Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Show success
We are home safe and sound after a long trip for both alpacas and humans. The Alpaca Ontario show was a success again this year with Oreo Ben taking the Black Male Huacaya Colour Champion for the second year in a row. Toblerone took a first in his class, Blizzard and Bacio were each awarded second place in their respective classes. Now to prepare for the Mayflower Show in PEI May 7 and then shearing day.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Final preparations
Today I am working on the final prep for our departure to the show in Ontario. It is drizzly outside and the wee ones are pretty damp so they will be spending the day inside in hopes they will dry off a bit. To give the show-goers a little more room in their section of the barn, I put the two of the group who are not attending the show in with the moms. There was much curiosity on the part of the moms with the new additions to their herd, and the four left behind were quite concerned at the loss of their pen-mates.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The big trip
We are in full swing with preparations for the long road trip to the show in Ontario.
Last year I had the help of a wonderful wwoofer, but I'm not so lucky this time around.
The straw and hay are in the truck and the alpacas have been in the trailer a couple of times.
This week I have to seriously get the rest of the prep work done or I'm not going anywhere...so much to do.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Spring must be here.
This morning after breakfast the girls traveled single file across the pasture to their favourite summer hang-out. A sure sign that spring is here!
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Rodeo Part 2
Today marked the first day of lead training for the Rocaro cria, after having the month of January lesson free.
It was a warm day, the kind where you don't have to bundle up or wear gloves. It's icy outside so the first session is in the barn. Normally there are two people working on lead training so the whole group can go together at first...safety in numbers from an alpaca point of view.
This is not the case today as I am here alone. I managed to get halters on and everyone tied without trouble. Then the fun begins.
It made sense to take two cria along with Andele for the first lesson because Andele, age 2, is already lead trained and the non-trained alpacas should follow along. Step one is get the girls out of the barn so I don't have a repeat of The Rodeo. Accomplished.
I then get Andele in hand along with two others and head for the door. Andele follows well, however the other two are having nothing to do with this. A little alpaca is surprisingly strong when leaning backwards with front feet splayed and determined not to move. Hmm, I have no one to get behind and give them a shove. Somehow I manage to keep the leads in front of Andele and reach behind the stubborn ones and provide some incentive. We make a tour around the barn and back home. The first lesson is always short.
Away we go with group two, Andele in the lead. Same situation however this time in my wisdom I wrap the excess leads around my hand. Or so I thought...really they were around my fingers. Fingers are not meant to bend in that direction! Thankfully nothing is broken.
Along with the commotion of trying to get the second group moving, the dogs caught a glimpse of Tab the barn cat prowling the barn near the gate, right under the dog's nose. Of course this is too much for a dog to ignore and the barking and leaping on the gate commences. Naturally the gate flings open, the cat disappears and the dogs bound through and towards the cria who have just stepped past the door.
Panicked cria; once again this is not how fingers bend. There is nowhere handy to tie the alpacas while I get rid of the dogs & shut the gate. Arrgh!
Eventually everyone had their lesson, and I can't wait to do it all again tomorrow.
It was a warm day, the kind where you don't have to bundle up or wear gloves. It's icy outside so the first session is in the barn. Normally there are two people working on lead training so the whole group can go together at first...safety in numbers from an alpaca point of view.
This is not the case today as I am here alone. I managed to get halters on and everyone tied without trouble. Then the fun begins.
It made sense to take two cria along with Andele for the first lesson because Andele, age 2, is already lead trained and the non-trained alpacas should follow along. Step one is get the girls out of the barn so I don't have a repeat of The Rodeo. Accomplished.
I then get Andele in hand along with two others and head for the door. Andele follows well, however the other two are having nothing to do with this. A little alpaca is surprisingly strong when leaning backwards with front feet splayed and determined not to move. Hmm, I have no one to get behind and give them a shove. Somehow I manage to keep the leads in front of Andele and reach behind the stubborn ones and provide some incentive. We make a tour around the barn and back home. The first lesson is always short.
Away we go with group two, Andele in the lead. Same situation however this time in my wisdom I wrap the excess leads around my hand. Or so I thought...really they were around my fingers. Fingers are not meant to bend in that direction! Thankfully nothing is broken.
Along with the commotion of trying to get the second group moving, the dogs caught a glimpse of Tab the barn cat prowling the barn near the gate, right under the dog's nose. Of course this is too much for a dog to ignore and the barking and leaping on the gate commences. Naturally the gate flings open, the cat disappears and the dogs bound through and towards the cria who have just stepped past the door.
Panicked cria; once again this is not how fingers bend. There is nowhere handy to tie the alpacas while I get rid of the dogs & shut the gate. Arrgh!
Eventually everyone had their lesson, and I can't wait to do it all again tomorrow.
The Rodeo
A couple of days ago I was doing evening chores as usual. Things were still frozen tighter than a cannon ball, including the door that separates the cria from the moms. The door being frozen is not a big deal, it simply stays shut for short times while hauling water & hay.
As usual, I didn't latch the door. Well, along came a huge gust of wind through the barn and blew the door wide open, with me nowhere in sight.
So the wee ones took advantage of the situation and wandered over to see their moms. Now this is not cause for concern however Andele, a teen age male is also living with the little ones. Being a bundle of raging hormones Andele wasted no time making his way to the girls of his age. He's not really old enough to do any damage (he thinks he is) but we don't want to take any chances.
I start to herd him around to the open door to his residence and away from the ladies, but on the way he ducks through the door to the pasture that is frozen open. Around we go in knee deep snow, Andele much more agile than myself. Finally I get him back in the barn and the outside door blocked off. Around the barn we go, all the while the girls providing distraction for the young man. At one point someone kicked open the gate to the main barn area. The dogs delighted in this new development and added to the confusion by barking and trying to join the chase.
Eventually Andele is back where he belongs and the door latched. Training for the cria is to begin in a week, so I need to get 5 cria back to their home.
One at a time, I manage to herd them towards the latched door, however keeping a hold on them and trying to get to the hook on the opposite side of the door and get it open is nothing short of a challenge.
After an hour and a bit all was back to normal.
As usual, I didn't latch the door. Well, along came a huge gust of wind through the barn and blew the door wide open, with me nowhere in sight.
So the wee ones took advantage of the situation and wandered over to see their moms. Now this is not cause for concern however Andele, a teen age male is also living with the little ones. Being a bundle of raging hormones Andele wasted no time making his way to the girls of his age. He's not really old enough to do any damage (he thinks he is) but we don't want to take any chances.
I start to herd him around to the open door to his residence and away from the ladies, but on the way he ducks through the door to the pasture that is frozen open. Around we go in knee deep snow, Andele much more agile than myself. Finally I get him back in the barn and the outside door blocked off. Around the barn we go, all the while the girls providing distraction for the young man. At one point someone kicked open the gate to the main barn area. The dogs delighted in this new development and added to the confusion by barking and trying to join the chase.
Eventually Andele is back where he belongs and the door latched. Training for the cria is to begin in a week, so I need to get 5 cria back to their home.
One at a time, I manage to herd them towards the latched door, however keeping a hold on them and trying to get to the hook on the opposite side of the door and get it open is nothing short of a challenge.
After an hour and a bit all was back to normal.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Shearing 2011
Shearing day is confirmed for Saturday May 14. We usually get started at around 9am.
If you would like to volunteer let us know.
If you would like to volunteer let us know.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wasn't that a Party!
Winter is still fast upon us, and everyone is hunkered down therefore things are pretty quiet these days.
Although....when I arrived in the barn to do chores yesterday morning I found some very innocent looking alpaca faces standing amid a mess.
The hay boxes in both the male section and female sections of the bran had been turned upside down, the girls had knocked down a couple of railings and even the cat dish was on the floor.
Sometimes it just better not to know....
Although....when I arrived in the barn to do chores yesterday morning I found some very innocent looking alpaca faces standing amid a mess.
The hay boxes in both the male section and female sections of the bran had been turned upside down, the girls had knocked down a couple of railings and even the cat dish was on the floor.
Sometimes it just better not to know....
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Driving a Zamboni
We have been home from our southern escape for a couple of weeks now and winter has settled in full force.
Two of the three barn waterers are still frozen and there are mountains of snow everywhere.
This afternoon I was doing yet more snow clean-up in front of the barn. The tractor doesn't have chains on the tires, one of those fall jobs that didn't get done. With all the layers of snow and rain the area in front of the barn has become a skating rink.
The tractor slipped and skidded as I was blowing snow.
Who hasn't wanted to drive a zamboni?
Two of the three barn waterers are still frozen and there are mountains of snow everywhere.
This afternoon I was doing yet more snow clean-up in front of the barn. The tractor doesn't have chains on the tires, one of those fall jobs that didn't get done. With all the layers of snow and rain the area in front of the barn has become a skating rink.
The tractor slipped and skidded as I was blowing snow.
Who hasn't wanted to drive a zamboni?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Gettin' Outside
We had a couple of round hay bales delivered and strategically placed in the pastures. The critters are enjoying nibbling away at them and it encourages the animals to get outside.
At first they were only curious about what these incredible structures were but once I peeled away a layer of hay they were right at it.
At first they were only curious about what these incredible structures were but once I peeled away a layer of hay they were right at it.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
School days
This year's crop of cria seem to be particularly smart, they have learned to stand quietly while tied after only three lessons.
We are now working on manners; inspecting fibre, lifting feet, and checking teeth and under tails. These activities take a bit more convincing. Little Barolo makes all kinds of interesting camel noises in protest.
We are now working on manners; inspecting fibre, lifting feet, and checking teeth and under tails. These activities take a bit more convincing. Little Barolo makes all kinds of interesting camel noises in protest.
Friday, January 7, 2011
First Yarn
Well, I have started to learn to spin and what a hoot. Spinning takes a sense of rhythm and timing along with manual dexterity and coordination. All of which I do not possess.
Anyway I got through 3 skeins of hand dyed alpaca rovings...you can see the results.
My teacher is appalled to hear that I intend to sell my first efforts. Apparently first yarn is rare because the textures disappear as a spinner improves.
As I don't knit, I'm willing to let a knitter have the fun.
Yahoo! New doors.
Wonderful thanks to the guys who had a direct hand in our new doors.
Ted was instrumental in repairing the doors that took flight in the wind storm, installing new track and re-hanging them.
Don installed a man door in the front of the barn, alleviating the need to struggle of opening the big sliding doors each time we want to get into the barn.
As soon as warm weather arrives the paint brushes will be busy....
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Kindergarten starts again
With weaning complete, school starts again for the cria at Rocaro Alpacas.
Step one is catching each cria and introducing them to their new best friend the halter. If you are familiar with horse halters, cria halters are miniscule in comparison.
Most of the kids took well to the halters; Bartholomew made all kinds of noise and Bacio was none to patient while I found the buckle hole in all her fibre.
They were quick to run outside into the sun as soon as they were "dressed". The halters will stay on for a few days and then lead training begins.
Step one is catching each cria and introducing them to their new best friend the halter. If you are familiar with horse halters, cria halters are miniscule in comparison.
Most of the kids took well to the halters; Bartholomew made all kinds of noise and Bacio was none to patient while I found the buckle hole in all her fibre.
They were quick to run outside into the sun as soon as they were "dressed". The halters will stay on for a few days and then lead training begins.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Newspaper article
Check out the media page on our website for the latest media coverage of Rocaro Alpacas.
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