We are well and truly into apple season now, I had another donor of apples last week unfortunately I think I might have explained how many apples alpaca eat, normally 1 large apple is enough treat for 8 alpacas, but I think my apple donor thought I meant 1 large apple each therefore I get through 8 a day – I now have enough apples to keep Tesco going for some considerable time. Maybe I just need to invest in an apple press, but the alpacas are enjoying the addition to breakfast.
We have had the vet out this month as well, poor Lucha went lame on a front leg. Unlike sheep, who seem to just fall over for the slightest ailment alpacas don’t show you they are ill / lame until they really can’t hide it any longer, this stems back to the basic instinct of a prey animal. On the alto plano the main predators are pumas, and they will always pick off the weakest – so no alpaca wants to show any sign of weakness if they can help it. I was pleased to hear nothing was broken and no sign of infection or cuts under the toes, so the vet guessed she had probably stepped into a rabbit hole and twisted something, a nice shot of anti-inflammatory and the following day she was skipping round the paddock as normal and first to the gate for breakfast.
I also travelled up to Ilfracombe to attend a “how to care for your alpaca” course. On arrival you need to go over a cattle grid, and you find yourself driving through herds of alpaca – I was very jealous, but they have a real farm with many acres which makes my couple of paddocks feel very small. Anyway, the course content included things I was familiar with, but it also covered common ailments, giving injections, pasture management and general handling. It also meant at 1 point I was surrounded by approximately 20 cria, which was heaven, and I did want to smuggle one or two home, but it would probably be seen as poor form.
I have started halter training little Fuego and we even managed to take her for a little walk with her mum, Coca, leading the way. Coca really is a delight to walk so I have high hopes for Fuego to follow in her mums’ footsteps.
It is also the season for trying to get extra Vitamin D into them, as high alto plano creatures they are exposed to high levels of sunshine and do suffer in our dark winters so the choice is either inject or try a squish a gooey paste into their mouths – which is the option I prefer. We are finally getting the hang of this, normally we have at least 1 spit it all back out (Jester) and 1 looking like they are wearing a fetching pink lipstick (Cusco), however this time all gloop seen to end up down the throats and none seemed overly stressed by the process, which is a definite win, win.
Finally I thought I would leave you with a picture what a contented alpaca (Polly) looks like – all it seems to take is a bit of sunshine to put a smile on her face.
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