Thanks to our farm sitter who helped little Andele through the Christmas period. When we returned he was up and about but still thin and not eating very much. His battery of blood and fecal tests all came up inconclusive. We did notice though that he was regularily eating hay but not fighting for the grain or alpaca mash. We even tried bottle feeding but there was limited response.
On the Sunday we moved him to the other crias which we had placed in the weaning pen. Last night I observed him eating grain and this morning eating the mash. Hopefully he has turned the corner and will start to recover and add weight to his thin frame.
What was originally wrong though is still a mystery.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Farm Sitter Blues
During our recent off-farm adventure our farm-sitter had some adventures of her own. She may be thinking of writing a new C&W song about her experiences. Here is an account of the happenings in her own words:
"From the 18th of December until the 4th of January I "Farm Sit" at Rocaroalpacas while the owners went on holidays. This was not the first time I "Sat the Farm" but I think it was the most interesting and eventful.
First a little male got sick and the vet had to be called in twice, this included me giving the little one a needle every morning for 4 days as part of his treatment. This was done with the help of a neighbor, who use to be a dairy farmer, so he was use to handling animals. Also had to borrow a heat lamp from another neighbor. The neighbors were really great, and told me I could call on them at any time. Thank goodness it was only those two times.
One other morning 4 of the alpacas got out of their pen, then out of the barn and onto the lawn. Quick thinking and I got them all back in. Lessons learned, do not leave the barn door open when you go in the barn and make sure the gate is securely shut and the two dogs who like to tease the cats do not jump on the gate.
I fed the herd, mucked out their pens, mixed feed, fed the two cats, fed the two dogs, walked the dogs, kept the wood fire going most of the time to make sure the house was cozy and did everything else involved in the business of farming.
The owners of Rocaroalpacas are very nice people to let me sit their farm while they go away. I am very greatful that they have the trust in me to do this job.
Did I enjoy my job? YES
Would I do it again? IN A HEARTBEAT
Farm Sitter"
"From the 18th of December until the 4th of January I "Farm Sit" at Rocaroalpacas while the owners went on holidays. This was not the first time I "Sat the Farm" but I think it was the most interesting and eventful.
First a little male got sick and the vet had to be called in twice, this included me giving the little one a needle every morning for 4 days as part of his treatment. This was done with the help of a neighbor, who use to be a dairy farmer, so he was use to handling animals. Also had to borrow a heat lamp from another neighbor. The neighbors were really great, and told me I could call on them at any time. Thank goodness it was only those two times.
One other morning 4 of the alpacas got out of their pen, then out of the barn and onto the lawn. Quick thinking and I got them all back in. Lessons learned, do not leave the barn door open when you go in the barn and make sure the gate is securely shut and the two dogs who like to tease the cats do not jump on the gate.
I fed the herd, mucked out their pens, mixed feed, fed the two cats, fed the two dogs, walked the dogs, kept the wood fire going most of the time to make sure the house was cozy and did everything else involved in the business of farming.
The owners of Rocaroalpacas are very nice people to let me sit their farm while they go away. I am very greatful that they have the trust in me to do this job.
Did I enjoy my job? YES
Would I do it again? IN A HEARTBEAT
Farm Sitter"
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