdeenshire about 10 days ago so the four original boys plus the two new guys have been getting used to each other. They are settling down well, but with no obvious herd leader yet.
Thank you for all your posts! I enjoyed meeting the gang. Explain to me why you keep them for a few years and then they go back. Is it for Breeding? Will you be keeping the offspring to keep as your own to raise? I don't know a thing about them except I think they are darling. I have watched them at horse shows in their own showing rings, and was amazed at what all they can do and how docile they are. Also Llamas. We have a few large Alpaca Farms here in West Virginia, USA....debbie
Hi We have a batchelor herd, therefore no cria(baby alpacas). Turkish and Gotit were just visitors for a year, but we hope to keep Gully and Gaucho. If you breed alpacas male cria need to be separated from their mothers before they are a year old to prevent inter breeding. Alpacas always need the company of another alpaca, therefore when buying, keeping or transporting alpacas this is a major consideration. Hope this explains. Shirley
Thank you for all your posts! I enjoyed meeting the gang. Explain to me why you keep them for a few years and then they go back. Is it for Breeding? Will you be keeping the offspring to keep as your own to raise? I don't know a thing about them except I think they are darling. I have watched them at horse shows in their own showing rings, and was amazed at what all they can do and how docile they are. Also Llamas. We have a few large Alpaca Farms here in West Virginia, USA....debbie
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteWe have a batchelor herd, therefore no cria(baby alpacas). Turkish and Gotit were just visitors for a year, but we hope to keep Gully and Gaucho. If you breed alpacas male cria need to be separated from their mothers before they are a year old to prevent inter breeding. Alpacas always need the company of another alpaca, therefore when buying, keeping or transporting alpacas this is a major consideration. Hope this explains. Shirley