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 23 February 2020

It's still very wet!

Another really wet and windy week - we keep wondering where all the water is coming from!  The boys have been wet for most of the time but a little sunshine and wind soon dries them.
Faro - team captain and all-round security guard, always alert and checking any movement anywhere near the paddocks.
Faro's best pal Fyta - looking suitably damp after all the rain.  The boys have had Verm-X granules in their feed all of this week.
The third boy - Fergus, who is also very wet as his top knot shows.  He inherited the brown mark on his right cheek from his late mum who also had one there.
Three wet boys getting stuck into their sugar beet which they've had several times this week when the grass has been very frosty.
What every animal owner likes to see - finished bowls! The boys rarely leave any beet in the bowls, especially in cold weather!
And finally..............taken first thing this morning as the snow was beginning to fall and the boys were having their haylage.  More snow is forecast for tonight then also tomorrow.

Sunday 16 February 2020

Blame 'Dennis' for the weather!

Late afternoon sun shining on Faro (left) and Fyta.  We've had a real mixture of weather again this week so any sunshine is welcome!
The boys also had their third and final treatment for mites this week, so here they are in the pen awaiting it's application.  Thanks again to neighbour Dave for helping us out.
After the treatment, the boys just wander off to another paddock - we find that they are very forgiving animals.
Of course, cheeky Fyta likes to show off for the camera - any opportunity will do for a photo to be taken!  He would take 'selfies' if he could!
The boys can be seen in a paddock, bottom left of photo, whilst Ben Wyvis covered in snow lies to the north of us.
This long range shot was taken from our house down to Tigh Mhor just after a heavy rain shower had passed and the boys had taken shelter in their field shelter.
And finally............ here they are in the shelter where they have spent lots of time this week dodging the very stormy weather.  This weekend we are suffering the effects of Storm Dennis with strong winds and torrential rain so the boys have not strayed too far from their shelter.  Sugar beet, haylage and carrots keep them happy however!

Sunday 9 February 2020

Just a regular week.

The three boys earlier this week - Fyta (left), Faro (rear) and Fergus at the front enjoying some haylage.
Fergus enjoying his daily carrots.  All 3 boys enjoy them and at this time of year, it is a welcome nibble.
Not the most complimentary photo of Fyta but here he is also enjoying a bit of carrot!
The boys have had a mixture of weather again this week - gales, rain, frost and this weekend we are suffering Storm Ciara.
Fyta used to have a very distinct black rump but as he gets older this is turning grey and the white midriff fleece is spreading to his rear quarters.
And finally.............our neighbour, Dave, gave us a welcome hand to pen the boys then give them their second treatment for mites - they will have another treatment later this week.  Normally the boys go into their pen with little problem but this time they were ready for a bit of amusement so it was a bit of a rodeo and we had to deploy a length of Dave's white tape to get them penned!  Thanks, Dave.

Sunday 2 February 2020

More white stuff!

We've had a bit of a mixture, weather wise, this week with everything from sunny days to gales, horizontal rain and snow.  Fyta is making the best of the sunshine and is looking at a neighbour's dog two fields distant - great eyesight!
Of course it is winter so we have to expect snow any time and this overnight fall came at the start of the week.  Faro is looking for more sugar beet from the human!
Haylage is being consumed in great quantities with hay being sidelined - pity, as haylage is much more expensive!
The boys all jealously guard their food, whatever it is.  This is Fyta eating his sugar beet and Fergus has finished his bowl and would like some of Fyta's............
Fergus is swiftly reminded by Fyta that there is no way he is going to get any more!  No spitting, just a threatening move of the head and a camel noise as a warning!
It's easy to see where any of the animals have lain outside overnight when snow or frost is around.  In this case this is where Faro and Fyta where lying whilst Fergus enjoyed being under cover in the field shelter.
And finally..........crisp winter's mornings always give pleasure.  The sun is just coming up from the east behind the photographer and shining on the hills to the west whilst the boys are having their haylage breakfast in and around the shelter.