Alpaca Tribe

While musing on where alpacas come from, my thoughts turned to a recent guest, Suzanna James and her project with the women knotters from Antuata - part of the Awamaki Fair Trade Organisation. I caught up with Suzanna in a busy week where she has launched a new range of hats - Yura - knitted by the ladies of Antuata with a limited number available for order now. Visit https://www.suzannajamesknitw...

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

SHOW NOTES In the last episode, I told you about the unexpected arrival of an extra cria - Lewys. Sadly we lost him 4 days later to septicaemia caused by fly-strike between the toes of one foot. Unusual and with little sign - his size age and lack of active immune system meant he was unable to fight it off. We need to learn from such events without overly blaming ourselves. Keeping records help be...

I love receiving emails and especially when it is from people with alpacas and even more so when they listen to the podcast! Jennifer Eckels of Alder Creek Cellars and Farm wrote to me to say she had been listening and to say that the information we have covered was part of her preparation for taking on four alpacas of her own. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3...

It has been another interesting week in the valley. Still waiting on two births, we have seven cria on the ground (2 male 5 female). They continue to be very relaxed and apparently appreciating my presence which is slightly unusual when dealing with pregnant alpacas. They even seem to approach and look for reassurance with my presence. I am getting used to spotting new-born cria at a distance in t...

Cria Watch continues as the last few pregnant alpacas hold out for good weather. They are OK at the immediate and very near weather forecasting but the longer range is more of a challenge and the lovely fine sun has given way to heavy showers and lower temperatures. We have some coats to protect the cria in their first few days and nights so they have been coming in handy. The best we have found f...

Births of our cria continue - with some surprises! Involved when you need to be, being in the right place at the right time. Leaving things alone when you can - which is most of the time. Nona and Iona have followed on from last week's female cria with two males. Follow the signs but be patient - they arrive eventually but sometimes when you are not looking Check the website for video clips. This...

In this episode you will hear about the arrival of our first two cria this year and the names we chose for them. Angharad daughter of Betsi weighed in at 8 kg and is strong and doing well. Her mother, Betsi still grumbles and calls the cria away whenever she sees me (normal for her) but is starting to settle more quickly than previous occasions. Amelia broke her streak of boys by giving birth to h...

Kerry Lord of Toft UK has grown a successful British based retail business supplying internationally, selling crochet kits and helping people learn the simple skills that are flexible enough to produce over 500 different animals. It began with Edwards Menagerie with 50 patterns including the perennial favourites (which one is your favourite? - I tell you mine in the episode). Patterns and kits are...

Do you go out in the rain or are you more of a stay indoors kind of person - I know some alpacas like that but you never can tell quite what they are going to do. Today was outside in the rain - which we had very little of in May after having had the wettest February on record. What is next? Just when you think you are finished... we have a few off-farm shearings to do to help out with some animal...

It has been coming for a while but finally arrived this week - alpaca shearing. Preparation makes the job easier and more enjoyable, though it is still a necessary, physical, dirty and smelly job - it is lucky we like the smell of alpacas! Millie is always first because everything else is easier after that. A good crop of fleece this year and the girls seem in good condition. Cria watch begins soo...

Suzanna James of the eponymous  Suzanna James Knitwear  has a thing about traceability - and it is a good thing. What is its origin? Whose hands did it pass through, and what is their story? An interest in the origin of her raw materials has meant Suzanna visited farms to meet those who had a literal hand in the journey from sheep to workshop. It even involved a trip from Cardiff to Peru...

Do you have a happy place? A place where you can go, physical or metaphorical? My happy place is with my alpacas. Come and join me as I think about what makes them so calming to be around. May you know quiet, interested and accepting relationships in your life - both people and alpacas. What is your favourite colour? What are you doing with your fleece? Drop me a line to steve@alpacatribe.com or l...

This episode is with a lovely artist from Tennessee who happens to have the surname of Llamas - (pronounced Ya-mass in Spanish - listen here ). Kristin Llamas began with an art project to link people's names to paintings of llamas - the Spanish for "what is your name" is ¿Como te llamas? - so the play on words all came together delightfully and resulted in many paintings of both llamas and alpacas...

It is nice to have some rain after. long dry spell and the alpacas seem to be enjoying it too. Recently people have been contacting me to see if we have any alpacas for sale. The answer... it depends on what you are looking for. 5 questions to consider when buying alpacas and 5 take aways. Is keeping alpacas really for you? - think carefully about what is involved and the long term commitment that...

All the days can seem the same at the moment so having something to make Thursday special can be relaly helpful - like listening to the Alpaca Tribe Podcast! Thanks for listening and subscribing. Feel free to drop us a line or leave an audio message using the SpeakPipe link Over the years of keeping alpacas I have learnt various lessons Lesson 1 - You have to learn Lesson 2 - Use the right equipme...

I caught up with our old friend Jeremiah Owen of Hireth Ranch, in Southern California. The aim was a bit of normal - well normal for an alpaca, goat and rabbit ranch with Anatolian Shepherd livestock guard who has just had puppies. That kind of normal. Join us in this weeks episode for a catch up and an alpaca chat. https://www.facebook.com/hiraethranch/   This podcast uses the following thir...

A catch up with Rita Soares of Campo Verde Alpacas, hearing about the work that has been done on the farm since we spoke ( https://alpacatribe.com/podcast50/ ) As well as a lot of fencing, there have been some cria births recently. This inlcuded a difficult birth with a jameed-up leg. With the advice from her alpaca connections, her partner Anthony and careful persistence, it all worked out well a...

Spring is arriving in that slow but sure way. More sun means the grass is growing and the ground is firming up - the alpacas are becoming fluffy and are enjoying grazing the grass. Often the follow us along the green path up the valley and enjoy being in the woods and having access to some lush grazing. What does a happy alpaca look like - just like this... Watch them and you will see things only...

We wait and try to continue as normal. Alpacas help with that because their routine is their routine. Sunshine is welcome and thoughts turn to the BAS show in the UK, cancelled for this year. It is not the same as being there but here are a few of my recollections from last year. Episode 14 – BAS Show Reflections Episode 16 – Ted & Bessie producing sustainable and ethical knitwear with Catherine P...

Challenge and the unknown for us all. If we are kind to ourselves and take care of ourseleves we will be in a better place to care for others who rely on us, not least our alpacas. There are signs of a chnge of season and some checks we can usefully be making  on the alpacas - feet, eyes and fleece. If you get the chnace - spend time with your alpacas in the sun. Take care, SteveH This podcast use...

Join Steve & Sue Heatherington as they reminisce about the day alpacas entered their lives This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Allison Quagliani is an alpaca dentist - one of very few, if not the only one, and certainly the first alpaca dentist in Australia. Starting with two pregnant females in 1996 she trained in alpaca dentistry following a problem with one of her own alpacas. It involved a lot of research and learning from an experienced equine dentist. It even involved designing and having manufactured equipment and...

Be prepared physically and mentally   This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

For many, keeping alpacas is a lifestyle choice and a foray into a more rural and slower-paced existence. For all of us, it introduces regular alpaca-smiles into our lives. Whenever you get a chance, spend some time with an alpaca. With an alpaca business, sometimes you get lucky with positioning or timing and can make your alpaca business work smoothly and naturally with great rewards. For most o...