Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Fall Fun
It's fall at the farm, and we have to enjoy the last few warm, sunny days. All is well..... Life is good..... We had four new babies this summer - the three expected plus a nice surprise from Akeela, who ended up being pregnant from a late breeding last fall. We had two boys and two girls born from June 7th to September 7th - three months of wondering, happiness, relief, worry, surprise, dismay.... every emotion. Our first was a little premature at twelve pounds and spent her first day without my protection, which I am still upset about. I had known Comfie was close to delivering, but had no idea of her breed date from the herdsire's farm. It's also hard to guess when a maiden will deliver anyway, as she has no idea what is happening to her and how to deal with it. This is why I added the wondering and worry to the list of emotions. Little Sophie was in the midst of the female herd, including the teenage girls, when I arrived home from work that evening, and I was relieved to see that Akeela had taken a protective stance to help Comfie, due to her obvious inexperience at mothering. Sophie had sand in and around her eyes from being birthed head first into the clean sand, and it took awhile to get that problem totally straightened out. With patience and care, she came through it alright and I learned about how to handle that problem with artificial tears. Of course, next time it will be something new, to keep me humble.
The next three babies came much easier, with no complications, and the four moms are all happy with their charges. It was a long, hot, muggy, often miserable summer. But although the heat was hard on the alpacas, I didn't mind myself. I know what's coming soon - - - more winter! So we'll enjoy the fall and hope that it lasts ... and lasts ... and lasts ... and that winter will be over before we know it! I have to look forward to spring about this time of year.
The next three babies came much easier, with no complications, and the four moms are all happy with their charges. It was a long, hot, muggy, often miserable summer. But although the heat was hard on the alpacas, I didn't mind myself. I know what's coming soon - - - more winter! So we'll enjoy the fall and hope that it lasts ... and lasts ... and lasts ... and that winter will be over before we know it! I have to look forward to spring about this time of year.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
It's spring at Moonstruck. It appears that the snow, from October of last fall through the beginning of May, is finally over. The Lovebirds (parents) have returned from their winter retreat and have planted their garden. They live in a cute little town nearby, and I just love spending time with them. Mason has now graduated and will be heading to college, and Stephanie and Nathan's baby boy is just adorable.
We're slowly digging out and doing some spring cleaning. The pens are bedded with straw and hay to keep the alpacas warm, but now all of that can be removed and burned so they have the cool concrete for the summer. There are 6 fans set up for the boys and 4 plus a huge barn fan for the girls. It's already been 90 degrees, a big swing from the 32 degree highs just 3 weeks ago. Our friends, the Olson family from Indianhead Alpacas, came last weekend and sheared all of the alpacas. They also checked everyone for pregnancies, trimmed topknots, nails and teeth as needed, and gave everyone lots of loving attention. Carrie has always been in love with Prophet, and it's so fun to see her loving on him. He must have gotten close to a hundred kisses while Brad sheared him. They even brought Ted's Pizza from Wisconsin! Fabulous friends!!!
The pastures came up nicely, but I can see there will be a lot of clover unless I do some kind of spraying. The young apple trees have survived the winter, and the young Colorado Spruce are doing great at about 3 feet already. I've found 6 of the little pine trees of the 9 I planted; I'll keep searching for the others before I mow that area.
All in all, I guess we survived the winter and can think of enjoying the warmth and newness of spring. A couple of weeks ago, I spent time just sitting in the grass in the pastures enjoying the alpacas. They are finally free of the confinement of the huge snowdrifts and icy areas and can get out and frolic in the pastures.
There is always a new project on an alpaca farm. Every time you finish a project, you think "Wow, it's finally done." But in no time, you realize there is something new to fix, add, re-think or reconstruct. We need a little more fencing put up so there's a better separation of male and female weanlings when the next time comes. That is such a stressful time. The babies are desperate to be back with the comforting and protecting mothers, and I don't blame them. Alpaca moms are incredible.
However, the mothers are pregnant with their next offspring, and they can't be burdened with the toddlers when they get close to delivering the next baby. Plus, the new baby needs the colostrum the mom is manufacturing, and the weanling can't steal that from the new baby, so it's imperative to separate the weanling at around 6 to 8 months. I could tell that Akeela had slipped her pregnancy, so when her son got back in with her somehow while I was at work, I gave him another month with her. He was on the small side, so I gave him all of the benefit of her good mothering for as long as it seemed alright. But at some point, even if the mother isn't pregnant, the baby is just too big to be nursing on its mother. (!)
We have three cria (babies) coming this year, in June, July and September. We had three last year, a boy and two girls, and all three are doing great. Friendly little Alexi has the fuzziest ears, Amare has the calm confidence and gorgeous lustery fiber, and Shanti has a solid frame and extreme fiber density. They are all adorable and thriving.
Our three new babies are all from fabulous black herdsires - Saviero, Prophet and Bandalero. This is the first baby for Comfie (Southern Comfort), so we hope all goes well. Almond Joy and Sunburst are wonderful, seasoned moms. The best part of alpaca shepherding is the joy of seeing the new babies come into the world and grow up strong with the guidance of their extremely attentive moms. There is nothing the moms won't do for their young. They would willingly die for them. That's why the babies have to be weaned from their moms. They could literally nurse their moms to starvation, although unintentionally.
As the summer progresses, the babies will come and we will love the casual, easy going days and cool breezes overnight. Fall will bring the cold rains, and winter will be right behind with the frigid blustery snowstorms that never seem to end. So for now, we will have our "fun in the sun" and put off thoughts of what is to come down the road. This is the gentle time of year, and we're going to enjoy it.
We're slowly digging out and doing some spring cleaning. The pens are bedded with straw and hay to keep the alpacas warm, but now all of that can be removed and burned so they have the cool concrete for the summer. There are 6 fans set up for the boys and 4 plus a huge barn fan for the girls. It's already been 90 degrees, a big swing from the 32 degree highs just 3 weeks ago. Our friends, the Olson family from Indianhead Alpacas, came last weekend and sheared all of the alpacas. They also checked everyone for pregnancies, trimmed topknots, nails and teeth as needed, and gave everyone lots of loving attention. Carrie has always been in love with Prophet, and it's so fun to see her loving on him. He must have gotten close to a hundred kisses while Brad sheared him. They even brought Ted's Pizza from Wisconsin! Fabulous friends!!!
The pastures came up nicely, but I can see there will be a lot of clover unless I do some kind of spraying. The young apple trees have survived the winter, and the young Colorado Spruce are doing great at about 3 feet already. I've found 6 of the little pine trees of the 9 I planted; I'll keep searching for the others before I mow that area.
All in all, I guess we survived the winter and can think of enjoying the warmth and newness of spring. A couple of weeks ago, I spent time just sitting in the grass in the pastures enjoying the alpacas. They are finally free of the confinement of the huge snowdrifts and icy areas and can get out and frolic in the pastures.
There is always a new project on an alpaca farm. Every time you finish a project, you think "Wow, it's finally done." But in no time, you realize there is something new to fix, add, re-think or reconstruct. We need a little more fencing put up so there's a better separation of male and female weanlings when the next time comes. That is such a stressful time. The babies are desperate to be back with the comforting and protecting mothers, and I don't blame them. Alpaca moms are incredible.
However, the mothers are pregnant with their next offspring, and they can't be burdened with the toddlers when they get close to delivering the next baby. Plus, the new baby needs the colostrum the mom is manufacturing, and the weanling can't steal that from the new baby, so it's imperative to separate the weanling at around 6 to 8 months. I could tell that Akeela had slipped her pregnancy, so when her son got back in with her somehow while I was at work, I gave him another month with her. He was on the small side, so I gave him all of the benefit of her good mothering for as long as it seemed alright. But at some point, even if the mother isn't pregnant, the baby is just too big to be nursing on its mother. (!)
We have three cria (babies) coming this year, in June, July and September. We had three last year, a boy and two girls, and all three are doing great. Friendly little Alexi has the fuzziest ears, Amare has the calm confidence and gorgeous lustery fiber, and Shanti has a solid frame and extreme fiber density. They are all adorable and thriving.
Our three new babies are all from fabulous black herdsires - Saviero, Prophet and Bandalero. This is the first baby for Comfie (Southern Comfort), so we hope all goes well. Almond Joy and Sunburst are wonderful, seasoned moms. The best part of alpaca shepherding is the joy of seeing the new babies come into the world and grow up strong with the guidance of their extremely attentive moms. There is nothing the moms won't do for their young. They would willingly die for them. That's why the babies have to be weaned from their moms. They could literally nurse their moms to starvation, although unintentionally.
As the summer progresses, the babies will come and we will love the casual, easy going days and cool breezes overnight. Fall will bring the cold rains, and winter will be right behind with the frigid blustery snowstorms that never seem to end. So for now, we will have our "fun in the sun" and put off thoughts of what is to come down the road. This is the gentle time of year, and we're going to enjoy it.
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