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, 5 May 2013

Wet,wet,wet!

Those of you in the south of UK have fared much better with your weather this week than we have in the north.  Most days it has been very cold and wet and on Friday the conditions could only be described as 'grim' with rain turning to sleet, then snow.  The boys didn't seem particularly bothered but you can't help feeling sorry for them when they are soaked.  This is Fyta in front with Gaucho behind.  Note Gaucho's ears - like all the boys they are either upright, facing forward or at various angles facing backwards.  However Gaucho is able to to point his ears outwards and to the rear, the only one who does that.
Fyta in front again with Faro behind this time.
Gaucho (left) and Wee Eck with their soaking top knots flopped over their eyes.
We had a nail clipping session again this week and this was the result of a spitting session involving Fergus (left) and Gully when they were in  the pen together.  Later in the week we penned them all again so that we could have a closer look at Fergus's left eye, the eyelid of which was drooping slightly.  We put his head collar on and he was as good as gold whilst we inspected him.    Fidget is at the rear
We moved the boys into another paddock today and look - the grass is turning green at last.  Must have been the soaking it's had in the last week.  Although sunny today it's been blowing a near gale and Gaucho's top knot is catching the breeze.
And finally..........Fidget eats all his daily supplement today, leaving an empty bowl.  He's really well fleeced up now - shearing in about 4 weeks time.

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5 comments:

  1. Apple Vale Alpacas5 May 2013 at 20:34

    I've got to say this quietly, but...we could do with a drop of rain here, though it is coming on tuesday - apart from today, it has been cold though (cold for the south, that is!) - as a matter of interest, my nephew Kevin Woods, is attempting to climb all 282 Munros in 100 days, and started last week, so you may hear of him on local news.

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    Replies
    1. Shirley6 May 2013 at 07:40

      I'll listen out for him Dave. He'll be in this area at some stage as we can see 3 Munros from our house. He will do very well if he can manage it and he'll no doubt experience some rough weather en-route. Good luck to him. Robbie

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  2. Judi B5 May 2013 at 21:25

    Like Dave, I'll whisper that we wouldn't mind a shower over here either...maybe just gently overnight so that I don't have to keep watering the lettuces!

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  3. A Country Chicken6 May 2013 at 05:12

    Well, I am shouting it down here!!! We need rain! Thank goodness we had 5ml after having all of our paddocks limed on Friday :) we need more though. I like Gaucho's hair in the wind :) Lisa

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  4. Zanzibah Alpacas6 May 2013 at 16:06

    Dare I whisper, that we might be having a teste of the warmer weather here, with the odd shower to green things up, I can see a massive change in the wood, the trees have started to come to life with lovely gree shoots....and I've got more Swallows, which is promising. The boys are looking cosy in their big fleeces .... Jayne

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