Llama thread anyone?

[Puddin Fluff]

Well, fun with Llamas continues. The girls appear to be settling in. They are exploring and roaming about the pasture in a more relaxed manner and not stareing at the cows quite as much.

We've put a feed bucket out close to where they like to stay and they have cleaned it up. Today we moved it a little bit closer to the catch pen and will slowly work it across the pasture until it resides in the catch pen permanantly.

Also I have been "visiting" them a couple of times a day and trying to work my way closer to them without them moving off. Today as I was walking down to visit, one of them lay down and didn't try to move away. I didn't try to get too close. I just stood and talked to them and then moved away. Hopefully tomorrow I will make it a little closer.

 

[farmchick897]

Sounds like you are making good progress. I may be getting two new alpaca females this weekend.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

OOOOhh. Exciting! Post some pics!

More Llama news: They came to check US out yesterday, twice.

1st, my daughter and I were sitting in the pasture with about 6 chickens perched on us and they came up to check us out and then again after dinner my hubby, son and I were sitting with the chickens and they came even closer to look at us. Then Sonora went down and cleaned out the feed bucket and didn't leave any for Lady Hawk to nibble on.

Maybe by the end of summer we will be able to get them in the pen and halter them again. I am feeling more confident that they will warm up to us some.

 

[farmchick897]

That's great to hear! My two foster alpacas arrived yesterday. I'm pretty sure they have never seen the outside of a barn and are completely freaked out to all the stuff here. But they are in there own pasture and will realize they can eat grass and are safe.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

They are so tiny and cute! Our girls are setting up a daily schedule (or so it appears). Generally they do a tour of the pasture in the evenings and check out the area where we spend time as well as the pen to see if there is food around. Last night we missed them as they came around but my hubby went out with some feed and they followed him back to the area. Only one of them will eat and they are "puffing" at eachother around the food. Is it normal for one to be dominate over the other? Lady hawk will stand back and let Sonora eat and then might check the bucket (usually it is empty when Sonora gets done). Lady hawk is more cautious and is not yet entered the pen. Sonora is letting us get within 10 feet sometimes less but is still skittish. I cleared my throat while standing close to her and she jumped about 5 feet away.

It didn't take her long to comeback however.

I am doing my best to be patient but my hubby is a little skeptical and frustrated that they haven't totally adjusted to us yet. My biggest concerning is being able to catch them when they need their imunizations etc.

 

[farmchick897]

The puffing, spitting can be typical during feeding. Might want to have two bowls if the more dominate one wont share.
I'm sure your llamas will come around faster than these alpacas. :/

 

[Puddin Fluff]

The dominate one leaves something in the bowl but the other won't go to it. I tried two buckets yesterday and she still wouldn't try it. I went down to them and coaxed them 1/3 of the way across the pasture and put the buckets down. Sonora chowed down and Lady Hawk just watched. I will try drawing them a little further over next time. I was afraid they would give up if I tried to get them all the way across the pasture.

Are the alpacas skittish of you or just the grass?

My hubby wanted alpacas but I have never seen any for sale or for adoption that weren't over a couple of thousand dollars and that is not in our budget.

Where are you that you foster all these interesting animals? Probably California.

 

[farmchick897]

I'm only fostering alpacas, the rest are mine.
The rescue is actually seeing an influx of alpacas into the system, in Georgia they just got 14. At the animal auctions I went to in TN, alpacas are selling for: males $50-100 and females $100-300. So the days are gone that alpacas are worth thousands. These two girls are scared of me and my dogs mostly, they make a very crazy high pitch warning call (sounds like a bird) everytime they see me. They will adjust, they all do.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Interesting. I would love to find a place here in AR, MO, OK to find some Alpacas at that price. There is a breeder in NW ARkansas that wants top dollar. We are just interested as pets, we aren't starting any kind of breeding/business so that is not an option.

We used to live in Valdosta and later in Newnan, GA so I am pretty familiar with most of the state.

We travel through there and sometimes TN on our way to SouthCarolina where my SisInLaw lives.

 

[farmchick897]

I can pick up as many as you want next auction.