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 26 April 2020

More fun in the sun!

It's been a week of glorious weather in the north of Scotland - something we often don't see in summer!  The boys have enjoyed sunbathing and getting wet.  Here is Fyta getting ready to 'dunk' in the water tray with Fergus waiting for his turn.
Fergus now gets his feet into the water whilst Fyta and Faro, at rear, look on.  Faro is not so keen on the water tray, he prefers to sit by the water trough and stick his nose in the water!
The hose has also been in daily use and the boys love to be sprayed.  We only spray their 'under-carriages' and Faro enjoys the spray under his chin as in this photo.
Always plenty of arguments going on when the hose is in operation - Fergus, nearest, and Fyta especially like to get really close to the human and get all the water!
After the hosing, the boys run to the nearest rolling spot to get covered in dust which turns to mud on their fleece.
A long distance shot of Faro rolling whilst Fergus enjoys a scratch!  The Strath Glass hills in the distance and to the west, still have some snow on the tops.
The Grumpy Gardener has been hard at it in the sunshine of 'lock-down' to sort out some plant areas, laying polythene then stone chips as a weed barrier.  The boys can be seen in the background.
     And finally........ in an adjoining field, our neighbour's ewes are having to put up with endless feeds and climbing games from their lambs!

Sunday 19 April 2020

The weather is getting better!

We have had plenty of sun this week but always with a biting, northerly or easterly wind.  The boys haylage supplies have usually finished by this time of year but as a treat during this coldish weather, they have had more haylage.  Fergus enjoys it!
Fyta is also partial to several mouthfuls of haylage, and, like Fergus likes to lie down when he is eating it.
From midweek onwards we have enjoyed excellent sunshine which the boys love.  Faro (left) and Fyta here.
When he is in the mood, Fergus can be a big petted lump!  I'm taking the opportunity to tell him that he's  a very good boy!
I can't resist this photo with the look of contentment on Fergus's face.  We find lately however that he is definitely slowing down and whilst Faro and Fyta are often still running around the paddocks, Fergus often often just lies down and chews the cud.
Here's the cheeky Fyta who loves to be hand fed. He never refuses food and will clean up the other boys' bowls if they let him!
Lambing has been in full swing for the neighbouring crofter and yesterday he let some of the lambs and mothers out of the sheds and into the sunshine.  There were lambs looking for mums and mums looking for their lambs - what a noise they all made until they found each other!  The commotion was watched carefully by the alpacas!
And finally..............the strong sunshine brought out lots of Peacock butterflies this week as well as plenty of bees, which is great.  Hope you are all well, wherever you are reading this blog.

Sunday 12 April 2020

Happy Easter

Fyta boy, always full of fun and very friendly.  Here he is with a piece of grass trailing from his mouth!
The three boys enjoying their carrots - Fyta (left), Fergus and Faro.  They have been having Verm X granules with their daily feed this week.
Fyta on the ground with his best pal Faro standing over him - on guard as always.
A photo taken from further down the paddock of the three boys after their eating their haylage. Both Fergus (left) and Fyta like to lie down when eating hay or haylage but Faro tends to eat standing up.
The Grumpy Gardener has been hard at it digging over the veg plots this week.  The onions are planted as are the peas and broad beans with some early spuds and carrots in the Keder greenhouse.  Another week or so will see more planting of veg - hopefully the weather will have warmed up before then.
Taken at long range today, a cold and wet Easter Sunday - Faro (left) and Fyta in the sand pit waiting for some sun!
And finally............adding plenty of colour to the garden at present are a number of flowering-currant bushes (Ribes), the flowers of which in some cases are pink, some red as in this picture and some an even deeper red.  Lovely.  Hope all blog readers are well during this present health crisis and we wish you all, wherever you are - a Happy Easter.

Sunday 5 April 2020

Happy Spring days.

First photo this week is of Fyta, seen here with his pal Faro behind him.  This was taken first thing in the morning so Fyta is still a bit sleepy and wondering what is going on!
Fergus enjoying his haylage as always.  We gave the boys some sugar beet this week too as it has been a very cold week and they would benefit from the extra feed.  They are all well fleeced up at present however.
The sun is shining on one of the rough paddocks and whilst Fergus lies down and chews the cud, Fyta and Faro carry on grazing.
The boys were in a low lying part of the paddocks so did not see the Grumpy Gardener changing their field shelter.  This is something the boys love to be involved in because they can roll around and enjoy themselves in the shelter.  So when they are called, the boys are a bit hesitant wondering why they are being called - because there is no food on offer!
Eventually, Faro the leader decides to check out why they are being called up to the field shelters......
 Now all the boys have arrived so the fun can begin!  Faro is first to roll, followed by Fyta whilst Fergus watches.
Fergus soon gets into 'rolling mode' with Fyta lying behind Faro.  Soon the dust begins to fly!
Happy days - the boys have all had a good roll and Fyta decides to leave Fergus and Faro to get on with it!
And finally.........adding a touch of Spring colour along the fence line is this Forsythia which is an early flowering shrub.  Best wishes to all blog readers everywhere - hope you are all taking care during this Covid-19 emergency.