Sad news about Preston the alpaca

[Biddieacres]

sebrightmom sounds like you have a wonderful Mom and you are a wonderful owner to your pets. Wish I lived near you to buy some of the wool to crochet with! Have fun with them.

 

[rebecca10782]

I want one! Ive never seen one before, they look like stuffed animals. God definitly has a sense of humor/

 

[Sebrightmom]

jkcove08,
Thank you. Your alpacas are beautiful. Preston (my alpaca) is a great friend. I think he has decided I am his best friend right now. I just love him. I am trying to take all of this information in and see what works best for him as well as for me.


Biddieacres,
I do have a wonderful mother. She is my best friend. Being a stay at home mother I don't have a lot of friends that I hang out with. My mother and I do everything together. I just got a spinning wheel Friday. THe woman was nice enough to give me a bag of sheep wool to learn off of. I can't wait to spin Preston's fiber. I also crochet and knit. I can't wait to start making wonderful gifts for my family.

I am the only person my age that does the stuff I do. I wish I could find other around me that enjoy the type of life. I love sitting in my yard watching the animals and my son play. It is the best life.

 

[babszoo]

Here is a link of an Alpaca Event in your town.
Sorry it was on the weekend of the 27-28 of Sept.
I remember reading this but coulodn't remember where until tonite
You can read more next week on it but here's the link.

http://www.echo-pilot.com/news/2008/0924/news/012.html

There was Alpaca farms in your area who had open houses this past weekend but If you contact them most of them love to talk to other interested in these loving animals and remember to ask them about the tax deduction that are still available for purchasing and raising them
Babette

 

[Sebrightmom]

Thank you, but I think the link took me to Greencastle, PA. I don't know of any farms around me. I think the close one is a hour away.

 

[babszoo]

try this for farms closer to you.

http://www.agricultureb2b.com/biz/e/Farm-Animals/Alpaca/Farms-Breeders/USA/Indiana/2.htm

Here's the link for the tax benefits for alpacas

http://www.alpacadigest.com/Tax_Planning___Benefits/tax_planning___benefits.html

Useful Llama Product out of Ill. has A lot of good books and products also available and they are very reasonable with there prices.
Babette

 

[scarter]

I currently have 10 alpacas and our herd is growing fast. There is a lot of good info on this thread and you will have to remember that every animal is different. What works great for one might not for another. Many things have to be considered like age, genetics and area for what is best. You are doing fine. Work with people around you to find the best products for you. I would be carful of the experts that tell you this is the only way it can be.... It is better for him to have a companion, if you cant find another alpaca you might want to consider a llama. A gelded llama would be great. I dont recomend a female since they can try to cross. You do need to have the fighting teeth removed if you have 2 intact males. They will fight and try to castrate each other. I do not have many deer around me so we do not worm every month. you can watch your paca poo and if you notice changes it is probably a good idea to worm unless you have changed thier feed very recently. Since he seems very easy to handle you can run your hands along his spine and hips. If you can feel the bones very easily he is to thin, if you cant feel them at all he is to fat. Like stated before there are easy keepers and hard ones. You are doing great and will learn a lot. Take everything you are told with a grain of salt and find what works best for you. If you have any questions feel free to PM me and I can give suggestions. Also check out http://www.alpacanation.com/default.aspx for farms around you that can help with any local answers. Good luck Jenn

Lets see if I get quotes right LOL! Is that a John Deer cria blanket???? Adorable. I'm impressed if you sewed that!

Seabrightmom, I just got my fiber back from the mill this week. You will be so excited next year when you shear and send your fiber off. I can't wait to get to some felting projects now. I've got three clouds of fiber and am making hats, purses and Christmas ornaments for presents. I wish I could crochet or knit. These would make excellent yarns.​

 

[jkcove08]

Yes those are John Deere paca parkas..lol And yes I made it myself. I am working out paterns to make and sell them in all different colors and paterns. I will also use the same design to make pochie parkas too. I have to make a couple examples and then post them on our site. Most will be costom parkas so that I can make them to fit. I think these will be better then little sweaters since they are an easy velcro and the bottom is open so that they dont get peed on.. I always hated that when my dogs had sweaters that didnt quit fit and they peed on the edges. I have about 50 things going on right now and really have to start prioritizing..lol Jenn

 

[Sebrightmom]

scarter,

I am new to all of this. Why do you send your fiber off? Do you have to? I thought I could shear him and spin it myself. I am missing a step.
Thanks

 

[lakecountychick]

You are sooo lucky. There is small farm of alpacas near me and I love seing the crias(sp.?). and when all of he alpacas have been shorn they look so cute and skinny. Good luck and I hope you get more.