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, 27 May 2012

Beware - overheating!

After hailstones last week we are now into scorching temperatures this week, like lots of you throughout UK, as we see from the various blogs.  The first couple of photos were taken earlier in the week when it was hot, but nice.  Hitting the sandpit to keep the 'bits' cool are (left) Fergus, Gaucho and Gully with Wee Eck (back left) and Rufus.  The boys are not due to be sheared until this Wed (30th), so there is always concern about overheating.
At the same time, Fyta does his 'sunbathing thing' with his belly facing towards the sun.   Always cause for concern when we see them lying like this just in case something is wrong.  This time it was OK and he was soon on his feet. 
He's up on his feet now and joined by Faro who wants to know what is going on!  All the water troughs and water trays have been in action as temperatures soared throughout the week with water changes many times each day.
 
At 8.00am today the boys were sunning themselves in the early heat - including Fyta,  but whilst all the other boys were moving around, Fyta remained on the ground.  Closer inspection showed his eyes moving and he lifted one hind leg and gave a grunt.  Something wrong here - overheating, probably due to falling asleep in the heat.  We got the hose out, got him on his feet and pulled a water tray closer.  We hosed cold water on his underside and over his nose and soon he started to be more alert and less drowsy.
Here he is now fully alert and lying in the water tray.  The hose attracted the other boys who wanted to join in the 'wet belly' fun and for the rest of today it looks like the hose will frequently be in action. 
Fergus has taken up his position next to his personal oasis!
On a slightly different theme, we had a visit from two red squirrels this week who cheekily looked into the conservatory and helped themselves to the nuts in the bird feeders.  The appearance of Pansy Potter our cat didn't deter them and in the end we had to take Pansy indoors incase of injury to either species!
And finally......Clematis Montana in full bloom and reaching over 20 feet to the top of this pine in our driveway.
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2 comments:

  1. Debbie, Barnacre Alpacas27 May 2012 at 23:05

    It's certainly been hot hasn't it. It's funny how the heat seems to affect different alpacas in different ways don't you think. Glad all is ok there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Apple Vale Alpacas28 May 2012 at 21:56

    Nice picture of the sandpit gang! hope your shearing goes well.

    ReplyDelete

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