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, 14 April 2013

Old pals act!

Two old pals posing for a photo - Gaucho (left) and Gully.  Always big mates but not beyond having the occasional argument and a bit of a spit - usually over food!
Showing off their ample top knots the boys are hoping that the camera turns out to be  a carrot in disguise.  Seconds after this shot the pair ran off, jumping on each other and playfully trying to nip each other's ankles.  Happy chappies! 
Keeping an eye on whats going on - Faro.
More old pals!  We had a welcome return visit from Albert and Tia this week and this time with young Jeff on his first visit north and his first close encounter with alpacas.  Nice to meet you Jeff!
It was pretty chilly on the day of the visit but Jeff was wrapped up warmly.  He left with a hat woven from Gaucho with the softest fleece, so that will keep the cold out too!
Yesterday afternoon Gully and Fidget had a nose to nose spitting match resulting in both boys with droopy (and dripping) bottom lips. When this happens most of the boys go and find some hay to hold in their mouths, probably to soak up the spit and smell.  If we are near them we usually throw a handful of hay and they quickly get the idea.  Gully knew what to do and went to the hay bucket - but none of the others will eat out of this bucket for a while because he will leave some smells!
And finally.............the other half of the spitting duo - Fidget!  We threw him some hay and he jammed more and more of the hay into his mouth then just sat there waiting for the hay to work it's magic - and for his jaws to start working again!

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3 comments:

  1. Apple Vale Alpacas14 April 2013 at 13:51

    That's interesting about the hay 'sponge' - we've not seen that in our girls, and the boys aren't old enough to fall out yet!

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  2. Unknown14 April 2013 at 15:54

    Ours do the same Shirley, both males and females. The stupid thing is that they only usually end up spitting when I am sharing out the food. Then they don't eat it because of the horrid taste of spit on their mouths!

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  3. Judi B14 April 2013 at 20:59

    Ours do the hay trick too and they will also use leaves if they're the closest thing! Both our boys and girls do it and the more experienced older alpacas go straight for something to clean up that disgusting green stuff, whereas it takes the less experienced a little longer to figure it out! Alpacas are clever aren't they?!

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