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.

Sunday 25 April 2010

New grass - and feet again!

This week we moved the boys from the bottom paddocks (right of picture) to the top paddocks and this shows the final three racing through the gate, led by Gully, then Fidget and lastly Gaucho.  The boys then proceeded to race around the paddocks, jumping and playing and it is obvious that they love having  a change of paddock. Whilst the grass is still quite poor the difference in the grass colour can be seen in the picture.  Behind me is our organic vegetable plot and Keder greenhouse which survived the winter whilst many polytunnels in the area  collapsed due to snow weight. There is still a little snow on the hills and we have not had the sunny weather this week which has been enjoyed by those in the south of UK.
Time again for some nail trimming and it is interesting to note the different types of nails on the different animals.  These are Fyta's feet showing the typical black nails which only require trimming once a year at shearing time.  These black nails are really hard and robust.   Fyta is white with black 'trousers' and has a narrow base stance.
 
This is Faro and he also has a narrow base stance and has an annual trim of his black nails.
This is Fergus, who like our other white boy Fidget, has a wide base stance and nails which require regular trimming.  The white boys have light coloured nails and as can be seen, it's time for Fergus to have another trim as they quickly bend inwards and under the foot pad.  The nails of Fergus and Fidget are not as hard as the black nails of the other boys and are a different shape.  The black nails are more 'tent shaped' whilst the white nails are narrower and longer.  Fergus stood quite still to have this photo taken but Gully & Gaucho cleared off as soon as the camera was pointed at their feet!

4 comments:

  1. Our big boys are still enjoying chasing round in their new paddock, I love to see them although sometimes they really bash into one another.

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  2. Too bad you don't have a nice rough concrete area for them to trim their own nails. In the winter we have to trim Lincoln's nails but in the spring, fall & summer he races back and forth across the concrete and keeps them trimmed quite nicely!! Hope your weather warms up soon....debbie

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  3. Hello Shirley! It's Lizzy from Beauly, the lass who Brian had you chat with on the phone today. I thought you just might have a blog, i was already aware of the Coire and Lewis ones. Your boys are lovely! I will enjoy following your adventures here. :)

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  4. Hi Lizzy, Pleased you like the blog. Hope to meet you soon and introduce you to the boys. They are all fleeced up at present so are looking at their best. Shirley

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