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, 10 June 2012

Results of the EAMAYC diet.

Here are the boys, slightly chilly and waiting for the sun to come out.  I think they are still feeling cold some days  because of the 'un-summery' weather we're having even though it's nearly 2 weeks since shearing.  They are certainly bedding down every night in the field shelters, and taking shelter from the rain which is something they would not normally do at this time of year.  
Here they are waiting to go through the gate into a new paddock which lies just below our new build and which is making good progress.  The hammering and general activity on the site does not bother the boys - in fact they enjoy watching what is going on.  The builders take a fair amount of interest in the herd too.  The two white boys in front, Fergus (L) and Fidget (R) have been on the EAMAYC diet since they arrived here 5 years ago and it's worked very well.  Bet you've all heard of this diet and will have one or two 'pacas on it - Eat As Much As You Can!
Gully doing a pretty good impression of a double jointed alpaca.  Actually looks like one alpaca is bending down with his head in a hole whilst Gully is buried up to his neck looking out of a hole!  In fact he's rubbing his face and neck on the dockins trying to get rid of the midges which were bothering him.  Gully has sensitive skin, especially after shearing and the slightest sensation which he can feel makes him rub himself on the ground.  Faro is in the background.
Looking sleek after the hair cut are Fyta (L) and Gully.
But not so sleek................ in fairness Fidget is on a strict EAMAYC diet!
 

And finally.................a shot of this lovely Iris flower as it emerges from the stem with lots of other flower heads ready to open up.   Chives are growing on the left. 

6 comments:

  1. Your house is coming right along and appears to be quite a good size! I'm sure you both are excited. We built our house 23 years ago. Jeez, doesn't seem that long ago. The boys are looking quite fit!! Love the Iris's. They smell so pretty! I had a lot of them, all colors and had to move them to make room for the pool house. They are not growing in the woods were I dumped them. Should dig em' up and plant them in my gardens. I really like Rufus's ears! Very pretty with the white rim!! ...debbie

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  2. All our boys are on the EAMAYC regime, and Fin is on the advanced SAMAYC, (until I catch him with his nose in someone elses trough!)

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    1. I thought I had missed something there...made me laugh thank you...thought I was losing my sense of humour through lack of sleep too!

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  3. Our alpacas enjoy the same diet with somewhat "portly" results! I do think though that some of our girls could get fat on thin air!
    Like Barbara I opened your post eagerly to learn about a new alpaca diet that maybe I'd missed!

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