August 21st
Well, it has been rainy and dreary here for a couple of days now. The ducks are even searching out dry land! Remember, they are Muscovy ducks and not water ducks but tree ducks. On the very hot days they do appreciate their pools but the past couple of days they appreciate the old hay piles I have set out for them. We have a new group that should be hatching out next week and another one the week after. Both females contributed eggs to the first nest which I thought was rather odd. Once Nugget decided there were enough she ran Bandana off! Bandana then went out to the boys shed and built herself a nest in the corner. We framed it in to protect her and her eggs from the bachelor boy rough-housing.
The alpaca herd had a bit of an upset this past weekend. It all started when Miss Wise became way too protective of her daughter. We had been halter training and were on the fourth day in a row. Miss Wise decided that Black Velvet wasn't going to be haltered and charged me, spitting all the while! I verbally reamed her (for all the good that does!:-) but decided then it was time to step between the two and get some weaning done. Black Velvet is just about 8 months old so it is a non-issue for her. Unfortunately for her and her dam, Lady Emma got caught up in the weaning as well. I really couldn't see separating the sisters as well as Black Velvet from her dam. That would have been a bit like cruel & unusual punishment!
The first day went very well. Both crias are very healthy weights and have been eating for a long time- hay and pellets - no problems there. The issue at hand was that I didn't think the stalling through well enough. I simply cut the females pen in half (more or less). Well, one the hay troughs were put in place it seriously cramped the two weanlings and aunties Clara and Tabitha. Yet, on the other side of the barn I had two juvenile males in this huge pen. So yesterday I was able to move the girls and their aunties over to the other side and bring the young boys into their old pen. I opened up space so that the Whitney and Miss Wise could touch noses with their daughters inside the barn as well as at the fence line. I am sure there is still longing going on but at least they have space now.
We have had an inquiry on our firstborn... Bittersweet feelings. Of course we are in the business to sell what we produce and we will - it is just a little sad when the time comes. The folks have been researching for a while now and have horses and goats so they are familiar with livestock. The lady works for a small animal vet which is another plus. Interaction with animals is such a good thing. We will meet on Sunday and if all goes well we will be helping to launch a new alpaca farm. Then we need to decide who else to sell to accompany him....
Sad news yesterday for the alpaca community. Cleve Fredricksen of Ore Hill Alpacas passed away suddenly very early Monday morning. He had been hospitalized, was on the mend and then took the turn for the worse. He and his wife Beverly are wonderful people and have been in the business coming up on twenty years. They have over two hundred alpacas and did much of the farm work themselves. I sure hope things work out such that Bev will be able to handle the farm on her own. It is wonderful that they have children and grandchildren nearby. A tragedy though- we wish the best to Bev and her family.
Entries are coming in nicely for the 2007 VAOBA Alpaca Expo in October. We are up to 109 alpacas entered! It is the second year for the show and I think we may be close to it becoming a Level IV show. The next few weeks will tell!
Time to get to work. I am searching out printers for our membership directory and need to get some quotes today. That's after morning chores- a real challenge since it rained a good part of the night... poop soup, gotta love it!
The alpaca herd had a bit of an upset this past weekend. It all started when Miss Wise became way too protective of her daughter. We had been halter training and were on the fourth day in a row. Miss Wise decided that Black Velvet wasn't going to be haltered and charged me, spitting all the while! I verbally reamed her (for all the good that does!:-) but decided then it was time to step between the two and get some weaning done. Black Velvet is just about 8 months old so it is a non-issue for her. Unfortunately for her and her dam, Lady Emma got caught up in the weaning as well. I really couldn't see separating the sisters as well as Black Velvet from her dam. That would have been a bit like cruel & unusual punishment!
The first day went very well. Both crias are very healthy weights and have been eating for a long time- hay and pellets - no problems there. The issue at hand was that I didn't think the stalling through well enough. I simply cut the females pen in half (more or less). Well, one the hay troughs were put in place it seriously cramped the two weanlings and aunties Clara and Tabitha. Yet, on the other side of the barn I had two juvenile males in this huge pen. So yesterday I was able to move the girls and their aunties over to the other side and bring the young boys into their old pen. I opened up space so that the Whitney and Miss Wise could touch noses with their daughters inside the barn as well as at the fence line. I am sure there is still longing going on but at least they have space now.
We have had an inquiry on our firstborn... Bittersweet feelings. Of course we are in the business to sell what we produce and we will - it is just a little sad when the time comes. The folks have been researching for a while now and have horses and goats so they are familiar with livestock. The lady works for a small animal vet which is another plus. Interaction with animals is such a good thing. We will meet on Sunday and if all goes well we will be helping to launch a new alpaca farm. Then we need to decide who else to sell to accompany him....
Sad news yesterday for the alpaca community. Cleve Fredricksen of Ore Hill Alpacas passed away suddenly very early Monday morning. He had been hospitalized, was on the mend and then took the turn for the worse. He and his wife Beverly are wonderful people and have been in the business coming up on twenty years. They have over two hundred alpacas and did much of the farm work themselves. I sure hope things work out such that Bev will be able to handle the farm on her own. It is wonderful that they have children and grandchildren nearby. A tragedy though- we wish the best to Bev and her family.
Entries are coming in nicely for the 2007 VAOBA Alpaca Expo in October. We are up to 109 alpacas entered! It is the second year for the show and I think we may be close to it becoming a Level IV show. The next few weeks will tell!
Time to get to work. I am searching out printers for our membership directory and need to get some quotes today. That's after morning chores- a real challenge since it rained a good part of the night... poop soup, gotta love it!
posted by Sue at 6:16 AM
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