The Chicken Plucker?

[ScottnLydia]

I have heard that short fleeced llamas don't need shearing, but medium and long fleeced llamas need to be sheared each spring so that they don't get overheated during the summer months. The good part is that the fiber can be quite valuable to hand spinners. Therefore, if your llama has a good quality of fiber, perhaps it will sell for enough to pay for a professional to shear it. Sometimes they shear for fiber, but yes, you can do it yourself.

You would need professional shears like Oster Clipmaster or Shearmaster. I got mine used for $90.00. If the llama isn't used to being handled, then have a couple of people ready. Someone to hold the harness and maybe someone to stand on the other side. You can just tie the harness up close to something too. DON'T SHAVE THE LEGS! When they fight they bite each others legs so don't even touch them there!

Start at the middle of the back at the base of the neck, and just follow the skin along the spine to the tail. Do this again several more times 'til the fleece starts to peel down. Again, don't let it tangle his/her legs or they'll panic and start kicking. Just pull the fleece off and set it in a large basket. When you've gotten half way down the shoulders and hams, stop. Continue on the sides with a top down cut from back to front trying to clear the chest, underarm area. This is the 'heat window' where they dissipate the most heat. My guy tries to put me off by pushing me sideways and kicking (stomping, not kicking me) but I just keep at it until we're done. I got a good 2 bushels of fiber off him last cut. There are some decent videos on Youtube that can show you a lot.

As for hooves, if you live in rocky, gravelly terrain, they may wear naturally. If you do need to trim them, though, your best bet is to get them used to you touching their feet (see above). I have heard of this being done, but I have not been successful. I did trim one hoof that was getting a little long, but he was sedated at the time (getting gelded). Actually trimming the hoof is nothing. A sharp pair of garden shears is all it takes. But first you have to get to them.

My llama is actually quite a sweety. He seems quite smitten with my daughter and my wife! He ALWAYS wants to smooch them. A llama kisses by getting in you face and breathing your air, no slobber. No bad breath, no smell, not even their poo. They even have toilet spots so they do it in the same place. All in all a very nice animal, and I don't think they eat any geese or ducks at all!

~S

 

[LightningTFarm]

Thanks for all the good information!

 

[Joe Jordan]

This may or may not be a "bump" but I was just on youtube looking for hints as to the "how" of building one of those washtub pluckers. They look so efficient! I am very much interested in building one of these (the wife needs a new washer anyway) so I am going to note this thread for any future posts that may be of some help to us. Thanks for posting the thread!

 

[Candyhl]

After reading everyones thoughts of having a "guard Llama", it has me wondering, are Alpaca just as efficient at guarding against predators? It's got me thinking for future options. :/

 

[mickey328]

No, alpacas need guarding too. Some may be willing to attempt to divert a predator, but they're too small to be effective at it. If not LGDs, you'd want to look at a llama or perhaps a donkey or burro. They're all big enough to be able to actually stomp something threatening

 

[ScottnLydia]

After reading everyones thoughts of having a "guard Llama", it has me wondering, are Alpaca just as efficient at guarding against predators? It's got me thinking for future options.

Hey Candy, Every one that I've talked to echos Mickeys feelings. It depends on what those 'future options' you mentioned are. If you are thinking along the lines of fiber animals, llamas produce valuable fiber also. Suri llamas especially so. My llama has what's called a "luster gene" so his wool. if spun, has a beautiful, shiny look to it. I don't think it commands the same price as Alpaca fiber, though, but then again I haven't priced it.

If your issue is size, llamas also come as 'miniatures'. Defined as being 38 inches at the shoulder or under, those that breed them sometimes have llamas that aren't quite short enough, and may be a little less expensive. Our llama is a miniature that we got a good deal on because he didn't quite make their standard. Lydia thought a miniature would be easier for her to handle since she is a paraplegic. He's so gentle, she needn't have worried. He is still quite a bit bulkier than an alpaca, and was able to spend time with other llamas to learn how to protect 'his' territory and 'family'.

You could also have a llama to protect alpacas, if you are thinking of investing in a herd of them. I know of an individual near here that has done that.

If you just need a guard, a llama, if well socialized, can be a sweet and entertaining addition to any farm. they are easy to keep, generally quite healthy, economical to feed, and NO SMELL! They also hum! As a bonus, if they REALLY like you, they give 'llama kisses', which is where they come to your face and smell your breath. No slobber. The joke here is how much Moofy LOVES to smooch the girls! But in reality, Jason, my son-in-law, and I get smooched a lot too.

Hope this helps some, feel free to ask any other questions you may have. I love to make up answers to questions I don't know!

~S

 

[mickey328]

Was just looking on CL here...saw a female available for $50. Oh...if only we had the room!

 

[Candyhl]

Thank you all for the replies. I say "future", because I'm just getting started with chickens and wondering ahead of time the problems that may arise because we have both coyotes and fishers around. Unfortunately though, I really don't forsee my husband welcoming a llama, or an alpaca. But knowing about this will be very helpfull.

 

[ScottnLydia]

Coyotes can usually be controlled with good fencing. Like 4 foot field fence or welded wire stretched tight, with a strand of barbed wire at the bottom to keep them from digging under, and another strand stretched at the top to discourage jumpers. Add that to a strong coop with a strict routine of closing your birds in at dusk, and letting them out in the morning keeps them inside during prime coyote time.

Fishers and foxes can be a whole nuther game altogether! Sneaky buggers, they! I would probably suggest a moat at least 10 feet wide, with electrified razor wire, and flamethrowers, and mines, lots of mines!

Perhaps, if you knit, you could use steel wool to knit your chickens little chain mail suits to protect them?

I'm an 'idea' man. I'm trying new ideas all the time. Lydia says I'm trying her patience constantly!

~S

 

[Lisasfeathers]

I hear a Donkey makes a good guard too. They protect livestock. I don't know how they will do with chickens?