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, 19 January 2014

Heads down

Following all the rain we've had in recent weeks the water had started bubbling up through the ground in places.  Then last weekend and for a couple of days heavy frost set in turning parts of the paddocks into skating rinks.  Trying to get the boys to avoid these areas is hopeless - perhaps they enjoy sliding around!
I'm always surprised when I see the boys eating frozen grass - must be harsh on their lips and mouths, although they don't seem to mind at all.
The other thing which is surprising is the amount of time they take over nibbling the tiniest shoots and blades of grass when longer grass is available.  Thats what they are all doing in this set of photos.
The boys have been having their monthly quota of Verm-X granules mixed with their supplement this week and whilst one or two of them initially turn their noses up when they smell the granules, they all usually manage to finish it all off.  Then it's back to nibbling tiny green bits!
I don't suppose we should expect Fidget to keep his head down when there is a camera in the vicinity - what a poseur!
And finally..........although frosty, we've had some lovely sunny days this week.  This is the steading for storing the hay etc with the open shelter in the bottom paddock, with the field shelter next to it.  On the extreme left are the chicken compounds, home to  Hunkey Dunkey and his hens.  They like it when the boys are in the bottom paddocks, not only for the company but because they get thrown a handful (or two) of alpaca supplement. It makes a change from the Digestive biscuits!

2 comments:

  1. Our two hens queue up with the alpacas ready for the Camelibra....they do look rather plush on it I have to say!

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  2. I dream of frost, sick of soggy

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