Alpaca Tribe

Listen as I deliver breakfast to the girls, complete with Sioned drinking from a puddle - she hasn't read the text-book! Brings back memories of my first foray into a field full of alpacas. Such a thrill and only a hint of anxiety. It makes my day, every time. What about you, when did you meet your first alpaca and how did it make you feel? I'd love to know - let me know here so I can share it htt...

A year on and everybody seems to be reflecting on a year of pandemic. This seems to be both a good reason to do so and also to avoid it. I decided though that I would be reflective too. What is it that we've learned from the pandemic with a Valley full of alpacas?  One of the things I've learned is to just keep going. Concentrate on the next thing. Not focusing too much on the possibilities a...

It is so easy to get excited about the thought of keeping alpacas, but what does it really take and are you right to be thinking about it? Maybe, but let me see if I can put you off first. There is more to it than you might think! We can get sentimental about the idea of keeping alpacas, understandably, given that they are such amazing creatures. However, we need to ask ourselves some serious ques...

Imagine zooming with your alpacas! Would they be on mute with their cameras turned off? Or could you persuade them to tell you what they are thinking? It would be nice if they did, especially if they are in pain. Watching body language and learning to read them is an important skill for alpaca shepherds. The answer - another excuse to spend time with your alpacas - watching and listening. even if...

I count in threes but sometimes I can't get the same number twice in a row because they keep moving. More life with the alpacas in the valley. Listen in for the latest instalment. Ear tags can help identify which alpaca is which, if you have more than a few. The geese have returned and the spring has left - though I am sure it will be back soon Trust your instincts and learn from your alpacas by s...

Why keep alpacas? There are all kinds of good reasons but it is certainly a good question to start your alpaca journey with. What do you want to focus on? fleece pets breeding tourism Have you got the capacity? space money time Start with what you have and make the most of it shelter fences lane-ways storage If you decide to pursue alpacas you are in a for a rare treat Join me on the journey This...

There are signs, no really! But we still have some way to go. Join me on another farm wander with the alpacas considering grazing, sharing the space with birds and wondering about births later in the year. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

The winter continues - join me on the feeding round and reminiscing about what our original expectations were when we first started with 5 pregnant females. You can start with some ideas of your own but your alpacas are likely to teach you they know best. Plenty of time to stand and stare will help you progress towards those original intentions and expectations. This podcast uses the following thi...

Spring creeps slowly forward but is on its way. Listen for a valley recording wandering about and talking alpacas. ~If you are interested in podcasting yourself, check out The Podcasting Workshop by Akimbo led by Seth Godin and Alex DiPalma. The latest workshop is just starting and enrollment closes very soon - and I am the Head Coach. ~You might also want to check out a podcast with a smile from...

The cold weather turned to snow Listen to some recordings made in the valley and in the stable with the alpacas. Coats and feeding continued to be a challenge. It takes longer but you can cover their needs during this time with additional feeding and attention to their condition. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

At this time of year in the UK the vegetation has died back enough to see the fences and be able to see where weeds are growing and need to be removed. This episode gives suggestions on the repair and maintenance work we can do to take advantage of the winter low tide. This is followed by an audio diary of a wander in the beautiful day just before all of the heavy rain returned! Welsh Wales - it i...

Welcome to the New Year! Hermione has needed a bit of extra support and so has been wearing a coat - and her cria too. She gets really suspicious of me and repositioning the coat when it rides up a bit is a challenge. To our usual dry food, we have added some sugarbeet with molasses and chopped alfalfa with molasses - quick energy for keeping warm. Plus the died peas for extra protein for the preg...

Happy holidays to all listeners of the Alpaca Tribe podcast - see you again soon. Peace to you and yours. Happy Christmas! And as we say in Wales - Nadolig Llawen! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

2020 has been an interesting year but probably one most of us would like to move on from or even forget. In this final episode of the year, Steve and Sue Heatherington reflect on some of the things of note from this year with their herd of alpacas. From births to shearing, the weather and the freedom to roam, there have been things that have stood out and we can learn from. Thank you for sharing y...

Alpacas know what you are saying by the way that you say it. They may not understand your language but they can pick up on intent. Learn to talk to your alpacas nicely. In this episode, Steve talks with his wife Sue about their experience of talking to alpacas. Using the right words for the context means you will convey the emotional intent of calming and reassuring your alpacas that you are a saf...

Any subject 101 is a topic for beginners. And since we are at episode 101 (for those that are counting) thought we should have a quick alpaca 101 episode! What is an alpaca and where do they come from? Why do you want to keep alpacas? How many should you have? What might be limiting factors? Where will you get them? Before they arrive Storage Handling Husbandry Growing old together It is going to...

So here we are at episode 100 on a journey of almost two years. It has been a great journey and I am delighted you have been with me for some or all of it. Thank you. I am also very grateful for the many guests we have had during that time, who have added their voices to the varied subjects we have covered. Join me in this special episode as I select some great contributions and share them with yo...

Grass is green but lots of different shades. Can you remember why grass is green? - well it is all to do with the red and blue parts of the light spectrum being absorbed by the grass and green being reflected. And what does grass do with the absorbed light - well that’s also a bit complex and gets us into the chemistry of photosynthesis and porphyrin rings and the like - I loved learning all about...

Kris Cody sees things and makes connections. On a trip to Peru, he discovered alpacas and the Peruvian people. An idea took root and in time a business was born creating innovative fabrics and products that are made in Peru. Working in collaboration with the earth and people Paka Apparel make products that help people live lighter. In his words - "The products we build, the experiences we create,...

Inspiration for this episode came from a blog post by Sue, my wife, - Quiet Disruptors - Yes, we’ve heard of ‘be more pirate’, and some of us have encountered ‘be more camel’. But what about being more alpaca? On a day when the final outcome of collective decisions that will affect the whole world is probably not yet clear, I thought a light-hearted invitation to be more alpaca might be rather att...

Many people say they find alpacas calming to be around - I agree! So why is that? They are inquisitive, seem to like being around safe people and know how to watch you while looking like they are ignoring you. Having eyes on the side of their heads helps but in the end I think they are just magical creatures to be around and transfer their calmness to people in their vicinity. Listen to today's ep...

Alpaca activity - theirs and your husbandry work - changes with the season. At this time in the UK it is usually slowing down as we go into Autumn and on to Winter. The grass slows down too, which means more hay. Find a good supply of leafy soft hay and store it well so you have supplies as you need them. Listen in for an update on how the cria are getting on. This is episode 95 which means we are...

Katie Lorenz of Campo Alpaca has made many connections in Peru with producers of alpaca based products. This collaboration helps women and collectives in Peru generate income to support families and communities there. It also means Campo Alpaca can share wonderful products with customers around the world. The emphasis is on creating unique alpaca clothing & accessories, ethically made in Peru...

When you introduce yourself, how long does it take before you mention alpacas? Are they part of who you are? They are for me and I am guessing you too. Taking time to be aware of how we talk about alpacas and improving this is likely to be helpful. When you next get the chance, listen to a good judge sum up the finer points of the winners - note the language. In this episode, I give a quick update...

Seasons come and go - the sign of growing older is said to be that everything speeds up. Maybe, but 2020 has been an unusual slow-fast year, very variable. I finished off the pen-matings for this year and this episode is an update and reflection on the process. Did you know that alpacas have a reverse gear? And that they are star-gazers by nature. At least this has been my experience. This podcast...