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 20 August 2011

Feeding frenzy!

The boys love their feed supplement which they receive every day about 4.00pm.  By mid afternoon they congregate near the paddock gate in anticipation of the humans approaching with grub!  They have individual bowls as trough feeding does not work for us - too many arguments.  They had Verm-X granules every day last week mixed in with their feed and this is given on a monthly basis.  Here the boys have just cleaned out their bowls and Fyta (front) carries out a double check of all of them to make sure there are no morsels left!
Fyta (left) is getting very clear audible and visual warnings from Wee Eck to keep out of his bowl.  Eck is normally last to finish but refuses to budge from his bowl if any is left and will jump at any of the bigger boys if they persist in trying to steal his food.  Some of the boys, Faro for instance, will back off his bowl if any of the others approach and trying to make sure that they all get their share can sometimes be difficult.
Here is Fidget (rear) growling at Rufus and warning him not to come near his bowl!   Rufus often tries stealing food and if discovered and challenged takes up this pose of standing absolutely still, neck down, ears back waiting for the aggro to subside.  Fidget will not allow any of the other boys near his bowl - except Wee Eck who can't hear the warnings  and doesn't care anyway - and just pushes his way in!
Gaucho doing his happy camel impersonation after his feed!
Our friend Ken travelled up from London for a few days holiday and this was his first meeting with the boys.  Gaucho is wary but prepared to check out if there is anything in Ken's hand.  We had other visitors this week when two local ladies called to arrange a future visit by their ramblers group  The boys will enjoy all the attention that day.
So now we know what Ken really thinks of Fergus (front) and the other boys!

5 comments:

  1. We too use seperate bowls...saves all the squables! Your boys look delightful!

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  2. They are so pretty!! All the different colors out there. Funny how they protect their bowls! Fergus is quite the chunk! They all look so healthy and strong!!...debbie

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  3. Great photo of Gaucho...has Fergus been eating too quickly...a little wind...by the look on Ken's face!

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  4. It always makes me chuckle how ours are waiting at the gate at 8.00a.m for breakfast, and it's only a handful of Camelibra, but that's conditioning I guess - you get a good lie-in setting a 4.00pm feed time!

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  5. Ours are on alert from early morning for their grub too! We are feeding a few up just now as they are a bit thin, so it's all very exciting. Your boys look very contented.

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