Alpaca Tribe

We look at the alpaca dam and sire but may still not have a clue about the cria that will result. Join me as I muse on breeding decisions. The first consideration is the bloodlines and avoiding potential inbreeding. Next, we should be considering the desirable traits and how to increase the likelihood of adding to them in the next and following generations. At one level it seems simple but there a...

Change is the one constant. Join me on the alpaca feeding round on a wet late-winter afternoon. For basic equipment like troughs and buckets, investing in some long-lasting ones will serve you well. Take care of yourself. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

We are all creatures of habit but alpacas especially so. From feeding preferences and positions to grazing routes and times of the day. Millie and her daughters have particular behaviours that are noticeable but so do the others, even if they tend to hang back. Noticing the tendency to form habits, how do we make good use of it? Calling them, feeding them at the same time in the same place and kno...

Here in the UK, we survived the three named storms in five days, with some trees down in the valley but not any serious damage thankfully. The alpacas kept themselves indoors when the winds were strong and were producing driving rain. Millie was a little unwell with some diarrhoea but we were able to get her balanced up again pretty quickly. To give a little extra protection we added a waterproof...

Alpacas recognise each other - and us. From a distance and close up, they pick up on cues from all of their senses to know where they are and who they are with. What can we learn from them? The herd group dynamics of alpacas always amaze me with their complexity and detail. From who they will share a feeding trough with, to who they will sit down next to. From who they know to be part of their fam...

Listen in to find out about the fox drama followed by the lifebuoy drama. The things these alpacas get up to! I always loved the concept of managing by wandering around since I first came across it in a previous life (ie before alpacas). Who knew you could apply it to managing your alpacas? "What are you doing Steve?" "Oh, I am just managing the alpacas!" - no really! Some things to look out for w...

How do you make decisions? It's a process and the final decision starts with the first consideration of maybe. We build a series of choices and data gathering into our final decision of commitment. But it all begins with the first small decision to stop and take a look. If you are thinking of keeping alpacas, we owe it to ourselves to consider chasing and fulfilling our ambitions. At the same time...

So, alpaca feet are a little different. They have two toes and they have long nails associated with those toes. And then the toes kind of merge into a little bit of web, but it merges into a flat, but fleshy pad, quite like a dog's paw, It's quite distinct. There's nothing quite like it. It's not like a sheep's foot where you have the hard hoof, so these are soft. They spread the weight. Now, occa...

When you start into a new year, there seem to be two things going on at the same time, more of the same, and different. Now, these are both happening at the same time, in the same space, in the same place. It's just another day in alpaca land. The alpacas don't seem to know anything about Christmas, new year or public holidays. And why should they? I have been delighting in the extra light that is...

Here is the second part of my interview with our vet Tamara van Doorn of St James Vet Group . We talked last time about how we can work as a team and get the best from our vets,. In this episode we talk herd health plans and where to point your vet if they need some more technical support. NADIS - National Animal Disease Information Service British Veterinary Camelid Society Claire Whitehead and h...

Learning to work as part of a team with your vet will make your life with alpacas easier and better for all concerned. Listen as I talk alpacas with my vet Tamara van Doorn of St James Veterinary Group . So much good stuff we had to split it into two episodes. Tamara's training focussed on healthy animals first - knowing normal and healthy makes it easier to notice sick and unhealthy animals. As p...

Reflecting on the year we have had I came up with some things that stood out with the alpacas here in our little valley in South Wales. The geese and having breakfast with the girls was memorable and a delight our first cria arrival - Lena, daughter of Betsi cria watch the missing baby Millie the matriarch being a stick-in-the-mud I hope that the new year brings new opportunities for you - may you...

Just wanted to give you a quick update and wish you all happy holidays and much joy! Next episode we have a short review of the year and in January we have a 2-part interview with our vet Tamara van Doorn, Can't wait to share it with you! Steve This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Philip Roberts - known as Flip to his alpacas, friends and readers - discovered the delight of alpacas some ten years ago. Amazed at their intelligence and how they have eyes that "go into the universe" he found he just needed to write a book about his two companions Geno and Vinnie. The book is a rhyming book for children and the start of a series called the Freedom Book Series https://freedomboo...

Wild wet weather continues with two named storms in as many weeks. We have not had as much damage as some with wet ground being our biggest challenge. Walking slow and taking small steps helps keep you upright - maybe that is a metaphor for our lives with alpacas! Thanks to those who have been in touch and please do let me know if there are any questions or areas of interest you want me to cover....

Alpacas quite enjoy the wind but storms get a bit tricky and they like to go find a quieter part of the valley to shelter in until it goes back to normal. I guess we can all relate to that. In this episode, we have a valley report and some musings on an annual plan - simple style. If you can, go spend some time with an alpaca. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our listeners in the US. We appreciate you and hope you have an outstanding few days. May your hay store be filled to the brim, your buckets overflow with goodness and sufficiency. May your little ones grow tall and strong and your mothers stay attentive and good milkers. Be well, stay safe and hope to see you again soon. Happy thanksgiving. This podcast uses the follo...

We do fewer things than we decide to do. Knowing what we are waiting for will help get us going. Our alpacas deserve it. The life of an alpaca is fairly straightforward and determined by what seems best to them at the moment. Better grass, more comfort, moving away from an owner intent on looking at them. We are a bit more complicated - better decisions leading to action come from the correct mix...

Standing before alpacas the first thing you notice is their eyes. There is more behind the eyes than a lot of animals and you find they are watching you watching them. The second thing for me is the nose - watching the nostrils almost like they are leaning forward without moving, trying to gather more intelligence on you. The overriding impression you get from alpacas is curiosity. If you can go s...

Find a rhythm that suits you and your alpacas. There are the occasional sprints such as shearing, birthing or shows, but mostly it is long-distance pace. I was going to say marathon but it sounds too much like hard work. For most of us, most of the time, we have a steady pace, a rhythm where we can maintain that regular pace. Alpacas like it too. Though they also enjoy the occasional surprise - ju...

Our aim is happy and healthy alpacas but also happy and healthy owners. What can you do to keep in good shape? Well, you would expect me to say "go spend some time with an alpaca" of course. The calming effect of being around these special creatures is well known and certainly has been my experience. Eat well (as in good food rather than high volume!), sleep well and an appropriate amount of exerc...

Our aim is confident and fulfilled owners of happy and healthy alpacas. We want happy and healthy owners too but that's for another day. Let's think about confidence again and in particular, where you get yours from. Knowledge and practice are key - know enough and do it often enough and you will feel confident. This could be moving alpacas, removing brambles from their fleece, trimming toenails,...

Each day with alpacas is a new opportunity to learn something - either about your alpacas or yourself! While we look for problems - and rightly so, we should also be on the lookout for positives and things that are going well. Listen in to breakfast with the girls for an update on the alpacas and the valley.   This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op...

Into Autumn in the UK you start to ask yourself, why are we keeping alpacas? I can think of lots of reasons - here are five. You have 'the alpaca gene' and can't not keep alpacas. Not a real gene - it just feels like it. Stock sales - breeding stock or pets. The grand plan - lifestyle choice and making a living. Challenging and hard work but in normal times possible. Fleece - the delight of the pr...

Autumn is a special time of year - the light, the colours, the wind the rain! We have been having some Welsh rain and the lake is now full. It also means the alpacas are wet and the little ones a bit cold. And I had to wear a hat! We all wear hats, metaphorical and physical - they all need to be practical. My strategy remains the same in the colder wet weather - protect those who need a little ext...