It is now Thursday January 4th 2007. Our Alpacas have been at Furbelow Alpaca Farms
since last Saturday night. In just 4 short days they are warming up to me. I still don't know if I can catch Pearl she seems to be the most distant of the bunch. It is nice that Pearl is NOT spitting at any other alpacas.
I need to go feed the alpacas in about 45 minutes. They sure love grain!
Now when I go to the farm they see me coming and are waiting and watching always when I come up the hill. I feed them twice a day. I have increased thier grain a bit since a new home can be stressful. For the last day or so, when I get the grain out of the bin, they are there waiting making it hard for me to get through the gate. Then as soon as I get in the gate, they start pushing and shoving and stealing the grain out of my bucket BEFORE I can get it into thier individual feed bins. Usually I feed the older boys first, they at least wait until I get the grain into thier feed bins.
I have 2 older male alpacas in one pen. And 3 pregnant alpacas in another with 3 very young male alpacas. Soon I need to wean one of the young male alpacas and separate Pearl, who is NOT the mom of any of the baby alpacas that I have, and put her with 2 of the youngest male alpacas. An alpaca weaning the forced way, separateing baby from mom. Then I will have 3
alpaca pens, 3 gates, and 3 alpacas in one pen, 3 in another and the 2 older male alpacas in the other.
For now the only animals we have on the farm are alpaca. We will move some dogs in later
as an early warning in the event of predators. We have 2 anatolian shepards, one beagle, and one border collie. The last 2 being mixed breed, however very smart dogs.
We are also considering getting some chickens or the like to protect the alpacas from parasites which can be carried in by snails and slugs. Chickens apparantly hunt for slugs and consider them a delicacy.
The problem with slugs is that as they crawl around everywhere, so slowly, they often crawl through all sorts of other wild animal feces, which can be full of parasites, who then latch on to the slug for a ride.
I often find slugs in my dogs feed bowls at my home in a totally residential area. So I am certain the slugs will come as alpaca can be messy eaters and drop all sorts of grain pieces on the ground.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Monday, January 1, 2007
We went to New Jersey and got our 8 Alpaca
We went to New Jersey and got our 8 Alpacas. The Alpaca didn't seem to mind the ride in the alpaca trailer we bought from Gore Trailers. The Alpacas just sat down and enjoyed the ride I guess.
They were a bit apprehensive about getting into the trailer. When we arrived at Furbelow alpaca farms, I don't think any of them wanted to get out of the trailer.
We led the alpacas 2 at a time to thier new pasture. Luckily we left thier halters on after we loaded them in New Jersey. It was tricky taking the alpcas off 2 at a time especially since we needed to keep the mom's with thier cria. So all 8 alpaca made it to thier new pens.
The 2 male alpacas went in one. And 3 pregnanat female alpacas and 3 young male cria went with them.
I got them some fresh orchard grass. Set up thier heated water buckets and grain feeding bins.
Needless to say as soon as the orchard grass was placed in the shelter before I got back with the water and grain, they had already found the hay and were eating like mad. It was only a 5 hour ride. I guess they were hungry.
They seem to be adjusting well. They have more running room than they had where they came from. In a few weeks I need to wean one of the cria, and in another month I have to wean another cria.
After these 8 alpacas get adjusted, I will bring my herdsire home and another pontentially promising male alpaca.
They were a bit apprehensive about getting into the trailer. When we arrived at Furbelow alpaca farms, I don't think any of them wanted to get out of the trailer.
We led the alpacas 2 at a time to thier new pasture. Luckily we left thier halters on after we loaded them in New Jersey. It was tricky taking the alpcas off 2 at a time especially since we needed to keep the mom's with thier cria. So all 8 alpaca made it to thier new pens.
The 2 male alpacas went in one. And 3 pregnanat female alpacas and 3 young male cria went with them.
I got them some fresh orchard grass. Set up thier heated water buckets and grain feeding bins.
Needless to say as soon as the orchard grass was placed in the shelter before I got back with the water and grain, they had already found the hay and were eating like mad. It was only a 5 hour ride. I guess they were hungry.
They seem to be adjusting well. They have more running room than they had where they came from. In a few weeks I need to wean one of the cria, and in another month I have to wean another cria.
After these 8 alpacas get adjusted, I will bring my herdsire home and another pontentially promising male alpaca.
Monday, December 25, 2006
The Alpaca trailer is ready to go north to get alpacas
Happy Holidays to all. We are ready to head to New Jersey within the next 6 days to pick up 8 of our alpacas. The weather looks nice.
The tempoary shelters and the temporary fencing will be erected this week.
The well was installed so we won't have to fetch water from the creek for them.
Well perhaps initially while we are setting up the watering systems.
We are waiting on the electric company to extend power into the farm.
We are all aproved and just need to get them out there to provide the power.
We are working on getting supplies. There is not much grass for the alpacas to eat yet.
We have visited a place that stock piles orchard grass. While this is expensive in small quantities. In the spring we will secure large amounts of orchard grass to get us through next winter as the pastures may not be full established by then.
This is getting exciting. Three of our female alpacas are pregnant and due around june 07.
The tempoary shelters and the temporary fencing will be erected this week.
The well was installed so we won't have to fetch water from the creek for them.
Well perhaps initially while we are setting up the watering systems.
We are waiting on the electric company to extend power into the farm.
We are all aproved and just need to get them out there to provide the power.
We are working on getting supplies. There is not much grass for the alpacas to eat yet.
We have visited a place that stock piles orchard grass. While this is expensive in small quantities. In the spring we will secure large amounts of orchard grass to get us through next winter as the pastures may not be full established by then.
This is getting exciting. Three of our female alpacas are pregnant and due around june 07.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Alpaca, all get thier tests for the big move to Virginia
All the Alpaca got thier shots and TB tests are are getting ready for the big move from New Jersey to Virginia, Pearl should be traveling today or tomorrow from Newyork to New Jersey so She can travel with the other 7.
The Date for the trip from New Jersey to Virginia is not set yet. It will be sometime this month.
Pearl has requested a very cold day as she has been getting hot as her pregnancy is starting to affect her.
The Fencing is ready to be erected. The temporary shelters are ready to be put up.
The Alpaca sure hate this warm weather we have been having lately in Virginia.
The trailer got moved to the top of the hill today.
The Date for the trip from New Jersey to Virginia is not set yet. It will be sometime this month.
Pearl has requested a very cold day as she has been getting hot as her pregnancy is starting to affect her.
The Fencing is ready to be erected. The temporary shelters are ready to be put up.
The Alpaca sure hate this warm weather we have been having lately in Virginia.
The trailer got moved to the top of the hill today.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Alpaca Shearing Scheduled for April 2007
Jane at Thistledown Alpacas http://www.thistledownalpacas.com
was so kind to coordinate the shearing schedule again this year.
We hope to get Furbelow Farms Alpacas sheared this year during the first 2 weeks of April. We have 10 alpacas now and 3 of them are expecting!
This shearing coop that Jane coordinates had sheared over 1100 Alpacas
in Virginia last year.
I guess many Virginia Alpaca farms get together and have one shearer shear all of thier Alpaca during the first 2 weeks of April.
Many thanks to Jane and her never ending dedication to helping alpacas
and alpaca breeders and farmers.
Elijah Marks elijahmarks@gmail.com
www.furbelowfarms.com
was so kind to coordinate the shearing schedule again this year.
We hope to get Furbelow Farms Alpacas sheared this year during the first 2 weeks of April. We have 10 alpacas now and 3 of them are expecting!
This shearing coop that Jane coordinates had sheared over 1100 Alpacas
in Virginia last year.
I guess many Virginia Alpaca farms get together and have one shearer shear all of thier Alpaca during the first 2 weeks of April.
Many thanks to Jane and her never ending dedication to helping alpacas
and alpaca breeders and farmers.
Elijah Marks elijahmarks@gmail.com
www.furbelowfarms.com
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