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 28 April 2013

A 'quick' nail trim

Earlier this week we penned the boys to give them a check over,  put some cream on a wee bald spot on one of Faro's legs and a do bit of nail trimming.  Waiting to see what other joys we had planned for them above are Wee Eck and Rufus in the front and Fergus (left), Fyta and Gully in the background.
As we all know, the white Alpacas seem to grow their nails quicker than coloured animals but Fergus, whose legs appear above, has the added problem that his outer nails on all four feet turn inward.  Only the very tips of the nails can be cut in his case because the flesh under the nail (the ' quick') extends right up under the nail so we have to take a lot of care when cutting.
This photo shows more graphically, the turned-in nail.  Fergus was in good form and allowed the nail clipping with no problems, probably because we only kept Fyta and Fidget in the pen with him.  If Wee Eck is in the pen with Fergus and/or Rufus they wind each other up and the spitting starts!
After being penned, the boys then wander off up to their daytime paddock  following Fergus and Faro.  Gully brings up the rear.
Weather wise we've had a week of weather swinging between cold and colder, with the forecast saying that the coming week will be even colder still.  This photo was taken yesterday and it shows how little the grass has grown this year so far in the paddocks.  We are still feeding the boys their daily beet and hay stocks are steadily reducing.
More brown grass to contemplate for Rufus and Wee Eck who are in the sandpit on the other side of the paddock fence.
And finally............. Gully carries out an inspection of the poop patrol PRV (Poop Recovery Vehicle) or PSP (Poor Scotsman's Poover!)  Have a good week.

5 comments:

  1. Our poo clearing machine is in the same class as yours, well maybe it is just a little less sophisticated as it's only a bucket! However, buckets have the advantage over poovers as it can easily catch what is delivered whilst I'm clearing and someone decides that a trip to the ladies is necessary! We have one special "lady" who definately lines herself up as I hold the bucket and then checks that it went in once she's finished! Clever girl eh?!!

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    1. Our guys are not so sophisticated - or are they? They normally wait until I've been all around and cleared up - then they start all over again. I can almost hear them saying, "Gotcha!" Robbie

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  2. We treated a bald spot with sudacream .. nappy cream. It has a good bit of zinc in it. It grasses in almost the next day !

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  3. Nothing wrong with the PSP, the load inspection is causing some concern with Gully. Its bitterly cold here and nothing like Spring, hard to believe its nearly May... still waiting for the Swallows to arrive ....... Jayne

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  4. I'm still laughing at Gully carrying out his inspection, and Judi comment that she has a girl that 'goes' in a bucket!! :) :) Poor Fergus with his turned-in nails, our KayJay is like that but every nail is turned out so the nails grow flat out to the side. She is white, but she just hates having her nails done (and they have to be done often). I tried the bracelet hold with her a couple of times, then did some more research...we decided to halter her, and tie her halter to the fence in the corner. She was about 25% better when handled this way, obviously very unhappy about the whole thing (won't even except a treat afterwards!). :) Lisa

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