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.

Saturday 26 February 2011

Satisfaction guaranteed

Another day, another bowl of sugar beet!  Fidget enjoys his beet and insists on getting it all over his face.  We have reduced the amount of daily beet we are feeding the boys now and were going to stop it altogether but the sight of 8 boys lined up at the gate with a look of longing on their faces was too much for me  - I had to go and organise a  rapid hot water soaked bowlful each for them!
Fyta is eating his beet from the bowl, Fidget is in the background and then Rufus appears.  He has already scoffed his bowlful, plus some more, but insists on trying to push the others off their bowls. Rufus is a bit of a bully at feeding time.
A typical audible and visual warning between the boys - heads up, groaning or screeching in the hope that one of them backs off.  This has the makings of a bit of a 'stooshie' if one doesn't back down.
No eye to eye contact, Rufus looks away but they are still moaning at each other.  (Note that Fidget in the background is more interested in scoffing his food than getting involved with his sparring partners!)
Rufus chances his luck and moves in to get Fyta's food.   However, Fyta has a cunning plan to deal with this type of situation - see how his left foot is raised...........
Fyta's plan works as he puts his foot in the bowl putting Rufus off his stride!
Gotcha!    Get out of that one Rufus.............after Rufus moves away Fyta nudges the upturned bowl with his nose and eats the beet off the ground.  This trick never fails and if you look closely at Fyta's face you'd swear there is a smug look of satisfaction!

4 comments:

  1. We are reducing sugarbeet rations too, but they girls aren't very impressed!

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  2. Great photo of Fidget...we are also down to half measures...it's tough this cruel to be kind business isn't it!

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  3. Lovely set of photos and they capture the feeding chaos greatly.....I have very similar going's on....over here....but the up turned bowl is a new one to me....crafty !! I like his style......apparently there is a new craze in town....tumbling farmers...haven't you got any up there !!......wach out for them....they sneak up on you just when you least expect it !.....Jayne

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  4. LOL! They're like a bunch of kindergartners!! What's is mine, but yours can be mine too! such a funny series of photos!! lol, enjoyed your post!! Silly boys!! ...debbie

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