Alpaca Tribe

Alpacas are easy to keep - relatively. If it feels like every day is a fight and a challenge - what if it was easy - or at least easier? Things can be different - different thinking, different doing and different being. You can have success as you build on your experience into the future. How do you measure success? We need to use the right measure and have the right expectations. We need to be mo...

It no longer surprises me but continues to amaze me, the way alpacas look at things. They really don’t miss much. They love seeing themselves in reflections. I so enjoy Julie Taylor-Brown’s story of the milking parlour from episode 15 – here it is again. As well as good daytime vision and noticing cows moving on the horizon, they have brilliant night time vision and a tendency to chase foxes. Some...

SHOW NOTES Alpacas are herd animals and herd animals thrive best in a herd. What makes a herd? Not one; and in my view not two either. A minimum viable herd would be three, though there are always exceptions. 1. How much can you afford? Work with a budget and remember it is more than just the alpacas. There are start-up costs to consider too. This will include providing shelter, water supply and f...

What is normal ? Everything has a cause When you first start with alpacas, it takes you a while to recognise what is normal. This is a learning opportunity - are youdoing the best for your alpacas in the best way? It is what we all aim for and learning what is normal, is a key part of achieving this. Everything your alpacas do has a reason behind it. In this episode, we consider this and particula...

SHOWNOTES Fibre is the prime product from alpacas. Beautiful in its native form as fleece it is truly beautiful when turned into fibre that is processed and used for alpaca products. Bridget Tibbs-Hamilton of Cotswold loves fibre and all things related to it. A spinner from days before alpacas, she discovered it and fell in love. She and her husband James now run Cotswold Alpacas and major on prod...

Brian Schieber began farming in 2001 and was involved with brokering, breeding, shearing and boarded animals, plus working with fleece. Realising some of the visitors to his farm were more interested as 'tourists' to visit the cute cuddly animals, rather than as potential owners, he began to find and stock appropriate merchandise that could be sold in his farm shop. Over time this developed into a...

The watchers become the watched. In this episode I share a few stories that illustrate how alpacas pay close attention to us and if we do the same we can let them teach us where we are going wrong and how we can improve as we interact with them. What is your greatest lesson an alpaca has taught you? Let me know through by sending me a voice message using the button on the website or here: Send me...

We ran our first Farm Open Day a few weeks after we had our alpacas arrive. Our faithful friends were interested in seeing them and we were happy to share our delightful new arrivals. We have learnt a lot over the years - mostly how to do it better - here Steve Heatherington shares some of that hard-won experience to hopefully help you get a good start, if you are thinking of having your own Open...

There are many things that can produce that "oh I wish I had one of those!" For me, that includes a good barn - and sometimes flat fields. What might catch your attention and produce that response? Here I share some musings on the theme of barns and how we might use them. An overhang to the roof can be really nice, creating a dry shelter outside area that alpacas will just love and make use of. en...

What do people see when they look at an alpaca? What do you see? Some see a strange alien creature; some see a pet; a fibre producer - or cloud on legs; others see a potential show champion. I see fascinating friends. Take a closer look and you will be rewarded. Look in the eyes, check what is happening with the ears and nose. The feet and body position and tail all communicate. Links Vets 24-7 cl...

CONFIDENT OWNERS What is confidence and how do we get it? Confidence will allow you to get started, overcoming inertia. Know-how; Know-what; Know-why. Alpaca owners are life-long learners. It is OK to question. Five confidence builders: Courses Books Internet Local Groups Community FULFILLED OWNERS Movement from… to… Think back to what attracted you to alpacas originally. Capture it again and purs...

I hope your summer is progressing nicely and the hot weather is being okay for you. My alpacas seem to be spending a lot of time in the stable in the cool – and I like that idea myself. If you’re a regular listener, you will know we are doing a shorter format for the summer. In this episode, I want to share some thoughts about something that is at the heart of Alpaca Tribe, Alpaca Tribe is for alp...

It can be difficult to choose the right animals and remember in a way you are buying the breeder too - at least their support and knowledge to help you as you start on an alpaca journey. Be hungry to learn and keep watching your new charges as they teach you. Hermione; Nicola; Lalana; Juno and Scylla. We took a while to narrow down on our final selection but got there in the end and have had no re...

Show Notes Cria birthing is one of my favourite times of the year. It also comes with a frisson of both excitement and anxiety. Familiarity with numbers of births can help reduce the anxiety but at least for me doesn't lessen the excitement. As you wait for the expected - active inactivity - it is a lovely time for herd watching. Alpacas can be great time wasters. If you are in the middle of cria-...

What have I learned? Millie - to lead, you don't always have to know where you are going. Sometimes it is just enough to step up and be the leader that you are. Megan - make good friends, you are going to need them, and they will need you. There is only one Megan; there is only one you Mair - As important as it is, don’t always put food (or your feet) first. Know what is important and stick to it....

6 months of weekly episodes. You will have your own favourites but here are some of the bits I really liked. This time we consider getting to know your alpacas and making amazing things with the fleece - small and large scale. With time stamped links to the episode the featured guests first appeared on. Time stamp Guest Episode 00:51 Rowan Flindall-Shayle Episode 2 02:04 Victoria Barrett – new own...

Many voices sharing their passion for alpacas. Having been captivated and learning to be more confident in keeping, handling and living with their alpacas. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Continuing the discussion with Jenny MacHarg we talk about learning with and from your alpacas and the most important piece of equipment on your farm. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Jenny MacHarg talks about the idyllic day she met her first alpacas - a herd in the Highlands of Scotland - a beautiful defining moment. Since starting with their first few, they have never stopped learning about the theory and more importantly the practice of how to care for alpacas. Their lives are now filled with their award winning herd and regular training courses, combined with their support...

Summary By definition, the unexpected is just that. However, we can both expect and prepare for it as we care for our alpacas. Expect the unexpected. A recent experience with an injured alpaca, where the fleece covered the injury which started attracting flies produced a sudden change. Everything seemed to be under control and then suddenly the vet was on the way to deal with an unknown but clearl...

Julia Berry and her husband started with 4 pregnant female alpacas and now have a herd of 23. Not completely satisfied with the results of someone else spinning her fleece into yarn, Julia decided to learn how to do it herself. She has always loved crafting and delights in the soft buttery feel of alpaca fleece as it is being worked. People sometimes reject alpaca fleece as unsuitable for their ne...

Show Notes Join Steve & Sue Heatherington as they talk through five questions to help you prepare for shearing. When to shear? Are your fields clean? Is your equipment ready I have a shearer coming - what do I need to do? What am I going to use the fleece for? 1. When to shear At the right time. If you do it too early, the cold Spring nights can expose your alpacas, particularly if they are old or...

Victoria Barrett started 10 years ago with three pregnant female alpacas and now enjoys a herd approaching 50 (plus the five llamas!). But relax, you don't have to follow anyone else's journey, you can have you own. Considering what others have done can help you work out what is possible for you and also what you want to do. I hope this episode will do that for you. As well as thinking about how V...

Cotswold Alpacas http://www.cotswoldalpacas.co.uk/index.html Bridget Tibbs Cowley, Cheltenham Penrhallt Alpacas https://www.penrhalltalpacas.co.uk/ Hannah Williams Gower, Swansea Apple Cross Alpacas www.applecrossalpacas.co.uk Julie and Adam Berry Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire ###  Wonderwool Wales https://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/home.html A festival of Welsh wool and natural fibres Builth Wells...

Marta Kwasniewicz designs and produces beautiful jewellery with alpaca fibre using a range of techniques including Kumihimo the Japanese braiding technique. Originally from Poland but now living in Norfolk, Marta has developed a range of techniques that she applies to the design and production of jewellery made with alpaca fibre. The techniques include crocheting, tatting, needle felting and kumih...