Visitors and feeding

This has been Verm-X week for the boys with the granules mixed in with their feed.  Gully who is lying down has already tipped the contents of the bowl onto the ground - he often does this when the granules are in his feed.  Behind him is Fyta who is intent on pinching whats left in the bowl!  This is Fyta's speciality - lifting the bowl away from the feeding 'paca and carrying it off!  Fyta knows that Gully guards his food closely though so has to wait his chance and you can almost see him weighing up his chances of success here.

Faro - always a 'picky' eater since he was a cria and over the last few weeks we've been keeping a close eye on him because he stopped eating his daily supplement.  He grazes as normal and eats hay as normal but for some reason decided that he didn't want supplement.  We've tried him with a range of feeds, Charnwood, Badminton, Camelibra, Fibregest but he walked away from them all. He sometimes does this when he gets new grass but comes back to the supplement after a few days.  We drenched him for worms just in case and some time later gave him a vitamin drench.  I'm pleased to say that he's started taking the supplement again over the past couple of days but still not in the quantity that he used to.

We had a welcome visit from Brendan and Alison this week, on holiday in the Highlands from Lancashire.  They had contacted us months ago saying that they were coming north, were interested in keeping alpacas eventually and wanting to visit.  So it was a pleasure to meet them and to arrange a little sunshine for their visit!

As always, once the treats have been dispensed the 'pacas get bored with humans and wander off.  Brendan and Alison weren't the only visitors we had this week as old friends Alan and Kath stayed overnight with us after a long trip over from Ardnamurchan on the west coast.  Unfortunately (and inexplicably) all 3 photos which we took of their visit to the boys were all blurred when produced - couldn't possibly have been the wine............  We'll have better luck on your next visit folks!

 

This photo was taken from the veg garden near the Keder polytunnel looking through at the boys on the other side of the fence.  They seem to know that there is nothing to eat in  the garden at this time of year but when the swedes are ready later in the year, they will line up along the fence in expectation of getting some.

The inside of the Keder with 1st early tatties nearest on the left and 2nd earlies at the back on the left.  Nearest on the right are dwarf beans, then carrots and a few cauliflowers at the end.  All the other cauliflowers are planted in the outside veg plots which is where they really should be.  The two vines are also growing on well again.

And finally............... a Peony bush with the flowers just beginning to open.  This one is tucked in behind the hedge and is over 8 feet tall.