Sunday, September 28, 2008

Artic Blizzard & SweetNS


These two animals we have named using part of their fathers name plus sort of maintain our chocolate theme for this year. Artic Blizzard is son of Artic Ice and a Blizzard is a chocolate icecream treat at the Dairy Queen fastfood chain. SweetNS (pron. sweetness) is son of Sweet William and well chocolate is usually sweet (I know this is pushing it).

Cadence and Artic Blizzard



Our last two our from Aztec Alpacas near Okotoks/High River Alberta.
SweetNS is also at the right in the second picture. Cadence is intently watching our dogs on the other side of the fence.

Sedona and Oreo



Our final alpacas arrived on Thursday.


Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Take them in a Minivan they say

When we were researching alpacas one of the things we were told is that breeders often will take one or two alpacas in a minivan. Since we have not bought our trailer yet and had not been having any luck arranging a trailer we borrowed the neighbours van, took out the back seat and covered the floor with tarps.

Our first problem was that Wyonna did not want to go in the van. It took us an hour to get her inside despite the fact that her cria and Sweet Dreams were already inside. Finally in we then headoff on the hour and half drive to Berwick to another breeder where we were going to have Wyonna and Sweet Dreams bred. Wyonna not thrilled with this prospect decided that she was going to spit. And spit she did. The windows and the ceiling all got sprayed in the van. As we left at 730pm and now did not get home until midnight we still had the van to clean. So out came the steam cleaner, buckets and rags and we cleaned the back half of the van until 2am. I then returned the van at 6am before we left for work that day.

So bewarned, while the alpacas fit in the van, they may not behave.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Cria at 8 weeks old


Here are the first 3 born at our property just before Canada Day. All pushing 45 - 50 pounds. Sweet Dreams and Karmelita are also in the picture.

Wyonna Peaking


While Wyonna is not our most attractive alpaca she is our herd mother and sometimes does create a fun shot like this one.

Alpacas using the pool




SweetNS - the newest cria

One Day old
About a week old.

About an hour old and on his feet.

Hummingbirds


Just for a change of pictures. Here are a bunch of Ruby throated hummingbirds at one of our feeders. My best onetime count this summer was 16 between two feeders. Expect there were a few more around.

Mating Process


One of the biggest challanges of breeding alpacas is recognizing the reactions of the female to a male. Based on her reactions when you tease her with a stud she is still open and ready to be impregnated or she spits off the male indicating she is already pregnant. So far we have not had much spitting going on so we will send to of our females to be bred by another breeder. Attached is Perilli have some fun with Karmelita.