Sad news about Preston the alpaca

[justpete]

Very cool

 

[Wynette]

AWE! He looks like his daddy could hvae been a fuzzy brown bear!

For what it's worth, I have two "useless" mini-donkeys, and love them to pieces! TALK about a creature that loves on you! Sheesh!

They've brought years of joy to DH and I!!

 

[chickbea]

Quote:
Ooooh - they are anything but worthless. High quality fiber goes for thousands of dollars, and a superb breeding animal can go for tens of thousands of dollars. You'd be amazed!

 

[Acre of Blessings]

He's a nice find but be leery of keeping him around the goats. If your goats are up to date on their vaccinations, it will be fine (i think) but goats can pass diseases onto alpacas very easily.

My neighbors raises alpacas and boards them also for other people. She has a brain full of knowledge when it come to alpacas. Her website is www.madavemialpacas.com and you can contact her if you need information about keeping them with other animals.

She spins and cards the fiber for felting and crocheting and other projects. She makes hats and scarves and pocketbooks. The number of things you can do with their fiber is innumerable. Never wash an alpaca though, you can only spray them underneath when its hot. Washing their fiber will mess it up.

Sept. 27 and 28Th is National Alpaca Farm Days so go to your local alpaca farm, if you have one, and learn a lot of hands on skills with the animals and about the fiber.

Hope this tidbit helps. I don't own one but I live next to many, many, many......

 

[Sebrightmom]

Thank you for all of your kind words. I am very happy with him.
Acre of Blessings,

Thank you for the information. I have been trying to learn as much as I can about these beautiful animals. I will have to email you friend with questions.

 

[Florida chick]

Congrats, but you should get another one ASAP, a lonely non herded ALpaca is going to be trouble for you very shortly. They seriously need to be with their own kind. Useless, ROFLMAO! The Alpaca farm I was at over the weekend 1 FEMALE went for $36000.00!

 

[tygab]

hi all, missed the main thread but have been emailing with sebrightmom...

how's your boy doing?

 

[Sebrightmom]

He is great. I am learning so much about him. I was giving him the wrong hay. So, that had to change. They are suppose to have grass and I was giving him alfalfa. He loves his walks in the yard. He likes the goats, but I haven't put him out with them yet. He is great with my son. Matthew leads him around himself. He loves him. I think my husband is even starting to come around. And that means a lot. I am looking for another alpaca for him. I need to find another male. I guess you are suppose to keep the females and males apart. I am looking for special grain for him. I have called several feed mills around. They don't carry any for him, but they can order it. He is my buddy. He follows me around. If I move, he isn't to far behind me. I just can't say anything bad about him. He is such a wonderful member of my family. I can't wait to start spinning his fiber. I am going to look at a spinning wheel next week. I am excited.

 

[happyhen]

Congrats on your new family member!

I agree that they are anything but useless. Even if their coat wasn't so valuable, the happiness of hearing them "hum" and the laughter at watching them "sproink" at sunset makes them priceless.

Any alpaca lover is more than willing to share their knowledge and the benefits of their experience. Just ask (but make sure you have a good 4-6 hrs) any of those lucky enough to have those wonderful animals.

Is my jealousy showing?

 

[Sebrightmom]

No not at all. I have always wanted one. I wish now I would of done things alittle different. I wish I would of done the research then got him, but it didn't work out that way. I love his hum too. It is the sweetest thing. It just melts my heart. He does it when I come in the barn and when I leave him. I just hate him feeling lonely. I am trying so hard to find him a friend. No one has them around me and if they do, they want so much. I love spending time with him. Since I am a stay at home mother, I have a lot of time to spend with him and my son.