Cotswold Vale Alpacas

Decisions!! Decisions!!

2012-02-25T11:28:00.000Z

After the sad loss of Zeus our little suri boy and our little dog, midgey's emergency operation the last few weeks have been a lot quieter with very little out of the norm happening.

When we decided to go into breeding alpacas we decided to have both Huacaya and Suri Alpacas, and have been so pleased we did, many people are instantly attracted to Huacaya's due to their big soft fluffy appearance. But I have got to say the Suri's have definitely grown on me, they have a lot of character and its a wonderful sight to see a Suri in full fleece, especially when they run down the field and you see their beautiful fleece shimmer and sway in the movement like a silk curtain swaying in the wind, you have got to see it to appreciate it. And I have enjoyed spinning their fleece, it gives a fine, soft, silky yarn once spun up.

Now with our thoughts turning to spring, looking forward to the coming birthing season and the first matings of our yearlings, I must now decide on what direction of our Suri breeding programme must now take!!

It was not just the sadness of loosing Zeus we had to deal with but the loss of a possible future Stud with a new breeding line and gene pool! He was the result of the only outside mating we had done in 2010 and we were so pleased when he arrived, he was a lovely little man with a good Suri (Homozygous) phenotype conformation and it looked like he was developing a very pleasing fleece with lustrous fineness and a good growth of independently locked ringlet staples.

Our original Suri girls came from Moonsbrook Alpacas, who are based in West Sussex, the two girls we had purchased were already pregnant and after having their cria were sent back to Moonsbrook to be re-mated, they spent several months away, which I found very difficult and it was about a four hour journey away, so an eight hour round trip!!

So the following year I decided it was too much for the girls, their cria and myself to do the journey again to be re-mated, so we arranged to have a male on loan from Moonsbrook at home with us, this was far easier on us all and we were pleased with the stud "Cambridge Efron" who sire is the Champion "Accoyo Bulleyman".

Here is Efron in his 2nd year fleece, I don't have the best of cameras and its not easy to see the detail of his fleece's tight locke in a photo he has to be seen in person to appreciate his lovely fleece, with the same standard of locke not only on his saddle, but also carrying on down his neck, his legs and his forelock.

We had not considered purchasing a Suri stud, but when we were offered the chance to purchase Efron we thought it was a good idea, but like all breeders there comes a time when you have animals you will not be able to cover with particular studs due to being related!!

But we now have to make a decision!!

Efron has done a good job and we have been extremely pleased with the cria he has produced. Here are a couple of them.

Here is Maisey as a yearling, again with a good length growth and lustrous independent ringlet lockes, (again the photo does not catch the details of the locke and lustre)

Tiger Lilly @ 9 months

And two 2011 Cria

But we are now coming to the stage where we will have more females we CAN'T!! mate with him than those we can!! We were hoping that our little Zeus may have filled the gap next year, and was considering getting a couple of outside matings this year for the girls we can't mate with Efron (his daughters), but there seems to be a shortage of available stud males in our area!! I don't really want to travel too far again, especially if they don't fall pregnant first time!

So what to do?? I have been so pleased with what Efron has produced, but do I sell him and get a new stud with a completely new blood line?? Very hard when we know what he has produced, but no good if we can't use him on all our Suri girls!! I suppose this is a problem many breeders come across, at present we really don't have enough spare capital to invest in another stud male, so what to do?? Its a shame there isn't an exchange stud service.

Well we have a couple of months to decide before we need to get our young girls mated so we will have to give this matter some hard thinking about!!

Well that's it for now, the sun is shining outside and there are jobs I need to get on with, not least a check spit off to see how many girls are still pregnant after the winter and how many cria we can look forward to this year.

Midgey is Doing Well

2012-02-09T09:27:00.000Z

Well the last week has been a lot quieter and a lot less stressful than the previous weeks, Midgey is doing really well, she had her stitches out yesterday and all seems to be healing as it should be and I think she is enjoying being centre of attention, Although Tinky our cat is not too impressed she is invading her space!

All the alpacas are doing well, but it will be weaning time in a few weeks! Not a time I enjoy, but I don't know if we worry about it more than the alpacas do? And not sure if its better they can't see each other or not?

The Bg's are still naughty as ever, I have just had to get one of them out from inside the fencing around one of the young trees in the field, somehow they had managed to crawling under the stock fencing!! We get one out turn around and the other one is in there!! So we now need to put a rail around the bottom to stop them! otherwise we will not have a tree left!! Little monkeys.

Well it freezing here today, can't stay out for long before your fingers and toes start to freeze up! We are expecting snow tonight! just hope it doesn't stay for long and hope the spring hurries up and comes.

Midgey is Home

2012-01-31T10:35:00.000Z

Yesterday morning I got the phone call I had been waiting for from the vet to say Midgey could come home. I went to collect her at mid-day, she was pleased to see me and greeted me with her cuddly toy we had taken in to keep her company over the weekend. All seems to be well, she is still a little weak, but the vet thinks she will make a full recovery, which is brilliant.

But I did go into shock when they gave me the bill!! When we first went to the vets on Thursday after diagnosing what was wrong I told it would cost £480 for the operation and associated costs, but if there were any problems and she required further care and medication it would be closer to £650/£700. But the final bill was £888.61, my heart missed a beat and the reception could see the shock on my face! Oh dear!!

Midgey was very happy to be coming home and happily sat on the passenger seat next to me on the drive home, the other dogs were so happy to see her, all sniffing her all over and wagging their tails.

Still feeling very tired from the whole experience she settled into her bed in the mobile, the other girls not too impressed as they look through the patio dogs at her, but I tell them she needs her rest.

She slept most of the day, just waking for some tea and a call of nature out in the garden, again being fussed over by the other three dogs. She had a good night and happily trotted out for her call of nature this morning, she ate her breakfast, but wasn't too impressed with me stuffing her tablets down her throat, which she managed to sneak back out from the side of her mouth!! So I had to be clever and mix it in with some cat food, got ya!

Here she is in her bed, smiling at me, oh midgey we have missed that smile lol

Its very cold here today, and the fields are still white from the frost, so I think its a day in front of the telly knitting and staying warm for me and Midgey today.

I do love being able to sit and look out over the fields, we have had lots of bird visitors in the fields over the last week or so, including some Starlings, Fieldfares and Red-wings. With a couple of birds of prey, which I don't know what they are and just can't get close enough to get photos!

But I did manage to get a couple of the Red-wings.

They all seem to like the alpaca poo areas, there must be lots of juicy worms and bugs hiding under the alpaca poo.

So we are now on a positive note and are looking forward to the coming spring and cria births.

Looking Forward

2012-01-29T12:14:00.006Z

Many people may think it strange to be baring your soul to anyone who can surf the internet and read my blog, but I feel it helps me emotionally to write things down and I also think if it can help anyone else facing a similar situation, then it is not all in vain. It helps to share as it can be very lonely struggling through a situation whatever it maybe, and to have people comment and offer support can be very comforting.

Now its been an horrendous week and I shan't be sorry to see the end of it and the end of January!!

Its always sad to loose any animal, and I find it hard to accept the loss of our little Zeus, not only for the time I had spent nursing him over the last 3 1/2 weeks and getting to know him, but also for the fact it is a big loss to our herd!

Zeus had been sired by a stud from outside our herd, and we had high hopes of him becoming our next Suri Stud Male and bringing new blood into our herd. So this has been both a emotional and financial loss! We will now to need to rethink future breeding plans.

Along with the loss of Zeus we feared the loss of our beloved little Jack Russel dog, Midgey.

Midgey with Angel our German Shepherd with Milli sat behind.

Midgey unknown to us was suffering from closed "Pyometra" she had a serious infection in her womb, but we didn't know how seriously ill she was. Monday she was fine, but Tuesday she had gone off her food and seem depressed, but we put it down to the weather, she hates the winter and spends most of her time curled up alseep under her duvet. But knew things were more serious when she didn't want her evening gravy bone treats, she never turned her nose at these. Our dogs live in our tack room in the barn and have the run of the yard and gardens. Tony normally puts them to bed when he puts the BG's into their stable, I had mentioned Midgey didn't want her breakfast in the morning, but had been out a bit during the day, but he bought her into the mobile saying she had refused her gravy bones which was not like her at all! We decided to keep her in the mobile overnight to keep an eye on her, she quite happily settled into her box and went to sleep. The next day, (Wednesday the day we lost Zeus) she seemed more herself went out for a toilet, she had her breakfast and seemed ok.

We decided to bring her into the mobile again that evening to keep an eye on her, she seemed quite happy and even managed to pinch some of the cat food. But during the night she took a turn for the worst, she was sick but I put this down to the cat food being too rich for her, she also had a couple accidents on the floor, not like midgey at all.

In the morning she was very subdued and again vomited but this time it was clear sticky fluid. By the time we got her to the vet she was floppy and not responding much at all. The vet checked her and said she suspected the closed pyometra and scanned her to confirm this.

The vet said she was seriously ill and there was only really one course of action, she required a full hysterectomy, if she did not have this she would almost certainly die from poisoning. We sign the forms and said our goodbyes. It was back home for a long couple of hours while they operated. As with all operations there is a risk, even more so with an older animal who was seriously ill. My youngest daughter, Natalie was amazing, without her I don't know how I would of got through it.

A couple of hours later we had not heard anything, so I phoned the vets. She had come through the operation and was just coming around, so the first hurdle had been overcome, but they were concerned that she had flickering eyes which could indicate that the infection had started to spread into the rest of her body affecting her other organs. Her head was also falling to one side indicating there maybe some brain damage! Only time would tell and we would have to wait and see.

The next morning I phoned to see how she was, there had been very little change, she still had flickering eyes but she was still under sedation, that evening we went to see her and omg I wish I had not gone, our poor little dog just lay there not even recognized us, had I done the right thing? should I have just put her out of her misery. The vets assured us she was not in pain and was still under sedation, and we must give her time to recover. We went home and updated the family of the situation, we had made the decision if we did not see any signs of recovery by Monday we would make the heart breaking decision to have her put down.

It was a very difficult night and I had very little sleep, I got up as usually as there where all the other animals needing feeding, I was due to phone the vets at 9.30am to get an update, but at 8am my phone rang, I could see it was the vet phoning and my heart nearly stopped, thinking they were ringing with bad news. But I heard the words "we have some good news" midgey had made a good recovery during the night and had started eating her chicken and was moving around, all be it very wobbly but this was a big step and they were very pleased with her progress.

At 11am I went to visit her, what a difference, she was standing up, all be it very wobbly and she nuzzled me for a cuddle. Her head was still slightly to one side, but this was a huge improvement.

Again this morning(Sunday) the vet phoned with even better news, she was now eating proper dog food and has been out for a little walk. She has been taken of the drip and was now just on oral medication. They want to keep her in for the rest of the day but are sure she will be able to come home tomorrow.

So I am now trying to look forward to the new week and trying to put this awful week behind me.

I have always had bitches and never experienced anything like this, I now see why getting a bitch spayed at an early age is not just to stop unwanted pregnancies but also to prevent this awful thing "Pyometra". There are two types of pyometra - open and closed. Unfortunately midge had a closed one which means the cervix stays closed and the infection can not escape from the womb, if she had suffered the open one maybe we would have notice the problem sooner as she would have suffer from discharge and the infection wouldn't have built up so much and this can be treated with anti-biotics.

All un-spayed can be susceptible to this problem no matter what age, although it can be more common in older girls. So a very important lesson to us and anyone else who may read this blog - "Get Your Bitches Spayed" as early as you can. I wouldn't want to go through this again and I am sure you wouldn't want to either.

RIP Little Zeus

2012-01-26T19:23:00.000Z

Its been a very hard 24 hours, sadly last night Zeus lost his fight for life. Its been a very up and down three and half weeks, there were days when I though he was going to make it and days when I thought he wouldn't.

I think his mum knew his time was coming to an end, she never left his side all day. After watching him during the morning, I called them down for lunch early so I could check him out and give him a feed. I called and as usually the whole here came running and bronking down the field, except little Zeus who just stood at the top of the field. I fed everyone in the hope he would make his way down, but he didn't.

So I walked up the field to get him, he never moved until I go there, as I walked around the back of him to encourage to walk down the field and came face to face with his mum Emma, she had run all the way back up the field when she realised he had not come down. I walked behind them to encourage them to head for the barn which he didn't to seem to have any problems with.

I gave him his milk and checked him over, his ears felt very cold so I check his body that was also unusually cold, he had lost a fair bit of weight so would obviously find it difficult to keep warm,, I took his temperature it was 36.5 so not a good sign, the concern being hypothermia. So him and mum were put in a nice warm stable with a deep straw bed, I put another rug on him. He seemed quite happy and started to nibble at the nice pile of fresh hay.

Due to my concerns of hypothermia and dehydration, I got some boiled water and cooled it to body temperature and added some re-hydration powder and glucose, this would re-hydrate him and give him additional energy available to keep himself warm. He seemed quite happy and his temperature raised to 37 a bit more acceptable. I checked on him every hour through the afternoon/early evening, alternating between giving him his milk and fluids.

Around 7pm I went out and everyone looked like they had settled for the night in the barn and in the stable Zeus, Emma his mum and Chloe his sister were sat down, slowly chewing the cud. Nobody got up, having now got used to me popping in and out, I gave him some fluids and checked his temperature which had dropped a little so I popped a third rug on him.

8pm I went out and they were all still sat in the same spot, it had got colder so I pushed the straw up around Zeus to give him extra warmth and covered him with a horse rug, he was breathing a little bit heaver.

9pm I went back out and he had taken a very bad turn for the worst, he was on his side and was breathing very deep and shallow, I sat down beside him, stroking him and talking to him quietly and within ten minutes he slipped away.

Its been a hard few weeks, but I would not hesitate in doing it all again, we gave him every chance we could, but I think one of the factors against us was the weather! Its been up and down, maybe if this had happened in the summer we would have had more of a fighting chance. So sadly we say goodbye to Zeus it was nice to have know you the time you have been with us.

This morning, after a very sleepless night (which I will go into in a minute) I went out into the barn with a lump in my front and just had to check the stable where Zeus was, I don't know I just felt for a minute he may be sat there looking at me waiting for his milk, but obviously he wasn't. So with tears in my eyes I set about looking after the waiting dogs, alpacas, goats, horses and our barn cat.

After their breakfast, all the alpacas wandered out of the barn as usual, I fed the horses at the top field and came back down to tidy the barn and fill the hay racks, as I turn from the haystack with some hay I came face to face with Emma, she looked at me with her big eyes and hummed, I believe she was asking me where her baby was, I told her how sorry I was and that Zeus was no longer here, she wandered around the barn humming for a while then back out into the field. Tonight she came to me again and hummed, she stood looking at me for a second or two and then joined the rest eating the hay.

RIP Cotswold Vale Zeus

Now after a very upsetting evening, this carried on into the night, my little Jack Russell dog Midgey took a turn for the worst, which took me quite by surprise. She had been fine during the day, was eating and even had a little walk around the garden,

Late evening she was sick, I thought this was due to her pinching the cat food and being a bit too rich for her. But to cut a long story short, she became very ill and this morning we took her to the vets, and it turns out she had Pyometra, she under went an hysterectomy this afternoon and is recovery, we are unsure how much this has effected her and the next 12/24 hours will tell.

So I am now wishing the next two days away and hopefully will have my little faithful midgey back home where she belongs.

Does she know something we don't?

2012-01-25T11:20:00.000Z

Still can't work out whats going on with our little Zeus!! Yesterday seemed to be a good day, he grazed most of the day with the others and nibbled on the hay at tea-time, his poo is still a little hit and miss, not quite what it should be but has improved a lot since last week. So I felt happier with him last night.

This morning were on a downer again, there was nothing runny this morning on the poo spot in the barn, and when I watched him go outside it was only a small amount, not runny but not formed pellets! But he did seemed a bit quieter this morning, I gave him his milk/yogurt and checked his temperature which was 39 so seems to be normal for him.

He wandered off as normal with the herd to their usual starting point of the day and promptly sat down! with the binoculars I could see he was nibbling around him as seemed to be a routine with him now. So didn't worry too much, once I had finished clearing the barn I went back out to check on him. The rest of the herd had moved on up into the field by the road, again this is their usual routine.

But he was still sat in the same spot, which was unusual, he always kept up with the herd! But what was even more unusual was that his mum was still with him, and this is very unusual, she normally doesn't take much notice of him grazing with the herd and not usually taking much notice of where he is.

So I started to walk up to check on him, halfway up the field he spotted me and jumped up, mum moved on into the next field and he followed. He grazed for a few minutes and then sat down again.

Its not really much different from other days, so there is not much change in him, but I can't help worrying. Does him mum also have a feeling, does she sense something, does she know something I don't? Oh god I just wish I had a magic ball and could see exactly what is going on!!.

Along with Zeus I am now worrying about one of our jack russells, midgey is our oldest dog and she is about 12 years old. The last year or so she has slowed down a lot, not wanting to come up the fields with the others, and happy just to sleep most of the time. She hates the winter and almost goes into hibernation mode.

But she always rushes out with the others to get her breakfast, yesterday she was different, she didn't come out, I called her but she didn't come out, so I went to get her otherwise the others would eat all the meat and she would get none. I picked her up and put her down by her bowl, but she just walked away and got back under her duvet, very strange.

All the dogs live in our tack room in the barn, and it wasn't unusual for her to stayed snuggled under her big duvet during the winter, but when Tony goes out at night to put the to bed they all get some gravy bones as a treat before bedtime, they all love these especially midgey. But last night she didn't come out from under the duvet and didn't want her biscuit, Tony bought her into the mobile as he was worried about her, we decided to keep her in over night so got her a cosy box to sleep in.

Now normally if the dogs come into the mobile they head straight for the cats dishes to see what they can pinch, but she didn't even do that, she just sat in her bed and went back to sleep. This morning she has gone out for a toilet and did manage a little meat, but still seems to be a bit down. Her temperature is fine and she is drinking.

She has just been in season, so I am not sure if it is a bit of doggy pmt! so will see how she goes this morning and if not brighter will have to visit the vets.

Oh dear these animals we love them but oh boy do they worry us.

Little Zeus Update

2012-01-23T10:41:00.000Z

Well its been a week since my last poorly cria update. Just don't know where the times fly's to!!

He is still not quite right! After speaking to the Vet last week I did feel a bit more confident he was on the up and was very pleased with poo sample results. So felt it was just going to be time to build him back up.

But after feeling positive on Monday evening, Tuesday morning we were back on the roller-coaster again! I went out to feed on Tuesday morning, as I entered the barn I caught Zeus doing his business, but I was very dismayed to see it was extremely runny, not what it should be at all! I caught hold of him and checked under his tail, there was not much evidence of diarrhea, but as I had witnessed it I could not be any more certain that he had a problem.

I check his temperature and it was 39.5, so too high, he did have quite a thick rug on, and it was very mild, so I thought best thing would be was to take the rug off, continue with the morning chores until the vets opened (no point in phoning before they opened as would only get out-of-hours support and this seemed silly as it was less than an hour until they opened).

Before ringing the vet I checked his temperature and it had in fact gone back down to 39, so he had obviously got a little hot under his rug. After a chat with the vet who had seen him the previous week it was decided we would give him some more Lactosym and continue supplementing him with the yogurt/goats milk. In the hope we could settle his digestion system down and hopefully build up his strength.

Well he still seems to go up and down, some days he's up and feeding/grazing as much as everyone else, then there are other days, he seems to sit around a lot more. When he comes down into the barn with everyone, he is eating the pellets and nibbling at the hay. I have noticed when he does sit down, he chooses a spot with plenty of grass and seems to be nibbling around him while sat! I am not sure what to make of it!

It has been suggested that if I am not happy we could take him up to the Veterinary Training hospital for more in-depth investigations, but I am not sure if this is right or fair on the little man? I worry if he does go he wont come back!!

Why can't things be more clear cut, am I just being paranoid? oh why can't he just talk to me and tell me how he feels! so very frustrating!

Cria Latest Update

2012-01-16T19:51:00.000Z

Our little poorly Zeus is still not too well! After the treatment from our vet and several days of intensive care from me we did see an improvement towards the end of last week, he had started feeding quite regular from mum, was grazing and even eating hard food along with the rest of the herd. So it was very promising signs.

He still had his little coat on as he had been loosing some of his fleece! But over the weekend he has gone back down hill again!

I had stopped supplementing him with the extra goats milk and pro-biotic goats yogurt he was grazing the same amount as the rest of the herd and I saw him regularly feeding from mum, he had also started to fight and run away from me, so I felt it was a sure sign he was on the mend. Yesterday I noticed he was sitting down a bit more and sadly today he was again sitting the majority of the time, so at lunch time I decided to start supplementing again and gave him some more goats milk/yogurt, this seemed to give him a lift and he did graze a little, at tea time he had some milk and yogurt.

This evening I had a chat with our vet and he said all the herds poo samples showed very little worm problems and little Zeus showed no worms or cocci in his sample at all, so that was a good sign. So it was possible he may have had some worms and our worming session may have killed them off, the vet explain that sometime, especially with younger alpacas that if they did have worms and were wormed the dying worms can sometimes cause irritation within the gut causing colic pains, thus making the alpaca feel like not eating. He also said this could go on for up to three weeks.

On reflection this could be what has happen to little Zeus, so the plan will be to continue with milk and yogurt feeds along with some daily finadyne for pain relief, hoping he is relieved of pain and this will encourage him to eat, and the ultimate goal is to keep his digestion system working until he is feeling much better.

We were pleased with our poo samples results and although we had a very low worm count, and no signs of cocci or whipworms, the vet did say there were a lot of people finding whipworms causing a problem this year, probably due the mild winter. We really need a good few hard frosts to kill of the eggs to reduce the reinfection of the alpacas.

So I will continue to nurse him and with everything crossed, hope he will start picking up and continue to grow and thrive once more. We can do more and pray we can get him through this.

Cria Update

2012-01-10T11:22:00.000Z

Well its been a long couple of days, but fingers crossed things maybe looking up.

Further to my last blog I thought I would write an update on our poorly suri cria "Cotswold Vale Zeus". After his visit to the vets on Saturday, he didn't seem much better on Sunday. His temperature was ok (ish) but he was still sitting around all the time, moving only when the herd moved.

I had the feeling he was getting weaker so thought it might be due to lack of feeding, I had not seen him grazing at all or even attempt to feed from mum during the day (not sure what happened at night) so I offered him a bottle of goats milk, but he didn't want to take it! So I got some pro-biotic goats yogurt and syringed it into him. This seemed to spur him into seeking out mum's milk bar, he fed for a little while but mum got inpatient and walked away, he gave up and sat down again!! So I carried on giving him the yogurt through the syringe, hoping this would give him some strength and settle him tummy.

I didn't sleep much sunday night and was up very early on monday morning, I was dreading going out into the barn to see how he was, I was sure he wouldn't still be with us. But there he was sat next to his mum, but when I approached he didn't even get up! I gave him some more yogurt and check his temperature, it was 39.3, getting higher! I had also not seen him go to toilet, so gave him a little warm soapy water up his bottom (I really needed to get a poo sample) this seemed to work and he did pass a small poo which I promptly collect to take to the vet. He then followed his mum and the rest of the herd out into the field but then promptly sat down, I felt like he was giving up and felt so helpless!!

I phoned the vet at 8.30am (no point in ringing the out of hours vets) they told me to bring him up at 9.15am. The herd had followed their usual routine and had gone up to the top paddocks. I hadn't given them breakfast as I knew this would be the easiest way to get them all back down to the barn. I went out and called, they came charging down the field and into the barn, Zeus mum was there, but no Zeus and no sign of him! My heart sank, had we lost him? I ran up the field and as I neared the top paddock I could see a little bump in the grass! I called and to my great relief his head popped up and he promptly jumped up, realising everyone had left him he started back down the field to the barn.

My heart thumping from the stress and the run down the field (not getting any younger or fitter!!) I caught hold of him and popped him into the back of the 4 x 4 and off we went on the 25 minute drive to the vets (I decided to take him rather than wait for the vet as they couldn't get to me before early afternoon, and I wasn't sure he would last that long)

It was a different vet to the one I saw on Saturday, she had check his notes and we re-capped what was now happening. She checked his stomach which was still working too fast, his heart was now working a lot harder and under strain, and he was now dehydrated!!

We discussed the options, he could be admitted to the nearest teaching veterinary hospital, where they could re-hyrate him via drip etc or I could nurse him at home. I chose to nurse him at home, I felt it would be more stressful for him to be somewhere strange without his mum and the rest of the herd, and felt I probably wouldn't see him again.

The vet said she was certain it was a stomach problem, one of my concerns was coccidia! but she assured me it was highly unlikely as he would have severe diarrhea, and there was no signs of this at all. But it was good I had managed to get a poo sample. She did say it be possible it was the wormer we had given him the previous weekend and sometimes if they do have a worm burden it can upset the digestion system, but it was difficult to confirm this.

He was given more anti-biotic and armed with some Lectade to re-hydrate him, Lactosym to help balance his gut back out, Finadyne painkiller to help kill the stomach pains and a written list of how to nurse him, we drove back home.

I decided to put him, his mum and a couple of friends in the garden next to the mobile home, from here I could watch him more closely and it was easier to catch hold of him for his hourly treatment.

Here is is in the middle of his mum and Ispys.

I continued giving him fluid and milk/yogurt hourly alternating each time, little and often was the policy, he had his last feed at 9pm and I turned out the lights praying he would manage to get through the night.

Well this morning I went out into the barn, and there he was sat next to mum, but this time he saw me coming, jumped up and tried to get back out into the field, he was obviously feeling a bit better and had got fed up of me forcing him to drink! I gave him his milk/yogurt and water, and checked his temperature - its was 38.5, that was great. He then promptly went out to the poo pile with mum and did his business, a good sign things are still moving how they should, on checking it was a funny pale green colour, but that is only to be expected.

He followed the herd to the top paddocks where I was feeding hay to the horses and to my relief he started grazing along side mum, this was brilliant.

Here is Zeus grazing with his between his mum and his sister.

So fingers crossed he is on the right road back to health, I have watched him this morning from the window, he has his little yellow coat on so I can see him from a distance, and he is grazing and feeding from mum quite regular, although still sitting more than the others, but that is only to be expected.

It is still early days, but I will continue topping him up with milk and fluid to help him regain his strength. And will hope and pray he will make a full recovery. Sadly he is loosing some of his fleece, which is a sure indicator of illness, but who cares as long as he carries on improving.

Fingers crossed everyone.

Worried and Feel Helpless!

2012-01-08T09:51:00.000Z

I feel really helpless at the moment! have done what I can!

We have a poorly cria, not quite sure whats going on. Noticed him first thing yesterday morning sat in the middle of the field on his own while all the others had moved on up to the top paddock. I know occasionally we may have one not notice the herd move on as they are obviously sleeping happily.

So I watched from the window for 20 minutes and he still didn't move, he was sat up and his head moved every so often so I knew he wasn't dead!! I decided to walk up the field and check him, when I got a couple of feet away he did see me and jumped up, then walked off to join the rest of the herd.

I stood by the fence to just watch, he went over to the water trough and had quite a long drink then wandered off and sat back down!! It was early morning and a few of the cria were sat around so I though I would keep just my eye on him, but I did have that deep worry feeling in my tummy.

I watched from the window, and he sat a lot longer that the other cria, and when he did eventually get up he went back to the water trough, seemed to drink again for quite a while and then sat back down again! This was his routine for the rest of the morning.

I felt very uncomfortable about this and called them all down to the barn to feed, he did come down but was at the back of the herd. I checked him over, his condition seem fine, took him temperature and it was 39.1 (a little high but not horrendous) I then checked mum and she had loads of milk (probably a bit too much giving me the impression he had not fed for some time) this not necessarily being a major problem as he will be 6 months next week and not a small cria.

The girls enjoyed their extra meal and then went back out into the field, after going to the water trough yet again!! he followed the herd to the top and then promptly sat down again. After half an hour I couldn't bear it no more so phoned the vets.

Typrical I phoned half hour after they had closed for the day!! so got put through to the out of hours vets. The vet phoned me back and after a quick chat arranged to meet me at the surgery. So I popped in the back of the car and off we went.

The vet check him, his temperature was fine and all he could find was that his stomachs were working a bit faster than normal, so he said we would treat with pro-kolin and he would also give him antibiotics just in case their was an underlying infection he was fighting.

So why is his stomachs working faster? he said he could have eaten something that didn't agree with him. But I can't think of anything he would have eaten different, and they haven't changed fields for about a month! The only thing that we have done different is worming and AD&E injections last weekend, was it the worming? everyone seems perfectly ok!

He is doing the same this morning, he seems quite bright and strong, but how long can he go on like this? this is a new one on me! have I done what I can? I still feel helpless

The truth behind Alpaca guarding abilities

2012-01-04T18:07:00.000Z

I am sure as owners/breeders we all know the value of alpaca's as field guards, and I myself have witnessed my alpaca's gathering together and screech when someone unwelcome has entered their field. When the BG's arrived they screech on and off for a week!

I always know if there is someone unwelcome around as the girls heads will go up and usually someone will make the classical high pitch screech, I have even seen them gather together in a bunch and start marching towards whatever they find threatening. I know if someone is walking a dog along the lane, as again their heads will go up and they will stand staring until they have gone.

At the moment we seem to have quite a few foxes around, even in the daytime!! Just the other day I was at the top of the field feeding the boys and saw the girls charging up the field chasing what at first I thought was our cat (which I thought was very strange! as they are used to the cat and don't generally find the cat a threat) but as they got closer it turned out to be a fox and he was running for his life!! with the girls in hot pursuit, they only stopped when the fox jumped the fence into the next field. And even then some of the girl were still screeching and hanging around the fence where the fox had disappeared!

So I was interested in reading the following article. http://www.smallholder-agriculture.co.uk/articles/the-truth-behind-alpaca-guarding-abilities-73/

I also think its very interesting that they seem to know who is a threat and who is not, they get accustomed to family dogs and don't find them a threat.

Here is Ewen and Cosmo with our dogs, Ewen loves our dogs, and always comes over to see them.

I also remember reading a newspaper article about Prince Charles having four gelded alpacas guarding his lambs. I believe alpacas make excellent field guards and am happy to promote alpacas as field guards and It would be very interesting to hear about other peoples views and experience on this subject.

Three Lucky People

2012-01-03T08:17:00.001Z

Well its back to normal today (well hopefully! - awful weather to start with!!) Christmas and New Year celebrations behind us and everyone going back to normal working hours, we now look forward to what 2012 will bring.

As my previous post showed we had a very busy 2011, both down on the farm and in own family life.

We start the year with two lucky people/families joining our "Adopt an Alpaca" scheme and a lucky lady receiving a gift voucher for "Spinning Lessons". These lucky people have received our gift vouchers purchased from their loved ones for a Christmas Gift and a Birthday Gift (what a lovely gift to receive).

http://www.cotswoldvalealpacas.co.uk/specialgiftsforsale.html

Its lovely to be able to give people the chance to get involved with our alpacas, especially when they are not in a position to buy their own. And to teach someone the joy of producing something from their gorgeous fleece.

So what is in store for us this year? what are our aims for the year?

Carry on building our dream farm and business
have lots off healthy alpacas and cria running around our fields
arrange some experience/training days
another open day?
develop our alpaca products for sale
shearing
maybe show a couple of our alpacas??
find a nice stud for our two BG's and have some little baby pygmy goats running around the farm!
AND hopefully follow another one of my dreams - to breed quality German shepherds. Last year we bought Tia who has an outstanding family tree (so we need to get Tia hip scored first, and hopefully if they results are good start looking for a nice stud male for her)
Millie will probably have another litter of pups this year, as last year she was a fantastic mum and produced some fantastic little Jack Russell pups, who were much sought after
Kittens??

Just some of the things we are looking forward to and I am sure there will lots of other things in between!!

So looking forward, we look forward to the days getting longer, the spring to arrive and the sun to shine, along with all the new births excitably wait for!!

Here comes 2012!!!!!!

Well that's enough of sitting on the laptop (not literally) its now got light, its horrible out there! but can't put it off any longer, I must go a feed those hungry mouths they are waiting for their breakfast (lets hope I don't get blown away!!)

Bye for now

Goodbye 2011 & Hello 2012

2012-01-01T19:18:00.000Z

As we say goodbye to 2011 and hello to 2012 we reflect on what the last year has given us and what the new will hold.

We left 2010 and started 2011 in freezing temperatures with deep snow!

We had a very busy 2011 and I have done some photo collages to record it.

We had a new baby in the family, our gorgeous granddaughter, Ava Louise who was born at the end of 2010.

In March we celebrated our Grandson, Callum's 2nd Birthday

We had a wedding in April, my Son married his beautiful fiance, Hannah.

And we also had an engagement, our youngest daughter Natalie and her lovely boyfriend Don got engaged the weekend of the royal wedding and have set their wedding date for 2013 (a long way away, but I am sure if this year is anything to go by, the time will fly)

In May our gorgeous Granddaughter Ava Louise was christened.

During the Summer we had 12 gorgeous cria born, not all without drama, but happily all turned out well.

We also had puppies

And Kittens

AND not forgetting the arrival of the BG's, Ronnie and Roxy arrived with us in July and haven't stopped making us laugh, they are so cheeky and naughty!!

And we had a very successful first open day, raising £434 for our chosen charities - Cancer Research & Help for Heroes, we had a fantastic turnout and some very generous donations, as well as making some lovely new friends

Our gorgeous granddaughter Ava Louise celebrated her 1st Birthday

On the 21st December we celebrated our youngest daughters 21st Birthday, just don't know where those 21 years have gone.

And have ended our very busy year with a lovely family Christmas.

We have all suffered from the flu over Christmas/New Year, but seeing the kids faces on Christmas Day still made us smile

So much has happened, I hope I haven't missed anything!

This has been the major events in our lives, (I don;t think I have missed anything major!! hope not anyway, but a lot of things over a long time!! But in between this we having been running the smallholding, continuing to improve and build-up the farm, along with caring for all the animals, attending craft fayres, spinning, knitting etc, etc, etc

Wow even I didn't realize how busy we have been!!

So thank you and farewell to 2011 and hello 2012, I wonder what can we expect?

Its exciting looking forward to what the new year will bring.

I would like to wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR,

Wishing everyone Health, Wealth and lots & lots of happiness xx

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE XX

2011-12-24T18:54:00.000Z

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, may you eat, drink and be merry. And I hope you get everything you have wished for.

Love & Best wishes from all at Cotswold Vale Alpacas xx

Wealthy, Well Off, Rich ???

2011-12-17T16:06:00.000Z

How do you define being wealthy, well off, rich? well in our case it is not how much we have in the bank!! Because there is very little in there!!

Having sunk all our savings into living our dream, we feel we are well off in many other areas. Its not easy living in a mobile home with limited space, and many people said we had gone mad!! but the view from our window makes up for the loss of our marbles and lack of space. We have invested in our dreams as we didn't want to go to our graves thinking "If Only we had.........!!"

But we do feel we are "Well Off" - we are doing something we had dreamed of, we have lots of adoring animals (even if its their tummy's they loves us for) and most of all we have a close and loving family.

We have loving daughters, son, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, future son-in-law and two amazing/gorgeous grandchildren. (and that's just our little family unit) and then there is the rest of our family.

I think in a time which is extremely hard on finances we must all remember how lucky we are, that our love and our time is free to give. (yes I know that children don't see it that way, but one of the best gifts we can give them is to teach them the value of money, giving and receiving.)

And how can I forget my very favorite girls - The BG's - still as always making me smile.

Here is Roxy helping herself to Rica's hay, even though the hay racks are all full in the barn. She even caught hold of the hay net with her leg to stop it moving around, so clever never stop amazing me, so, so funny.

And here they are with Ewen one of our Stud Males.

And a big job we have been trying to get done for ages, when we design the barn I wanted both ends open, but didn't realise the builder was going to leave the opening so big! and we have the wind and rain blowing in, after a lot of talking and changing our minds, we finally decided we would drop the sheeting down and then put some covered gates so we could shut it in. is to fill in the end of the barn to stop the wind and rain blowing in. Here are photos of the first stages of dropping the sheeting (before and after)

Next stage will be the sheeted gates!

Busy Few Days

2011-12-11T21:31:00.001Z

Well I am back on the farm after a very busy few days!! I left my youngest daughter and husband in charge of all the animals and spent a couple of days with my eldest daughter and my gorgeous grandchildren : -)

Callum is 2years 9 mnths and Ava Lou was 1 years old yesterday (10th Dec)

So on Thursday it was off to buy Ava Lou's very first shoes, she has started to walk, just a few steps but is getting better everyday and soon will be running everywhere!!

Then on Friday it was Callum's pre-school Christmas party at soft play.

Here is Callum, Ava, Mummy and Cookie the Bear

Then Saturday was Ava Lou's first birthday

Here she is in her party dress with her big brother.

And the very proud Grandparents : -) xx

We are very proud of our gorgeous grandchildren, they make us smile, they make us laugh and light up our loves :-) xx

It was a very busy couple of days, but I loved every minute.

And got back home and all the animals had been well looked after and I don't even think they had missed me!

Scam Warning!! Please read and pass on

2011-12-08T07:07:00.000Z

Not a blog from me, just passing on someone elses experience to help STOP another SCAM!!

http://waitingforourdream.blogspot.com/2011/12/warning-warning-please-read.html

Please read and pass on where ever you can, lets stop these people taking advantage of hard work people trying to promote and build up a business.

Thanks

Ginnie

Busy Knitting

2011-12-01T17:13:00.000Z

I have got to say knitting wouldn't have been top of my list of things to do, but over the last year have surprised myself and managed to produce some quite nice stuff (even if I say it myself!) AND even managed to sell some of it as well (Bonus!!)

Well here is a few of my latest achievements

New Born Baby Hat, Mitten & Booties

And my favourite - little slippers

I quite enjoyed knitting the baby items, they didn't take too long and are so, so cute :-)

But my favourate of all the items I have made is my felted bags, I love doing these. They are easy to make and I always can't wait to see how they turn out, as they all turn out different and unique.

Well I am sure with the winter coming in fast! I will have lots of time to sit and knit. And gain lots more experience and hopefully produce lots more lovely items for gorgeous alpaca wool.

What a Difference Today!!

2011-11-30T10:18:00.000Z

What a difference today is from yesterday, horrendous wind and rain!! But today the mild weather is back with us its really mild and the sun is shinning, a huge difference from yesterday! The grass is still growing (although we don't have loads) you can tell its still coming as the Alpacas are eating less of the hay.

I have just moved them all around this morning to give them some more grass, they do love changing fields, and that will be the last of I see of them down in the main field until tea-time, can still see them but in the distance.

Coming to Hay!! hopefully with this prolonged fairly mild weather we won't be using as much, boy oh boy is it expensive!! I am paying double what I was 2/3 years ago!! And I am not sure if its my imagination but I think my small bales have shrunk!!! is it possible to change the size of bales you make!! ??

I know probably quite a dumb question. But I think its like everything these days somewhere along the line manufacturers manage to shrink the product and still make people think they are a getting a bargain (but in fact they are getting less for their money!!)

Example: Tin of Roses - I have an empty tin from last year (keeping doggy treats in) and the weight is 975g and I am sure I paid £5 for it. This year the tin holds 850g for £5 - so same price but less for your money!! (sorry I know Roses are a luxury item but its the only thing I have available to compare and prove my thinking)

And now to mobile phone bills! I thought if you signed up for a contract you were safe in the knowledge that the only additional charges would be if you overspend your minutes/text or phone chargeable numbers so that's down to you being careful. But on no we just got a text from Orange saying they are putting up our contract charge!! even though we still have a year to run on the contract. And you can't get out of it (its in the small print - and yes like everyone I didn't see that in the small print!!)

But back on a lighter note - our BG's lol still being naughty and still making me laugh :-)

Butter wouldn't melt! Ronnie & Roxy having a snooze.

Up to their old tricks "Oh dear!! caught on the roof again!!"

"Quick get down the stairs, mum is coming!" - too late she's got us on camera!

Naughty BG's still up to their naughty tricks and still making me laugh :-)

AD& E (confused!!)

2011-11-27T14:12:00.000Z

A question? Do you give AD & E to all alpacas? (Adult, weanlings & Cria) or is just the Cria who should have it?

I have been doing all of mine, but someone told me they only do their cria.

So what do I do? The bottle from the vet only gives me the amount for cria. Last year we used paste, but got to the end of December and sadly had a little female cria go down with rickets, even though I had been giving them the paste monthly since the end of September! So on the advice of the vet changed to injections.

So any info on who I give it to mostly gratefully recieved.

Thanks

Ginnie

Revamping out Website with a "Gifts for Sales" Page!

2011-11-24T14:46:00.000Z

I decided to have a computer day and I really don't know where today has gone!! It was about time to up-date our website and add some items for sale. I can't believe how long it is taking!! Still have quite a bit to do.

But here is a peek preview.

http://www.cotswoldvalealpacas.co.uk/specialgiftsforsale.html

I can't believe how mild the weather is, this time last year we were covered in loads of snow!!

November 2010

What a difference this year is!!

November 2011 - I know its a bit dark, but it was first thing this morning when the sun was beginning to rise, it hasn't stayed out all day but it was beautiful to see.

And I just have to put this picture on the blog, it was so funny.

This is two of our stud males, while I was feeding the horses the dogs were happily sat waiting for me when I turned around I caught Ewen chancing his luck and trying to mount Angel !! poor boy must be desperate and Angel wasn't too impressed either!

All the girls are now grazing down by the barn so I can see them through the window, and OMG I have just spotted a naughty weanling feeding from her mum!! Naughty, naughty girl, she has only been back in with mum for a few weeks and this is the first time I have seen this, I did think she was getting quite big! So don't know how long she has been doing it!!

This is mum's first cria so obviously don't know any better, mum is (or we hope she is still) pregnant and due to give birth early April, her condition seems ok, but what am I going to do? I don't have any other cria ready to be weaned, I can't put out with the other weanling because he is now out with yearlings (and I certainly can't put her out with them) oh what am I going to do?

Always something to worry about!

Help - Sales Advice Needed

2011-11-24T07:25:00.001Z

All is well with our animal family, everyone seems to be enjoying the mild weather, who would believe this time last year the snow was on its way (ooh hope I am not tempting fate there!! lovely as snow is, it does make life a lot harder both on the farm and out on the building site where Tony's works)

So to my blog title, I really need some sales advice, in my past life I was office bound, a financial / office manager. A wiz with a computer, and a fountain of knowledge and experience with word, excel, access etc and a head for figures. BUT SALES IS QUITE ALIEN TO ME!!

We made a huge change in our life's direction to follow our dream, sold our lovely comfy house and invested everything into Cotswold Vale Alpacas. Its been a bit of a roller coaster, not more so due to the recession, but wouldn't change our decision for anything, we didn't want to be one of those couples who said later on in life !If Only We Had!!!!!" with hind sight we may have changed some of the way we have done things but not the decision to breed Alpacas.

Tony's has carried on with his day job which has helped keep our heads above water, last year I was made redundant from my part-time job, which pushed me into working full-time with the Alpacas (which I love)

Having never run a smallholding I have learned loads, am very confident in caring for the Alpacas, proud of our healthy cria from this year and even more prouder of learning to spin & knit (getting better & better at both as time goes by) especially as I have always been a brain person not a hands on person!

Now for the help - Sales advice needed. How to advertise & sell some girls, how to market them & where? how do I decide who to sell!! I have never been a sales person and feel way out of my depth with this (I knew it was coming, but time has flown and it seems to have come around so quick!)

We have sold boys, (I really don't want to part with them!!) but I need to sell girls! Any help and advice would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

Where has the time gone!!

2011-11-18T20:08:00.001Z

It's been a long time since I have blogged!! 2 months!! where has the time gone?

All the animals (Alpacas, Dogs, Cats, Horses and Goats) are doing well, but I have lost count of how many animal mouths we are now feeding! But we love them all.

We did have a bit of a worry with Ronnie a couple of weeks ago, Ronnie is our little beige pygmy goat, she became very quite and didn't want to come out of the stable, which is certainly not normal! Normally the minute they hear the patio door open they both start calling to be let out, but it was funny they were both very quiet, they normally run out of the stable to get their breakfast. But Roxy came running out but Ronnie was sat in her bed (an old plastic dog basket with straw in, which they both love to sleep in). I went in and she got up but appeared to be a bit lame, I couldn't feel anything wrong, her leg wasn't swollen, there was no heat and she wasn't too worried when I moved it, so I put it down to a strain (which I am not surprised at,as they are both forever jumping in and out of the feed which are hanging on the hurdles (just to make sure we don't have any unwanted creatures getting into them) and I have even found them up in the hay racks!!

But thankfully within a couple of days she was walking a lot better, although she was still quite quiet, but now I can report that she is definitively back on form as you will see from the photo below.

Here they both are on top of the dogs kennel waiting for their tea, as you can see they have been very naughty by stripping the felt off the roof and pooing on it! Just can't keep them from jumping onto everything, I think they have springs on their legs!.

They are so, so funny and we love them to bits, during the day they have the full run of the barn, yard and field, if you go out they called to you, if you are in the barn they follow you around and if you ignore them they will pull at your trouser and push your legs, they love to be tickled and scratched, and even wag their little tails. They do so many things which make us laugh.

Here they are in what should be their tunnel, which they took apart!! But how can this not put a smile on your face?

The Alpacas and Goats get on well now, and just mingle in together, sharing food and hay. So here is a photo the girls waiting for their tea, its amazing they can all be at the top of the field when I go out to do the feeds, the goats hear the patio door open so start calling, the alpacas hear the goats calling and immediately come charging down the field and before I have even got over to the barn they are all queuing up for their tea. And as soon as the horses see the alpacas come down, they too are calling for their tea!!

Here are some of the girls already down in the barn. Come on Mum, where's our tea??

They are happy for me to get in amongst them to put the feed in the troughs, but I do sometimes get someone spit at the back of my head! But I do know its not aimed at me, but at each other tussling over who gets to the trough first, but try as I might I cannot get out there without them noticing, due to them noisy BG's (be some much easier to put the feed in the troughs without them all in there)

But they all seem to be very happy and well, if they are a bit dirty!!

Well hopefully if wont be as long until our next update!!

Bye for now.

Another Busy Couple of Days.

2011-09-18T19:55:00.000+01:00

The two suri weanlings seem to be very settled with their new paddock and routine, and aren't humming as much. And the two mums seem to have accepted their babies are gone and have gone back to grazing with the herd, thank goodness.

Tony, my husband and labourer!! has been very busy putting in some fencing to make a penning area around the barn so we can feed the girls and boys into the barn in different directions, which will be very useful and fenced off behind the barn to give us another little paddock when needed.

He has also been out doing a bit of grass harrowing, that's kept him busy until he goes back to his day job tomorrow, there is no peace for the wicked!

We have also done some nail clipping today, as some of the girls seemed to have grown a lot of nail since being done in May, can't believe how much, especially the Suri girls and a couple of the white ones. Will have to wait until next weekend to finish the rest off, as my back was hurting quite a bit with the bending over (oh dear I did feel my age today lol)

So its a nice sit down now with some supper and a nice glass of wine (medicinal of course for my back)

Well goodnight everyone

Ginnie

I Hate this Job!!

2011-09-16T19:06:00.002+01:00

No not my day job, looking after the alpacas, but the time you have to wean the cria from their mummies :-( it was time to weaned the two suri cria born in March. They are only just six months old, but they are getting very big and have I felt it was time to give the mums a break from feeding them, as they were beginning to loss a bit of condition.

So on Monday we moved them into the paddack along side the barn, with a couple of yearling girls they have got very close too and a couple of older girls to keep them company. The first couple of hours they didn't seem to notice the milk bar wasn't available, typical alpaca more interested in the grass in their new paddock. But then disaster struck one of them spotted their mum up the main field and tried to get through the stock fencing!! and got a little bit stuck, luckly I had been watching them from the window ( I love the way we have positioned the mobile, we can observe all the paddocks from the windows - I am glad we put a lot of though into how to position the mobile)

So I quickly went out and managed to free his head, he just couldnt work out if he put his head to the side he could get out. He wasn't too stressed as I caught him almnost in the act, but I'm not sure how he would have been left there for any length of time. Silly boy!!

So I decided it would be better to shut the gate to the paddock and restrict their access to the run into the barn for now and they seem to be very settled now without any more problems.

But sadly, although it seem the cria have setttled well, the mum's are not happy about the seperation at all :-( I feel so sad watching the two mum's hanging around the gate trying to get a glimpse of their babies, they know they are there but can't seem them, (good job they don't scream well whinny like horses do, its awful to hear and generally the kindest way to wean a foal is to take it completely away out of sight and sound as I have seen a mare jump several fences to get back to her foal!

But for these two poor mums, this being their first cria they obviously didn't understand.

Its been five days now and they are starting to move away for longer and longer periods, and they have gone back to being very attached to each other, so hopefully it wont be too long before they have forgotten their babies and can concentrate on grazing and gaining back some condition.

Apart from this little bit of sadness and little drama all is well at Cotswold Vale Alpacas

Bye for now

Ginnie

Debate!! Do we or dont we need to live on site with our Alpacas??

2011-09-14T10:58:00.001+01:00

I have a question for Alpaca breeders. I believe a new planning guidance document states that Alpaca breeders do not need to live on site in order to care for their animals?

I know from my experience where I stand on this. What do other breeders think, what is your experience? I would like to here boths side to this story.

Please let me know

Ginnie

Alpacas Won Hearts at Evesham Charity Gala Day

2011-09-10T13:53:00.002+01:00

We are famous (well just a little bit lol) last weekend we took the boys to a Charity Gala Day, they were very well behaved and met lots and lots of people who adored them.

It always makes you feel good to help raise funds for very worthy charities.

Click the link to see the newpaper article. Alpaca Won Hearts at Evesham Charity Gala Day

As for everyone else, they are all doing well, we have had a lovely lot of cria this year with some amazing colours and fleece. They all seem to be thriving and we hope this continues through the Autumn and fast approaching winter.

All females have been mated and are spitting off apart from Jaz who's baby is just 10 days old so has not been remated yet and then there is Toya who is spitting one week and then the following weeking sitting again!! She spat off last week so we will have to see if she repeats she cycle of spitting and sitting, if she sits again we will have to do something about it, as we are fast running out of time for mating this year.

Well I hate to say it, but it is now time to start preparing for the winter, the barn pens are coming on, having a lot more alpacas this year we have had to do some additional penning as we like to get all the alpacas down into the barn during the winter, we like to have the paddock around the barn accessable for them all to come and go as they please. Its been a bit a like a jigsaw puzzel adapting as we have gone along, but it all seems to working out quite well.

A big winter expense on the list is the Hay!! I cant believe how much it cost these days, last year we managed to cut some from our fields, but not this year, so we have to buy it all in. Yet again we are being told there is a shortage so the price will stay high!! But needs must, we have to make sure all the animals get fed during the winter.

Well thats it for now, must get on with some more knitting.

Bye for now.

Ginnie

Mixed Result Spit offs!!

2011-09-05T20:37:00.000+01:00

Now all the cria have arrived we have been concentrating on getting them all pregnant again, with mixed results. We had the usual spitting from some, the look!! from others, spitting and kicking and the please get me out of here reaction from the quieter ones. Thats was the huacaya girls.

And then we had Suri girls, we had a violent spitter, one that actually saw me coming to get her and she jumped the gate to get away!! And one that hasn't even been mating kicking and spitting for England - obviously not reading to get pregnant again just yet?? even though her cria is over 4 weeks old, we will just have to try her again next week.

Then we have Toya, the girl we just don't seem to be able to get three spit offs in a row?? We have never had a problem with her before and she is a definate sitter or spitter so usually makes it quite obvious if she is pregnant. She had a cria last year, but during the winter got ricketts (even though we had been giving her Ad&E vitamin paste from end of September on a monthly basis - but it appears she had either not been getting enough or not absorbing it) it also appeared that Toya had very little milk available, so we took over and fed by bottle. Toya had lost quite a bit of condition, so the Vet took poo and blood samples, but all came back fine.

In March I generally do spit offs with all the girls just to confirm who was or wasnt still pregnant just so we don't sit waiting for a cria when there is no cria there. Toya sat so it looks like she had absorbed or aborted sometime during the winter probably due to her loss of condition.

The vet recommended we left her for a couple of months and just mad sure she regained her condition, which is what we did. We first re-mated her at the end of June, all went well and she spat of the following week, then on the second week she sat!! She was remated, spat off the next week, then the second spit off she sat again!! We mated her again and she did the same. I spoke to the vet and he said we would need to take her to the surgery to have an internal scan (which I have got to say I am not too keen on doing, one because she doesnt travel too good and two after having a huge bill waiting to be paided from Dayna & Dexter, I really cant really afford another huge bill on top just at the moment!!)

So it appears that she is ovulating ok and the male is experienced so the question is?? does anyone have any experience of the same thing?? any advice would be most welcome.

Ginnie

Last Arrival for the Year

2011-09-01T19:10:00.000+01:00

Well again its has been a mad and busy week, just don't know where the time flys to!!

Our last cria of the year has arrive, not without drama I must add!! Jaz was not due until 14th September, but she caught me quite unawares. Tuesday I had visitors, friends from where I used to work had called over for a catch up on all the gossip. As it was pretty chilly we sat in the mobile, chatting and drinking coffee.

I can see the field from the window and as usual the alpacas had made their daily route around the field, passing by the window several times and all seem ok.

When my visitor left, I went out into the barn to check on the BG's to make sure they were ok, they were unusually quiet. But this time they were behaving and were having a snooze in the stable.

The girls had spotted me and charged down the field thinking it must be tea-time. I noticed two had stayed up at the top of the field, Dayna which was not unusual for her with her baby and Jaz, but there was another little cria up there! I took a quick head count and found that everyone else had come down to the barn, so I could only assume Jaz must have given birth without me even seeing.

I ran (well fast walked) up the field to check and yes indeed it was Jaz's little baby, who was up, dry and running after mum!. I managed to catch hold of him and to my dismay his tummy was covered in blood!! He was bleeding from his cord, I quickly carried him back to the barn so I could get a clip to clamp the cord and stop the bleeding. I could feel the blood soaking into my jeans and running down onto my foot.

I put him and mum into the pen then ran to the shed for the birthing box, dam!! I had not replaced the last clip (naughty, naughty!!) and in my panic couldn't remember where the bag of new clips were!!

I decided I needed to improvise until I could fine the cord clips, I quickly sterilised a peg from the washing line and attached this to stopped the flow of blood. I checked mum's milk, which was well and truly running, and stood back to watch him feed, which didn't take too long. I then went to find the clips, (as my brain had starting working and I remember where they were - funny how the brain freezes when your in a panic!!) I sterilise one and then replace the peg with it.

Phew that gave me quite a start!! What a way to end our birthing season!

But he is a strong little man, he doesn't look premature, his teeth are through, his legs are strong and he is feeding well.

So please meet the latest and last addition for this year, to the Cotswold Vale Alpaca herd, as yet does not have a name.

Here he is with Whitney who is having a good old sniff.

I am sad this years birthing season has ended, as it is always so exciting when you have a new arrival. But am also glad, because we have had our fair share of problems, thankfully all turning out well, but I believe only because I am here on site and am able to watch, observe and step in when needed.

Ginnie

I am horrified - Eating Alpaca!!

2011-08-26T17:16:00.000+01:00

Purely by accident I came across this article in Stoud News & Journal Local Company given a licence to Sell Alpaca Meat!! I am absolutely horrified!!

How could any alpaca breeder say there alpacas is not suitable for breeding and sell them to be slaughtered and sold for eating!!

One of the main reasons I went into breeding alpacas was the fact I didnt need to breed for slaughter!!

Busy, Busy, Busy and Time flys By!

2011-08-25T08:15:00.000+01:00

Another very busy week with very little time to stop and blog!

We had our very first Craft Fayre on Sunday with mixed results! For the very first time we took two of our boys out to meet the public and to sell some of our alpaca hand-made items.

We took Cosmo and Ewen who are two of our stud males, they were amazing and so well behaved, lots of people enjoyed getting up close and personal to the boys and enjoyed having a feel of their fleece.

There were lots of people enjoying a sunny day out, but not too many people buying, I did ok selling two of my felted bags and several smaller items, but my sister and many of the other stall holders didn't have many sales :-(

Here is a photo of Cosmo with one of his many admirers, Jayne is a very huge fan of Alpacas.

Our next trip out will be on 3rd September to a Charity Fun Day, so we are looking forward to this.

We had some lovely visitors yesterday who came along to meet the Alpacas and look at their fleece, I am sure they enjoyed their visit and went home with a gorgeous fleece, I know they will enjoy spinning it and make some lovely items from it. For more about their visit you can go to: Lucy 'in the Sky' - "A Real Alpaca Adventure" where Lucy has done a brilliant account with photos of their visit to Cotswold Vale Alpacas.

Well I must get back to work down on the Alpaca Farm so until next time, bye for now.

Ginnie :-)

Dexter update.

2011-08-18T16:24:00.002+01:00

It has been another very busy week or so!! But I can now report that our little Dexter is doing ok. After a few very hairy days, he has gone from strength to strength. He is now 11 days old and I feel a bit more confident in doing this update blog on him.

After two days of bottle feeding him and milking mum, on the third day we eventually managed to get him to understand where mummy's milk bar was.

His first two days were quite hairy!! He took the bottle well, but was not standing and moving around very much, so I needed to go out every hour to remind him to get up and move around. He was extremely down on his pasterns and it made him look like he was walking with great big hob nail boots on.

We had given him plasma and colosturum on his first day so we new he was covered from infection, but his temperature seemed to be going up and down, so after collecting anti-biotics from the vet he seemed to stabalise, unfortunately he then got diarrhea! now this could have been due to getting too much milk (as he did seem to take his bottle very well) or due to the antibiotics upsetting his natural bacteria within his gut, as anti-biotics kills good bacteria aswell as the bad ones!

So another visit to the vets to collect some Pro-Kolin + and some Lactosym Natural Live Symbiotic, both were to help settle everything down in the gut and help stop the trots the poor chap was suffering from.

We had kept him and mum in a pen in the field as mum was not easy to catch hold off when we needed to. On the third day he much stronger so I took the decision to stop bottle feeding him and see if we could encourage him to seek milk from mum, as I had been going out and feeding him every two hours he really didnt feel hungry and feel the need to seek milk from mum. (this was not an easy decision as I felt extremely mean doing it, but was ready to step in and feed him if he started to fade in anyway.)

We went out on the hour to milk mum a little into a bottle, we wiped milk around her teats so he would be able to smell it and then we gave him the bottle with mums milk, once he had the taste we then stood him in the right position.

After a couple of hours of doing this he was getting the idea and had started to seek out the milk bar, by lunch time he was feeding, but we still needed to go out and remind him to get up and move around.

By late afternoon he was feeding very well so I let them out into the field with the rest of the herd, this seem to encourage him to start moving a lot more, and by the evening he had start to have a little run around.

So here is our little Dexter. (sorry the photo quality is not too good)

Whitney and Vanilla Ice saying hello to Dexter.

He is a lovely chap and we can only hope he will carrying on get stronger and stronger.

Just one more baby due and that will be it for this year, which is alway sad, but will be a relief we know all the babies have arrived and are safe and thriving.

Ginnie

Another Worrying Time

2011-08-08T19:01:00.001+01:00

We had another birth yesterday, Emily gave birth to a little boy. This was Emily's first cria and she is not a very big girl, she had quite a hard time and was running out of energy, she was lay on her side pushing and pushing and in the end needed assistance to deliver his shoulders, with a pull while she contracted we managed to get the shoulders out and then with a final push he had arrived in this world.

He is lovely light fawn boy with the longest curliest fleece I have seen this year. Within 10 minutes he was sat up and look liked he was going to fine but that was as far as he was willing to go!!

Although Emily was 350 days and he weighted 8kg, he still appeared to be premature, his teeth have not come through yet, he had membrane still attached to his mouth and he had little flippers on his feet.

Emily is normally a real placid girl, but she had suddenly turned into a vicious monster, spitting and stamping, and charging with her teeth fully beared at anyone who attempted to approached her baby, this being alpaca or human.

So we stepped back and watched from afar, but after a hour we tried to encourange him to move, he did stand and walk for a minute, but promptly sat down again. He did eventually start to get up and move around, although in a very clumpsy way he looked like he had long boots on and found it difficult to walk, this was due to him being very down on his pasterns.

About 7pm he was over 5 hours old and still had not fed, or even attempted to feed, so I defrosted the plasma and gave him it in a bottle, which he happily drank, this perked him up a bit but at 9pm he still wasn't attempting to feed from mum, so I then gave him a bottle of milk.

Got up this morning not knowing what I would find, he was still with us, but still not feeding from mum.

So today I have taken over mums job with the bottle, he takes it well, but still doesnt get up for very long. The vet gave me antibiotic injections to give him to cover him for any other infections.

So please meet "Cotswold Vale Dexter"

I couldnt make up my mind if to blog about him, but I think he deserves a blog, we are doing all we can and at the end of the day mother nature will decide his fate (brave words I know, and I wont sleep much tonight and will not look forward to going out to the barn in the morning!)

Ginnie

Busy Time

2011-08-06T19:50:00.001+01:00

Not have had much time to blog this week, we have been very busy since my last blog (or RANT)and a lot has happened.

We have been busy head collar/Lead training the young boys from last year, especially Polo, Levi & Quartz who will be soon going off to their new home.

Their new owners are coming for a visit tonight and some training. They will be moving to their very nice new home next weekend.

We have also been busy with new arrivals, arriving at various times of the day from 7.55am in the morning to 7pm at night!!

First one of our Suri girls, Emma gave birth to a lovely fawn boy. Its was a early birth for us he arrived at 7.55am it was a classic birth and he was up and feeding very quickly. We were very pleased with his arrival as his sire was from outside our herd so this could possibily bring new blood to the girls if he carrys on how he has started, one word for him gorgeous.

Cotswold Vale Zeus

The next to give birth was Ipsy, she is our oldest girl and a bit of a grumpy old madame. She had been sitting around a lot during the day, but she had been doing this for days but she waited until 7pm to give birth, rather late for a birth!! She gave birth to a beautiful girl, the birth was fine, and the after birth followed straight after the cria, there was a lot of blood down her legs, being difficult to catch we needed to get her down to the barn to wash of the blood to stop the flys bothering her.

But she was not having any of it, it tooks us half an hour to get her down there!! we checked her teats for wax and she had plenty of milk, then washed her legs down. By this time is was after 8pm and she just wasnt interested in standing still for baby to feed, every time she found the right place ipsy would move, more interested in eating the grass in the pen, I can only assume she had been uncomfortable for a long time and was now very hungry. At nine she still wasnt letting her feed and I was getting concerned as the light was beginning to fade. So I decided to give the cria some plazma as I didnt feel she was going to get her colostrum.

We shut them in the barn and I just prayed that Ipsy would feed her, in the morning I let them out into the pen, the cria was very bright and I saw her feed a couple of time, so decided it would be safe to let them out into the field with the herd. They ran up the field to greet the rest of the herd, and she has gone from strength to strength. (again I thank goodness we are on site and were there for the birth, I'm not convinced she would have survived without our intervention.)

Cotswold Vale Amber

Then on 29th July 11 at 2.30 Beau deliver us a gorgeous little girl, I had been waiting in anticipation for this delivery. Beau had been mated with Efron our Suri Stud male and I had been hoping and praying for a little girl, well we were not disappointed, she is amazing, her coat is the colour of chestnut and I have never felt anything so soft and silky.

Although the delivery seemed to be a classic delivery, once born she really worried me, she was breathing but lay with her legs outstretched and she just shook from head to toe. She never wriggled or moved, just lay and shook!

I gave her a good rub with a towel, but still she never attempted to wriggle or sit up! I checked her temperature and it wasnt too bad at 37.6 I gave her some lamb start and I decided to carry her into the barn to get her out of the breeze and see if she warmed up a bit we would get moving.

After 45 minutes she still was still not trying to sit up, so I sat her up and surrounded her with straw to support her and keep her warm. After an hour still she just sat not moving, getting more and more concerned I called the vet, they told me I had done everything I could and if she wasn't up in half hour to try and hold her up and see if she would feed.

Half hour went by and all of a sudden she was up and moving, it was as if she had just woken up, she went from strength to strength was feeding and getting stronger on her feet, a couple of hours later I let them back out into the field and she hasn't looked back.Cotswold Vale Bella.

Cotswold Vale Bella

And finally on 5th August quite by surprise as she wasn't 335 days until the 10th Ana went into labour, I had been up the field to check on Emily who is now well over due, but she showed no sign of anything happening, so we did some more head collar training on the boys. This took about half hour, then on the way back to the mobile I noticed Ana going around in circles and there appeared to be something bulging out the back, I walked up the field and yes in deed she was in labour, within all of ten minutes she gave birth to a stunning little boy.

As yet we have not named him, but he is very strong, up and feeding within half hour and now is already running around the field with the rest of this year babies.

As yet I haven't managed to get a good picture of him yet, so this will come in a following blog.

Well that has been quite a week or more, we now have five boys and five girls born this year, and we are waiting on just two more.

Watch this space.

Ginnie

Sorry!! But I have got to have a rant!!

2011-07-24T19:54:00.000+01:00

Really sorry everyone, but I have just got to get this off my chest before I explode!!

Its nothing Alpacas based, but family and the UK system!!

We are a hard working family and do everything we can to be honest and pay our own way, but they system just smashes you in the teeth.

My husband and son are both bricklayers in the building trade, as everyone knows the recession has been hard on all fronts. Two and half years ago when they had very little work coming in my son and his partner Hannah took the hard decision to move out of their home and move in with Hannah's family and rent out the house so they could keep up with the morgage payments.

Their first tenants were very good, and caused no problems, but the second one has been a nightmare, she is behind on the rent, they have caused damage to the property, had the police called there and has had no respect at all the my sons home. Needless to say this person is a single mum on benefits and not a bloody care in the world. (I have to say I dont have a problem with people on benefits as many are in need of support, but some definatly take the system for a ride!!)

Anyway, my son and partner got married in April, and had decided they wanted to move back to their own home, they gave the tenant the offical 2 month notice last November, expecting to have the house back in Feb to give them time to get the house sorted ready for them to move back after the wedding.

She was due to move out on the 15th Feb, a few days before this they contacted her to arrange a date to do the house inventory, she informs them that she wasnt moving out, she had spoke to her housing officer and was told oh dont worry you dont have to move yet and it will take the landlords at least 2/3 months to get you out, they will have to got to court to get a possesion order!! Now this is the Council telling her this, never mind my son and his wife were going to be homeless themselves. Hannah contacted the council and they told her that thier tenant had only gone to see them on the 8th Feb to say she was going to be homeless and there was nothing they could do and suggested that my son took court action!! on hearing this Hannah said but what about us we are going to homeless in April they just replied do you both work, of course they work so were told the council could not help them!! and they would have to rent privatly themselves (but they have a house why shouldnt they have it back!!)

So my son had no option but to go to court and get an eviction order costing them £150!! Unfortunaetly although they had give her 2 months notice they had set it on the incorrect date and the court would not take action!! So they had to serve her 2 months notice again for the correct dates, wait for her to not get out!! which wow and behold she didnt go, then they went back to court to get the eviction order, to which they got.

She was to move out on the 28th July 11, great my son and his now new wife were looking forward to getting their home back. But yesterday Hannah phoned the tennat to arrange the date for the inventory only to be told - you guested it!! she is not moving out, she has again been told by her housing officer she will have a least another month!!, the landlord, my son will now have to go back to the court and pay £95 to get the bailiffs to evict her!!

After getting adivice from a solicitor they have been told oh yes this is normal, and the tennat will probably move out the day before the bailiffs are due so the bailiffs wont need to go, but my son has still had to pay out £95

I am so ANGRY, my son and his partner arew honest and hard working people, paying their taxes but they are the ones who are getting penalised!! The system is so wrong and so unfair!!

And people wonder why landlords wont take on people on benefits!! I now totally understand and would now say whatever you do dont take on a tenant who is on benefits!!

I think the laws protect the tenant, which I agree they need protecting, but what about the innocent landlords where's their protections??

Rant over!!

Ginnie

Another new arrival

2011-07-20T09:49:00.000+01:00

Well they are coming thick and fast now, yesterday we had another cria born, a lovely Big Brown Suri boy (10kg), mum Eydth was at 329 days, I know this is classed as early, but not for our Suri girls, in the last few years they have been giving birth around the 320 day mark.

It was a classic birth, at 9.30am I noticed Edyth was moving around the field from poo pile to poo pile, sitting down then getting back up. This went on for about about 30 mins, she is a very experience mum so I just observed from the mobile with the faithful binoculars.

Just after 10am, I could see the feet and nose so collected the birthing box and wandered up the field, by time I had got there he was already on the floor. I took the membrane away from his nose, checked his sex, teeth, mouth and rear end, then sprayed his cord. he was a little slow and wasnt wriggling much so I gave him a good rub with a towel and put a little rug on (it had started raining and was a bit breezy)

I decided to pick him up and bring him closer to the mobile, Edyth happily followed me down the field, I put him down and went back into the mobile to watch from the window.

Although he had sat up within 10 minutes, he was not making any attempt to stand, so after an hour I went out, gave him another good rub to warm him up, although his temperature was fine, I gave him a couple for pumps of Lamb start and within minutes he was up and trying to get his legs going in the right direction. At that point mum decided to take him back up the field to the rest of the herd, before she did I cleared her teats of wax and there was plenty of milk. So off they went to join the herd, placenta came away a hour later and he was already feeding well and skipping around the field.

So please meet our latest arrival, no name as yet, but looking for names beginning with Y.

And legs in action!!

Well thats six down (3 Girls, 3 boys) six to go.

Ginnie

Latest Arrival

2011-07-17T19:27:00.000+01:00

We had a new arrival today, not from a mum I have been expecting to give birth! About 10am I went out into the field to check on Ispy who I have been watching closely, expecting her to delivery any day now, she has been bulging out quite a bit, but she was fine, no signs of labour at all!! Then there are three others who I have also been keeping a close an eye on

But it was none of those!! While checking on the expected girls, I noticed Faith following me around and humming, very strange for faith as she is quite a shy girl and normal moves away when you go near her!

She was only at 327 days so as far as I was concerned should not be delivering just yet, this is also her first cria and to me she didnt look very big. (well what a surprise we were in for!!)

She didnt have any other signs except the humming, so I decided to watch from the mobile with the faithful binoculars as not to crowd her too much. She us up and down, going around and around and rolling. I still stayed watching from the mobile.

About 11.30 it looked like there was something poking out the back, so we collected the birthing box and wandered over. Yes there was something, but it was one leg!! on no alarm bells started to ring, we watch for as she pushed and pushed but nothing else appeared.

So I decided to have a check to see what was going on, at first I could only feel the one leg, so gently pushed it back in and then felt to see what else was there, I felt what seemed to be a nose, one leg and nothing else!! Next thing back out comes one leg and a nose. I had another feel, but could still not find the other leg!

So it was on the phone to another breeder for advice (have read all the books, but have no experience of this!) just as they answered the phone out popped the other leg, but it still didnt look quite right. But decided to give her a bit of time. She had lots of attempts to push further but nothing was happening.

So again I decided to step in and try to reposition the cria, by this time it was obvious the sack had broken and we could just see the cria was breathing. With a little manipulation I managed to get the legs in the correct position, but still she was struggling, she sat down and I gave her help by gently pulling when she had contractions, and a few pushes he was out and we could see why she was struggling he was huge, on weighing him he just over 9.5kg.

He certainly was a strong lad, within 5 minutes he was sat up and within half hour he was standing and searching for the milk bar.

Here is his first photos.

And his first steps out into the field.

He has had a really good afternoon, although it has been quite windy here with some heavy showers so has had a rug on, but he seems to be at the milk bar every 5 minutes, so fingers crossed he has his important colostrum.

I did have to seperate the herd though, as I caught one of yearling girls trying to feed from his mum!! And then the placenta split and only half broke away leaving a long peice hanging, which did eventually come away.

As yet he doesn't have a name, we are looking for names beginning with X, so any suggestions please let me know.

Ginnie

Cotswold Vale Alpacas Open Day - 10th July 2011

2011-07-17T11:12:00.000+01:00

We would like to thank everyone who made Cotswold Vale Alpacas Open Day such a success.

The weather was kind to us, we had lots and lots of visitors and best of all we made £434.71 for two very worthy causes (Cancer Research UK & Help for Heroes)

So a BIG, BIG thank you to everyone who helped with the organising and the running of the day, and a HUGE thank you all the lovely visitors who came to see all our lovely alpacas and generously made their donations.

Here are some lovely photos memories from the day.

We had a suggested name sheets for our new little female cria and the two naughty BG's (cant keep calling them the BG's)

So please meet.

Cotswold Vale "VANILLA ICE" - Vanilla was suggested by "Mel Wootton"

AND the two BG's - Please meet - Cotswold Vale "RONNIE"

And "Cotswold Vale "ROXY"

Thank you to "Helen Hope" from Cheltenham for suggesting Ronnie & Roxy.

So a huge thank you everyone from:

Ginnie & Tony and all the alpacas, horses & pgymy goats.

What a difference a day can make!

2011-07-14T12:27:00.006+01:00

After a very stressful 48 hours, I can say that little Whitney has picked up very well (although we are under no illusion that things can change very quickly) but fingers crossed we are on the right path to having a very happy and healthy cria.

After a very worrying day on Tuesday, Wednesday started off with me being very apprehensive to go into the barn and check on Dayna and her baby. But to my relief they were both fine.

After the vet had given her plasma directly into her stomach and antibiotics, I watch over her carefully for any side effects. But the afternoon went well and she seemed to feeding very regular and was bouncing around the pen (at once stage I got quite worried she wouldn't stop and would end up crashing in the fencing!! The vet said to top her up with a bottle a couple of times a day and keep an eye on her weight.

I had intended to keep her and mum in the barn overnight, but mum was getting very stressed about the whole thing of being penned away from the rest of the herd (although they were always in sight) So after a top up bottle I took the decision to let them back out into the field with the herd.

Well I have never seen an alpaca run up the field so fast, and little Whitney was right by her mums side all the way. It was time to get reacquainted with the rest of the herd. Little whitney seemed to be in her element, bouncing around the field with all the other youngsters following behind. This certainly looked a different cria to the day before!!

I spent a good hour watching over her, she was happy to have her freedom and returned several time to mum for some milk.

Again I went to bed worrying if she would be alright and if I had done the right thing letting them back out into the field.

Again I got up this morning wondering if everything was ok, I shouldn't have worried as she was fine, feeding and running around. She has been feeding regular all day and has been very active, she looks like a different cria.

So I feel a lot better going to bed tonight, although I wont be able to relax for quite a while, until I know she is growing and putting on weight like she should be doing.

But I have got to say, thank god we live on site, thank god I am able to sit and watch them which enables me to spot a problem early and take the steps to make it right. I am sure if I was not here, and just visited twice a day I would have missed her problems and we would have lost her.

Ginnie

What a Day!! and What a night!!

2011-07-13T06:35:00.008+01:00

Its been quite a roller-coaster 24 hours!! Little Whitney (and I really mean little!! born at just under 6.5kg and so tiny) has really had an up and down time.

Arriving in the world at 336 days we were assuming she would be ok, but it turns out she is definitively premature. The birth was quite a classic delivery with no obvious problems, she was quite lively, sat within ten minutes and walking at just over and hour old, she had started feeding fine and seemed to be ok.

But my gut feeling was she was heading for problems. I did make the decision to give her a bottle on Monday evening before I went to bed just to ensure she at least had something in her tummy over night.

Dreading getting up yesterday morning, I was up early to find she was up on her feet and seemed to be feeding well. But by late morning it was becoming obvious she was very tired and got up very little and seemed to be snoozing a lot more that I would like to see, I know the cria are usually quite sleepy for the first 12/24 hours, but she seem extra sleepy and when she did get up she didn't attempt to feed much.

By early afternoon she didn't appear to be getting any better, and I hadn't seen her feed for several hours, so again I gave her a bottle, checking mum, we found she had plenty of milk so it wasn't that there was no milk available, it appeared she just didn't have the strength to feed, especially as she is so small and mum is big, she had to reach up a lot further to reach the milk bar (she is so tiny she can literally walk straight under mum without even touch her belly!!) And it always makes me wonder if sometimes after the strain of being born and they way they have to bend their head and necks to feed if it is sometime uncomfortable or painful for them to feed??

Well late afternoon after a quick chat for advice with a good alpaca friend, I phoned the Vet to get his opinion, from what I told him he said it sound like I was doing all I could, I am convinced (well as convinced as you can be!!) that she got her first important feeds from mum) but he did say sometimes when they are so tiny they don't absorb as much as they should, and the other option was to give her plazma to back her up, BUT I had committed the ultimate sin, I had no plazma available, it had been planned to be done but things kept getting in the way and we had left it too late!!

He told me to carry on feeding until she was strong enough to feed from mum, and he would come over first thing in the morning to check her and if need be he would give her a transfusion direct from Mum, although not the favored treatment it was an option if she was not picking up.

So I went out to give her a bottle, but was not happy, she kept flopping down as if she was dead!! (and as we all know this is a classic response for a cria when they are stressed) I was getting more and more uneasy about it, she also sound like her breathing was laboured. So straight on the phone to the vet and he came out within the hour.

He confirmed she was premature, but he could find no problem with her heart and lungs, and her temperature was fine, she was actually a lot livelier that he had expected she would be (had I over reacted??), he said it was likely that she was having problems feeding because she was so tiny and didn't have the strength to stretch up to feed.

So I was to carry on feeding her over night, we took blood from the big boys to get some plazma spun up (luckily we have some-one that could do it only 30 minutes away and he kindly agreed to do it that evening)

So it was a quick dash over to get that done, then back to try and get two feeds into her before bedtime. It has not been easy getting the milk into her as she refuses to suck, and keeps playing dead!! but I did manage to get 150ml into her before bedtime.

I have got to say I went to bed, dreading the long night and with the fear to what I would get up to. After a very fretful night with very little sleep, I got up just before 5am made up a bottle and headed for the barn, dreading what I may find.

But to my great relief, both mum and baby were sat side by side and looked quite happy. I managed to get 50ml into her and she did actually start sucking, but not for long. So I decided to let them out into the pen near the barn, she actually seem quite lively and had a little run around. And then took the last 50ml of milk.

So the vet will come today and give her the plazma as a precaution as he said if she pulls through the next few days, there is a risk she could relapse in 10 days or so.

So its fingers crossed with lots of prayers that she will continue to get stronger and soon be back out in the herd very soon.

Ginnie

Meet Cotswold Vale Whitney

2011-07-12T07:02:00.005+01:00

Well we were up bright and early this morning, keen to check on little Whitney, well she was already up about in the field with her mum, so a heavy sign of relief. But I will be spending another day sat keeping a close eye on her to make sure she is feeding, peeing and pooing!!

Here is a couple of videos taken yesterday, just over an hour after her birth. Her first attempts to stand.

And her first steps and first attempts to feed, just over an hour after her birth.

She meets the little girl born on friday, wow you can see the difference in size Whitney was 6.5kg born and the other little (now named Cotswold Vale Vanilla Ice) was 9kg!! So funny as Dayna, Whitneys mum is far bigger than Pip Vanilla's mum!!

So hopefully a couple of days and we will get some nice video of these two little girls charging around the field together :-)

I have just seen her take a morning feed (thank goodness for binoculars) she is so small she has to stretch to reach and can walk straight under mum, but it appears she knows exactly where the milk bar is.

Ginnie

WELL what a couple of days!!!

2011-07-11T18:39:00.015+01:00

Yesterday was our very first ever open day, and wow did it go down well, we were lucky with the weather, it was a lovely calm sunny day and lucky with the visitors.

Saturday saw us putting up gazebos!! and hoping and praying they didn't blow away as we have had quite a bit of wind around here!!

Sunday found me awake at 4.30 with everything we had to do going through my mind, 6.30 I am waking my sister up with a text!! forgetting what time its was as I had been awake so long!! And then its all go for setting up, it was a lovely morning with the sun shinning down on us.

Ten o'clock family and friends begin to arrive to give us a helping hand, it was a real family affair :)

And even before the 12 o'clock open time we had cars driving into the field!! and it never stopped all afternoon with a steady stream of visitors coming in.

Everyone had their jobs, and mine was talking, and talking and talking alpacas, it was never ending, everyone was so interested in the alpacas and the newest member of the herd was going down a storm.

We are so pleased and happy to announce we made £434.71 for Cancer Research UK and Help for Heroes. I myself sold £163 worth of alpacas items (well I didn't actually do the selling, my very special alpaca friend Shani from Peopleton Brook Alpacas looked after my table of items for sale) and my Sister also had a stall selling her beautiful hand-made cards, jewelery and bunting also sold £87 worth of stock.

So its a big thank you to all my family, friends and of course all the visitors for making our very first open day a roaring success :) (no photos yet, will post some as soon as we get them )

So after all the excitement of the open day, this morning I was feeling a little tired and jaded, so was looking forward to a bit slower day, BUT that wasn't to be, after doing a bit of box sorting, I had just sat down with a cup of tea and some toast (late breakfast) when I noticed Dayna one of our maiden girls looking rather uncomfortable, walking in circles, sitting down then getting back up, so out come the binoculars, and yes she was in labour. So out comes the birthing box and a wander over to get a closer look, not getting too close as she is a rather shy girl I could see she was having contractions but nothing was showing, so back to watching from the mobile window to give her some peace and quite.

She was up and down, and went around and around for about another 20 minutes, and then the nose and feet appear, it the perfect birth position. But I have got to say in all the births I have witnessed I have never seen one like this!!

She looked like she was going to lie down, but instead she just went down on her knees with her bottom in the air and pushed, and pushed (it look so funny I couldn't believe it) the cria came out to the shoulders

Then she decided to lie down and finally gave birth while lying down. And it was a little GIRL brilliant, after letting her wriggle around for a bit, I stepped in and sprayed her cord and weight her (omg she is tiny and only 6.5kg, bit of a surprise because mum is quite big.)

She is such a cute little thing, very special because she is born from a Cotswold Vale Alpaca, who was one our very first alpacas born pre-fixed to Cotswold Vale, and she will be called Whitney, which was my new daughter-in-laws maiden name.

So meet Cotswold Vale Whitney, from Cotswold Vale Dayna.

with my youngest daughter Natalie, who is alway a brilliant help with the Alpacas.

She is little and not as lively as the little girl born on Friday, she seems to be feeding, but its hard as mum is a little worried so when you go near and she moves away, and as she has light fawn around her mouth you cant tell if she has been getting any milk, we have check a couple of time mum has milk and there is plenty there but i did decided to give her an extra bit of help and given her a bottle of colostrum, But I have got to admit I am a little reluctant to go to bed tonight! But we have done all we can to ensure she has had the best start we can give her.

Ginnie

She has arrived

2011-07-09T20:11:00.004+01:00

Yes in the end Pip gave up and gave birth to a beautiful not so little girl (9kg which is a big one for Pip, her babies are normally quite small, like she is) Anyway after nearly a week of me following her around she finally went into labour (well the bit I caught) One minute she is grazing the next minute she wandered off away from the herd into the far corner and start to crouch down.

I watched from afar with the binoculars for about ten minutes when I could see a noise, but couldn't see any feet. So I decided to get a bit closer to find there was definitely feet there as well.

For the first time I have ever know, she spat at me!! Pip is one of our nicest kindest girls, so this took me quite by surprise. But then I have to admit that she usually manages to give birth without anyone ever seeing her, so this was a first for both of us!

She had to choose the windiest day we have had for ages, with heavy showers!! Baby came out quite quickly, wriggled at first, but didn't make much attempt to sit up, she seemed to be shivering quite a lot so I stepped in risking another spit attached, but Pip just sniffed me and let me carry on.

I gave her a good rub, to stimulate her and dry her off, but still after an hour she didn't want to sit up. I game her two pumps of the lamb start which seemed to give her a little boost, but still she didn't stay sat up for long.

It was very windy, so we made the decision to move them into the shelter of the barn, picking her up and walking towards the barn, Pip duly followed. Once out of the wind and in the shelter she seemed to pick up, so we left them alone for a while to get acquainted. On coming back I found sprawled out with all four legs going in different directions!! I picked her up and balanced her, she seemed keen to find the milk bar, and Pip being Pip let me guide her in for her first feed. Thank goodness!!

We left them in for a few hours and she seemed to feeding well, so it was time to let them out into the field.

Here is her first steps out in the wide world, as you will hear the wind was still quite high, but she was really enjoying her first run around. Only problem her rug wouldn't stay down, I hadn't hooked it under her tail!!.

So here's our new little princess. No name as yet we are on V, and are hoping our visitors to our open day tomorrow will be able to give us some ideas.

So her is little V just 4 hours old.

Aunty Dayna is very interested in this new little arrival.

I am now just hoping no-one else decides to give birth tomorrow at our Open Day, be nice for everyone else, but I think I may find it a bit too stressful!!

Will up-date on how the open day goes in the very near future.

Ginnie

No Babies today!!

2011-07-04T20:08:00.006+01:00

Well I was convinced that we would have at least one new arrival today, have a look at Pip's rear end, looks like its going to explode!!

Well I got prepared, got the birthing box all ready, and waited, and waited and waited!!!

But no one arrived! she just got back up and walked away with the rest of the herd (and the big bump had disappeared!! So I have been sat looking out the window all day, and going out every half hour to check on things, but still no baby. And she doesnt even look like she is in labour or at all uncomfortable.

Have just been back out to check her and she seems fine, so looks like no baby today, so fingers crossed it is tomorrow as I don't think that back end will take much more stretching without giving way!!

Such a shame as it has been a perfect day to be born, lovely sunny and warm. But I bet she will now give birth in the rain as that's what we are expecting tomorrow!!

Oh well they wont come until they are fully cooked.

Ginnie

No babies yet & Millies Puppies

2011-07-02T10:29:00.022+01:00

Well we are still waiting for an alpaca birth, we have several on the radar, and I think the big boys are sensing this as they have started to fight over who is getting closer to the fence (and the girls!!).

Would be great to have a few babies for visitors to see at our Open Day next week.

But even nicer if we have one today as it is my sisters birthday and I sure she would be so pleased to have one born on her birthday.

But we all know alpacas, and they wont come until they are properly cooked.

Millie and her pups are doing really well, they are very active and so, so noisy! but at least we know they are healthy.

She still wont let go of her cuddly toy though!! I take it out! she puts it back! lol

Well hopefully my next blog will be news of new arrivals (X fingers crossed X)

Ginnie

Naughty BG's

2011-06-29T21:32:00.003+01:00

Well I have just got to tell you about those naughty BG's, up to no good again!!

I went to put the dogs in the barn while I went shopping, something caught my eye up on the roof of our tack room!! It was the BG's!! they had heard me talking to the dogs and started calling. They had only escaped from the pen and gone up the stairs to the tack room roof!!

I didn't have chance to get a photo of them looking down at me, but did get them coming back down the stairs, like a pair of naughty children, calling to me!!

They are so funny they make me chuckle all the time. Wonder what they are going to get up to next??

The Naughty BG's (who still havn't got names and happily come to the call of Billie Billie lol

Ginnie

They have arrived!!!!

2011-06-29T19:30:00.007+01:00

Yes Millie's puppies have arrived (in the end) after a very fretful night followed by a fretful day the first little one entered the world at 15.40, Millie had not liked me moving even a couple of feet away from her and the minute I left the room she promptly jumped onto my sweatshirt!! She definitely wasn't going to use her whelping box, it was the settee or nothing, so out came all the old towel and the settee was covered by several layers!!. And that was me set for the day.

Late afternoon she started to have strong contractions (and just like when the alpacas are in labour everything goes through your head, is it ok? is it stuck? is it going to be alive? should I call the vet??!!! then after about 20 minutes the first one was born and it was a little boy.

Millie was the perfect new mum, licking and cleaning him, and chewing the cord and eating the placenta (yuk didn't like that bit!!) its amazing how they know what to do, the only problem was I had to keep an eye on her as she was getting a bit keen on chewing the cord and I knew if she chewed it too short it could cause a problem and maybe even infection. He was a strong little man and within minutes was making his way to the milky bar, finding it with no trouble at all (not like the frustrating time you have watching the cria trying to find the right place and at the same time as trying to manage to stand on its new wobbly legs!!)

She had about 40 minutes rest, again after about 20 minutes the next little one arrived another little boy. Which again she pay plenty of attention to and he was soon settled at the milky bar with his brother.

She seem to settle down and had a lovely happy proud look on her face. Was that it??

No, about two hours later it all started again and out popped a lovely little girl. Millie started licking, cleaning her and chewing away at the cord, I went to shout to my husband to tell him she had just had a little girl, less than a minute and disaster struck!! Millie had done exactly what I was worried about, she had chewed the cord too short and there was blood pumping out!! I shouted for my husband to come quick, he held the pup while I put some cotton around the cord trying to stop the bleeding, it was very difficult to tie the cotton around such a little cord and the puppy was wriggling around all the time, eventually I managed to tie the cord off and it seemed to do the trick. With a quick spray of antibiotic spray to stop infection and Millie doing any more chewing!! disaster was averted and all three pups were happily having their fill at the milky bar.

So here is proud mum Millie with her three little babies, and they are so cute even if I say it myself.

Thankfully non of the alpacas gave birth, not quite sure what I would have done!! But its now back to cria watch and the wait for the new arrivals to the herd.

Ginnie

Puppies today??

2011-06-28T08:24:00.012+01:00

Well Millie our Jack Russell is fast approaching her due date, and think today maybe the day she has her first litter!! I am shattered, had a really bad night with her, lots of fidgeting, panting, licking and whimpering!! (not had puppies before, kittens and cria but not puppies so this is a first for us, I understand the first stage of labour can be 6 to 18 hours long, so after the night we have had I wouldn't be surprised if they are on their way.

Problem is she wont stay in her whelping box and keeps getting on the settee with me, oh well as long as she is happy she can stay and once she starts delivering we can transfer her back into her box.

Millie on her cushion with her cuddly toy.

Am on my own today so just hope we don't have any cria arriving today as-well!!

After a really bad night I had an even worst start to the morning, my daughter is on holiday so along with all our cats & dogs, we also have her cat (FIFI) holidaying with us, she is our cats kitten from last year (although you can see they are related by looks, Tinky being a brown tabby and her daughter being a silver grey tabby - they do not like each other at all!!)

So we are in a mobile with a dog due to give birth and two cats which really don't want to be in the same room together (and FIFI not being used to the dogs!!) So for safety reasons we were putting FIFI in the dog cage over night so she didn't get beaten up over night by Tinky!! And plus Tinky likes a window open at night so she can come and go as she pleases (so we didn't want FIFI to escape as-well.)

I didn't really like her being shut in the cage, so though it would be nicer for her if she had the run of the 7.5t horse lorry (her own little living area) first night was good, but this morning I went to bring her back in to the mobile, and couldnt find her anywhere!! I thought she couldnt possibly have escaped as all the windows were shut - except the ones in the horse area which had bars on, she couldnt possibly have got through them!! or could she? well Tia our German Shepherd puppy was very interested in something under the lorry!! So I shut the dogs in, got on my hands and knees (not a pretty site!!) and called!! low and behold there was a tiny cry, which got louder and louder and from under the wheel arch crawled FIFI!! omg she had escaped but thankfully she hadnt gone far and was very happy to see me (my daughter would have never forgiven me with we had lost her baby!!)

So what a night and what a start to the day, but alls well that ends well, FIFI is now safe in the mobile, and now its a waiting game to see if Millie produces her puppies today.

Phew I need a cup of tea now, and will then sit, knit and observe and maybe play doggie midwife.

Who knows I may have more news later, just watch this space!!!!!

Ginnie

Naughty BG's

2011-06-27T08:52:00.013+01:00

These little goats have got to be the funniest little things out, they certainly have some tricks up their sleeves lol.

Last night they managed to escape into the main field, but instead of heading out into the field they got in with a tree that my daughter and Son-in-law had planted for our Grandson Callum, under the stock fence they go and are happily munching on the grass, not interested in the tree at all (not sure if it was to escape the alpacas or not?, as the alpacas had spotted them and were moving in!!)

Again this morning they were back out in the main field!! They are very easily encouraged back to the yard with a scoop of mix!! Tummies over comes everything lol

So I watched to see how they were getting out, using my phone to video. Takes a few minutes, but just wait and watch!!

Caught in the act!! Sorry BG's the hole has now been blocked up.. They are so funny, they do make me chuckle to myself.

Ginnie

Wide Alpacas & Brilliant Display

2011-06-25T19:58:00.010+01:00

Well the girls are getting very wide, they seem a lot wider than last year and their not due till July!

Dayna 335 days on 9th July, but looks like she could pop now!

Pip who is not 335 days until 13th July 11

And Ana - not 335 days until 10th Aug 11 (had to double check her dates) be very surprised if she manages to go that long!!

But hey we all know alpacas, they wont come until they are cooked, but am on cria alert already.

Had a bit of up and down day, first a joint on the lorry air breaks broke and air was coming out all over the place, then had a very frustrating time with RAC breakdown!! couldn't find us on the system!! What the hell!! we been on breakdown for over 5 years - systems!! Eventually got it sorted and back home safely (got to say no animals on board just steel for the barn lol

Then off to Local Kemerton Country Fayre with my sister in order to put leaflet on cars re: our open day on 10th July 11, don't really like putting things on windscreens but needs must. But was a great Fayre lots going on and lot of things to see, with a good turn out.

Then back for a cup of tea on the decking, with hubby, Sister, Brother & Sister-in, BG's were making a lot of noise so hubby went to see what all the fuss was, one girly kept come over and calling to us, not unusually as she is very sociable and wants to join in all the time, but this time she was extra loud, he found the other BG with her head through the stock fence and her horns hooked on so couldn't get out, so her little sister was obviously trying to tell us, animals never failed to amaze me.

Then an amazing air display, Sadly everyone had left and missed it, it was an amazing air display over our fields from a RAF spitfire, not sure where is was displaying to, but felt like it was a private display as was dipping and diving over our fields (and the alpacas and horses didn't bat an eye-lid just carried on munching!

Well quite a full and exciting day, so its supper, bit of telly and then bed.

Night all

Ginnie

Blog Comment Testing

2011-06-24T07:54:00.001+01:00

I still appear to have been having problems with people commenting on my blog!! I tried to sort this out and think (fingers crossed) its sorted.

Please can someone place a comment so we can test it?

Thanks

Ginnie

Fleece Samples

2011-06-17T11:28:00.003+01:00

Can anyone tell me what I should be looking out for in the fleece sample reports? Not sure what I should be looking out for!!

Is there anywhere I can find a simple and understable explanation for the sample reports?

Thanks

Ginnie

Silly BG's

2011-06-16T10:48:00.007+01:00

Oh I do love my new additions, they are so funny and already getting really friendly. They now have a little playground to play in, and a lovely feed bowl to sleep lol.

I did have quite a start when I saw the one in the bowl, I though she was dead!! But no she was fast alseep and didnt even here me coming lol.

Had a bit of a shock yesterday afternoon when I went to check on them, they had only pulled out their ear tags!! Silly billies, one has two slits in her ears now, but the other one has a chunk taken of her ear!! So out come the purple spray, so they now have purple ears, not sure if there much ear left to put the tags back, so may not be able to (dont really like ear tags they never stay in and do so much damage to the animals poor ears if they pull them out.

But I still do love these cheeky little girls.

The alpacas still dont like them, and keep screeming at them, they wouldnt even come down for their tea even though I had shut the goats into the stable, they are so funny anybody think the little goats were monsters!!

Thats all for today, am off to the Warwick races soon, my friends son is riding so that should be fun, not sure if I will place any bets, never been any good at betting, especially as I only bet on the horses I think look nice, not on form or anything lol

Ginnie

Newest Arrivals

2011-06-14T09:08:00.009+01:00

We have added to the Cotswold Vale family, two cute little pygmy goats. Poor little mites seem a bit lost, but hopefully they will settle soon and feel at home.

Mind you the alpacas are not making it very easy for them, they keep screeching at them. I think its because they can see them, but cant get up close.

I have read up about the goats, but if anyone has any hints and tips to make them very happy little goats, all advice will be welcome.

Ginnie

Help!! I cant comment on blogs!!

2011-06-09T09:57:00.003+01:00

Can anyone help me, Im having problem adding comments to other bloggers posts and even my own, keeps going to log in page and then back, but is saying Im annoyomous??

And when I go to do a post on my page it wont let me publish it?? I have to save it go out and come back in on edit posts tabs!!??

Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

Thanks

Ginnie

Strange & Sad Love

2011-06-06T19:24:00.013+01:00

We had a very strange and sad situation. Its not a recent thing but I came across some photos and thought I would write about it. Especially as we lost the alpaca concerned through it.

Along with alpacas we have several horses and one of the horses, a mare, Rica quite often grazed out with the big boys. She's a lovely gentle mare that loves being with any animal.

Well back two years ago one of the cria we had, a little boy called Galaxy (we called him galaxy because he was the colour of the chocolate bar!) took quite a liking to Rica, it started when my daughter used to take Rica across the alpacas field to her paddock, Galaxy used to love to come and say hello to her.

Then it happened when she was riding out in the main field where the girls & cria were grazing, he would come over and wanted to say hello. We though it was so sweet, and he was such a lovely natured boy.

He was weaned at six months with several of the other male cria and a yearling we had kept from the previous year, he seemed to settle down quickly without mum. Then we sold the three boys he had been weaned with and he was left with the yearling. Galaxy was around 18mnths old now and a big boy, he seemed to hold his own, so we then put him and the yearling in with the older two males we had, as they also were very nice natured. They all settled well together, with the occasional play fight and we never saw him being bullied at all.

Several months later we had to move fields around and so we put Rica in with the boys, and they all settled well, where Rica grazed the boys were never far away (especailly Galaxy) Then one day my husband called me and said Rica kept squeeling but he wasnt sure why.

I stood and watched, and couldnt believe my eyes!! Galaxy was trying to feed from Rica! and her squeeling was her way of telling him off. At no time did she kick out at all. He got the message and moved away and all settled down.

The next morning while I was feeding the girls, I heard Rica squeeling again and he was again trying to feed, and looked like he was nearly succeeding.

The next photo is not very good as I took it on my mobile at quite a distance away, as I thought no-one would believe me!

So I had no choice but to move Rica into the paddock next door, I couldnt risk her getting fed up with him and kicking out (although she had never showned any sign of doing so), Galaxy walked the fence a bit and would say hello to her over the fence, but did go off to graze with the other boys, so I though all was ok.

A couple of weeks later, I went to do the evening feed and called the boys into the barn to be fed, but Galaxy didnt come, he was down in the cush position which I though very odd. I went out and he got up and came in, I took his temperature just to check and it was fine.

The next morning at feed time, he didnt come in again, again he was down in the cush position, this time I had to get him up and manage to get him into the barn, checking his temperature it had gone up, so I called the vet, he told me to keep him in the barn with hay and water and monitor him, and he would get to me about 2pm. I went out ever hour to check him but he didnt move much and was drinking but not eating. I went back out about 12.30 he was still in the same position, but he had diaraha coming from his back end. I immediaetly called the vet again and he said he would be with me within the hour.

He arrived and examined Galaxy, he told me he suspected an ulcer, and did an ultra-scan which confirmed it. This was a critical situation, we had three option, put him to sleep, treat him with everything we could or try to get him to the vets for surgery.

The vet felt he probably wouldnt make it to the practice as it was about 45 mins away. I didnt want to give up on him. So he was treated with everything the vet could give, including pain killers. He said the next 24 hours would tell us either way.

We got him into a warm stable with a deep straw bed, and left him to rest. I went out a half an hour later, he was on his side and it looked like he was fitting. I immediatly called the vet, he had just got back to the surgery and said he would be straight back. But by time I got off the phone he had gone, we were devastated, my daughter was distraught this was the first animal she had ever seen die and even worst he one that she was very attached to.

The vet took him away to postmortme we needed to know what killed him, I was paranoid it was TB!! It was the worst couple hours to wait and find out, the vet phoned around 7pm to confirm it was a burst ulcer, not a big one and he had a full stomach so it hadnt been going on long, and his heart and lungs were fine, and no
sign of TB. We were relieved it wasnt TB, but devasted we had lost our gorgeous Galaxy, you know what its like you question yourself, had you missed something, if only you knew and had done something sooner.

The vet said, its wasnt an uncommon thing to happen to alpacas, and was probably stressed induced. He said it was usually bullying, but I am convinced he wasnt bullied, I never saw him being picked on. And I am convinced it was the seperation from Rica that caused it, but we will never know.

I feel this experience is worth sharing, and wonder if anyone else has experience anything like this?

RIP Gaxaly, you were a lovely boy.

Open Day

2011-06-03T19:08:00.002+01:00

Well I have taken the plunge and have book a date for our first ever public open day - 10th July 2011 12pm to 5pm. We have decided it is about time we open the farm up to visitors, we get a lot of interest in the alpacas and are always being asked if we have visitor days.

We are opening up the farm for people to come and see the alpacas, and what we have been doing in the last two years since moving onto site. It will be free to visit but we are asking for donations for "Cancer Research UK" and "Help for Heroes". I think both are very good causes, as I lost my Dad to cancer and my son-in-law is in the forces, I have much admiration and respect for our forces and there are many people effected by death or injury while serving their country.

So everyone will be welcome, hopefully we will get lots of visitors and interest in the alpacas. If anyone wants to get more details, please go to our website

Look forward to seeing anyone who can attend

Ginnie

Shearing

2011-06-02T08:53:00.022+01:00

Well the shearing is all done, we had a great day. The shearers were brilliant as always, quick, caring and efficient.

Its not a day I enjoy, watching the alpacas stretched out on the mats, but I know it has to be done and its the kindest way to do it. And once its all over they all seem to settle down very quickly.

Although it didnt rain, we did have a bit of a wind problem (of course thats weather wind not personal wind!!) but being in the barn worked well. It all went a lot smoother with the help of my brilliant Sister Anne and her husband Andy, as it cant be quite frantic at times keeping up with the shearers!!

We also had some lovely people come to watch the big event, some lovely ladies from the Walsall Spinners, who went home with some lovely fleece hot of the alpacas backs lol and some very happy and keen proud new owners of three lovely boys, who also went home with their boys fleeces hot of their backs.

Here's a couple of photos kindly send to me by my visitors, I was so busy, although I had the camera handy, just didnt have time to stop and take photos.

I was a bit worried the next day, as it rained all day!! and the poor alpacas had no coats on!! I wanted to go out and put little rugs on them, but didnt have enough lol.

But on Tuesday, they were all very happy to have no fleece on as it got very hot again.

So thats important date number 1 over, now to important date number 2 - Open day!!

Ginnie

Two important Dates!!

2011-05-28T15:15:00.004+01:00

We we have two important dates coming up (thats apart from births of course)

The first - shearing, we are shearing tomorrow afternoon, so am hoping and praying the wind drops, not too worried about rain as we have the barn for cover, but it is quite open and the wind can whistle through at times!! Dont fancy chasing fleece all over the place.

Cant believe its a year since last time, where does the time go!!

Will be quite a marathon, 26 to be done, but will be great to get my hands on those lovely fleeces.

We have a few spectators coming aswell, a lovely couple who are buying some pet boys from us and some lovely people from the Walsal spinning group.

The second date is 10th July 2011 - our very first public open day, quite nervous about this one!! but have been promising lots of people it will be happening so cant let them down. And maybe, you never know we may even get someone interested it joining the growing group of alpaca owners/breeder.

Well more about the open day later, now the date is set there's lots to do and organise, not done anything like this before!! so here goes!!

Bye for now

Ginnie

Scaley Toes Up-date

2011-05-28T11:33:00.003+01:00

Thank you everyone for your comments, they have been very helpful. I am going to treat at home for a couple of weeks and monitor closely.

I will spray all the herds toes and inject with ivomec, then I will treat those who are showing the signs between their toes with cream to encourage skin repair and hair re-growth.

Fingers crossed we eradicate it from the herd, if not I will then have to resort to calling the vet.

Thanks again

PS: had to do a new blog as for some reason I cant comment back on my original blog!!

Ginnie

Scaley toes

2011-05-26T11:35:00.002+01:00

We have just been doing our girls toe nails in readyiness for shearing at the weekend, and a couple of the girls have some scaley sking between their toes and just above their toes!! None of them are sore or bleeding but just have white flaky skin there.

Advice needed - do I call the vet or can I treat myself, any adivce - recommendations welcome.

Thanks

Ginnie

Gone but not forgotten

2011-05-25T07:57:00.008+01:00

Cant believe its 4 years today that Dad lost his brave battle with cancer. I still think to myself I must ask Dad, then suddenly realise he's not here to ask.

It had to be hardest time of my life. We nursed him at home, me, my sister and brother.

There are times I never wish to remember, but there are times I will never forget. It was an honour to help nurse him at home, and to let him leave this world surrounded by his loving family.

It was a time of great sadness and tears, but also a time memories, laughter and remanising.

It was a time to talk with him about all things we never thought to talk about before. He knew he was going to leave us and he had been preparing, he organised a CD of memories for us.

Hard as it was we talked about his funeral and he was able to tell us exactly what he wanted, right down to the music to take him into and say farewell to. Again it was an honour to fulfill his final wishes.

So here is a special picture that means so much to me and a date I will never forget.

A special date I share with my Dad. 31st May.

31st May 1980, the day my Dad gave me away at my wedding and the 31st May 2007 the day of his funeral and our final farewell.

So a date that has the happiest and saddest memories.

My Dad, miss you, love you and will never forget you.

Your loving daughter Ginnie

A Diversion from the Knitting & Spining

2011-05-24T11:11:00.014+01:00

Well the plans were to do some spinning & knitting this morning, but there has been some furry creatures diverting my attention and for once it wasnt the alpacas!!

These furry creatures, have cute little faces, sharp claws and scamper around everywhere!

Have you guessed what they are?

Well it is ................................

Yes its kittens, we have four adorable kittens now 6 weeks old and causing mayhem around the home!!

You cant help but stop and watch them :-)

Well they do eventually wear themselves out and go off to find the milk bar.

So its back to work and more excuses!!

Fleece sample testing

2011-05-17T18:42:00.001+01:00

Hi All

I need to get some fleece samples tested this year, have never done it before, can anyone tell where I can send it for testing.

Many thanks

Ginnie

Nice warm living cushion

2011-05-16T19:29:00.007+01:00

Thought I would just share with you a montage picture of our dogs, Angel our eldest German Shepherd serves as a nice warm compfy resting place for Midge & Millie our jack russells, they take it in turn (and sometimes fall out over who's turn it is!!)

But angel dont seem to mind lol

All quite on the alpaca front, all happily eating and sleeping, we have about 4 weeks until we are expecting any new arrivals, but I keep looking at them, they are suppose to be pregnant, they are all still spitting off and taking no notice of the stud boys in the paddock next to them, but with all their fleece on I'm not totally convinced. Would love to have a scanner, but am afraid thats on the wish list at the moment there's more important things on the list for expenditure!!

I have seen a couple of times what I think is a baby moving around inside mum, what sometimes looks like a sharp kick. But its over so quickly I wonder if I am seeing things??

Well once they have had their fleece taken of maybe I will be able to see more baby bumps, but some of them seem to be able to hide it really well. Oh well I suppose will have to wait and see.

Ginnie

My latest project

2011-05-13T20:06:00.013+01:00

I'm on a roll, after mastering spinning and knitting, I have discovered needle felting.

There's no stopping me!! Stabbed my finger a few times, but soon got the hang of it.

And here's my latest project.

Can you work out what it is?

On the alpaca front all is well, the girls moved into a new field today, I love it when we move them, they know whats going on and get all excited, doing that funny little running with their heads nearly on the floor lol. Only have to call come on girls and they come running, have a little bronk around the new field and then its heads down to eat the new grass. No point in calling them down for the tea, got no chance lol.

Only a couple of weeks until shearing, so a bit of prepartion is needed in getting the barn ready, getting the bags etc ready. Fingers crossed its a dry day!!

Well thats it for tonight, looking out the window everyone is happily grazing, so its a bit of soap watching then off to bed, got a lovely weekend to look forward to, my grand-daughter is getting christened on Sunday and her other grandparents are coming down for a visit (they live in Liverpool so are quite a distance away and dont get to come down too often) so looking forward to a good get together.

Ginnie

What a view

2011-05-10T19:36:00.012+01:00

I love looking out of the mobile window and seeing the alpacas sunbathing, they love to roll in the spot just under the window as it is got very little grass!! and is nice and dusty. It feels like they want to be close to us and chill out.

They stretch out and chill :-)

They seem to take it in turn sharing the best spot

Cosmo is well on the mend, but has had his purple foot exchanged for a very fetching blue vet wrap bandage, as we have had quite a bit of rain we were worried he may get mud in the wound and re-infect it all over again.

Weve had quite a few thunder storms and with heavy rain, which is good for the grass, we desperately need it to grow!!

Having been made redundant last October from the County Council it still feels very strange getting to see the different changes in the weather, as I have always worked in an office, so it was only when I came home did I see what the weather was like.

Feels even stranger (but I love it) sat carding, spinning, knitting and felting while watching the alpacas out of the window and day time TV. Feel a bit guilty at times as I feel I should be working and cant quite get my head around the fact we are living our dream, and the spinning etc is now part of my new job!! Never been much of a knitter or anything like that, but am learning as I go lol.

Just need to sell some items and sell some girls (but thats the bit I dread).

We count ourselves very lucky getting the chance to live our dream and have alpacas as part of our lives.

Ginnie

Visit to the National Alpaca Show

2011-05-07T20:48:00.002+01:00

As the Warwick show ground is only about 50 minutes away from us, I thought I would pop up to the BAS National Alpaca Show and see what was happening (and what I was missing out on!!)

I have got to say after some experience from pony showing classes when my daughter was yonger and all the bitching, back stabbing and favouritism, I have never fancied venturing into any showing classes ever again!!

I was quite surprised, it all looked very relaxed and everyone seem to be quite friendly. Even the alpacas didnt seem to be too stress or unhappy. With the worry of TB and desease spreading, it was nice to see the distenfectunat mats going into the show area, and the spacing between the pens, although there is still seemed quite a lot of close contact between some alpacas in the show ring, but not sure if this a problem as have no experience of this.

Only got to see a few classes,as I had loads to do today, but I was a bit diasppointed in the number of suri entries (think some of my girls could have given them a run for their money LOL)

So came away feeling, well actually I maybe doing something right with my girls, Its good to see what you are aiming for, although I know this was a drop in the ocean for the range of quality alpacas within the UK. Didnt get chance, but it would have been nice to have a bit of a rummage and feel of those lovely fleeces.

While there I met up with a lovely couple who had visited us a few week ago and who are hoping to have some pet boys very soon, they are in the process of buying a new home for themselves and hopefully their new pet boys, I wish them all the best and hope their move goes smoothly and happens very quickly for them.

Well thats it for tonight, its been yet another very busy day, I'm very tired, its raining heavy outside so will be good for the grass, and my bed is calling.

So Good night everyone.

Ginnie

Cosmos fetching purple foot

2011-05-06T19:46:00.009+01:00

Cosmo foot is getting better everyday, only a tiny bit of yuk today, and it is obviously feeling a lot better as he didnt even run away today.

A very bright purple!! But at least I can see where I have sprayed him.

Cosmo Update

2011-04-30T18:28:00.003+01:00

Cosmo is still lame, but he is on the mend, he seemed to have had something in his pad, which after poultucing has soften it and brought it to a head and has now burst, all the pus has come away (not very nice, but he is much better now the pressure has eased).

So we are now keeping it open to drain and syringing it out with hibiscrub to clean it out and then spraying it with antibiotic spray.

Hopefully the worst is over and he will soon be back out in the main boys paddock reinstating his top place.

Poor Cosmo

2011-04-26T07:28:00.002+01:00

Not sure how or what he has done, but poor Cosmo is lame!! He has a small split on his the side of his pad, its doesnt appear to be hot or infected but is obviously a bit sore to walk on.

We have checked his paddock for any where he may have caught it, but nothing is obvious!!

So its was a bit of home first aid, a nice foot wash to clean it, but it does look like his pad has cracked?? not sure if its becaause the ground is so dry?? his pad does feel very dry, poor boy. He now has a lovely blue foot from the antiseptic stray!!

But he is not too impressed about being restricted to the small paddock by the barn but it is for his own good, thats what I keep telling him (dont think he believes me, especially when the girls go to visit the boys up the in the top paddocks and he is left behind!!)

Hopefully it will only be for a couple of days, until the pad starts to heal and he is not hobbling around.

(Any experience of this or recommendations on this will be more than welcome?)

Who's my mummy??

2011-04-18T19:02:00.001+01:00

First the mums give me problems both wanting the same baby!! Now the babies are both feeding from one mum!! and she just happily stood there, I didnt think alpacas would let other babies feed from them?? but now Ive seen it all.

They amaze me, see something new everyday.

Wedding & Visitors

2011-04-18T07:51:00.001+01:00

What a busy few days!! But in a very nice way. Firstly my son got married to his beautiful fiance Hannah, we had a fantastic couple of days, staying at the hotel the night before, we all got ready together, loved the help from my two girls. And spending time with my two gorgeous grandchildren.

My two gorgeous Grandchildren. Callum and Ava Louise.

After being away for a few days, its alway good to get back home and check on all the animals, although we knew they were in good hands.

So sunday was a catch up day and a visit from a lovely couple who are very interested in having some pet boys, for their new home, they are in the process of buying a new property and on top of the agenda was - "is it going to suitable for the alpacas?" so after coming to meet all the boys and girls, we headed off to check it out, and I am pleased to say with a bit of hedge and tree pruning and some fencing I'm sure the boys will be extremely happy there. So fingers crossed for them that the sale and move goes through easily and quickly, as they are very keen on getting their new members of the family.

Well after a very busy few days, its down to earth with a bit of a bump. But now to look forward to births and the christening of my gorgeous grandaughter Ava Louise.

Bye for now.

Ginnie

Last Years Cria

2011-04-12T18:14:00.000+01:00

Morning

We spent yesterday morning checking out last years cria, as sadly its time for us to decide who we will need to put up for sale.

Having used Snowmass studs on the Huacaya girls, we are rather pleased with the results.

Here we have Cotswold Vale Nemasis, he the biggest out of the bunch and stands out from the rest, we are extremely pleased with him.

Cotswold Vale Nemasis Sired by Snowmass Novas Knight.

To us he stands out from the rest, but as we are still fairly new to breeding alpacas we are not quite sure, I suppose only time will tell?

I love all the weanlings, but the other one that has captured my heart is our little Maisey Day, she is our little Suri girl sired by our suri stud male "Cambridge Efron" who came to us from Moonsbrook Alpacas and whose sire is the stunning "Accoyo Bulleyman".

She is so funny, suri's can be very funny, getting up to things the others wouldnt dream of and getting into places no one else thought off!! Maisey is very cheeky and is the one that comes right up to you in the field looking at you right up to your face under her swinging fringe. She is a miniture of her dad, and her fleece is already showing a lovely locke which is already swinging as she walks.

Sadly I dont think the photos do Maisey Day justice, but I do love her.

Bye for now

Ginnie

The Time has come!!

2011-04-12T09:06:00.000+01:00

Now in our third year of breeding we have to sell some of our lovely Alpacas, so sad I know, but needs must!! Although we have already sold some adult boys and weanling's, we had not got too attached to them and knew they would not be with us too long.

In order to get our full planning we need to prove the third planning policy rule - viability, that means making a living from these gorgeous animals.

For our temporary planning we had proved our intention for make this a working smallholding, we had purchased our land and invested in our foundation herd, and in our business plan/agricultural appraisal had put down a sound reason to be on site for the well being of our herd.

And I can truthfully say this need has been proved quite a few times in the last two years, and I truly believe if we had not been on site we would have definitely lost several of our precious alpacas.

So now to the task of promoting the sale of girls and boys!!

Spit Offs and Matings

2011-04-10T13:00:00.000+01:00

What a beautiful day today, sunny and warm :) We needed to move some of the alpacas paddocks around, so thought it was a perfect time to bring them all in and do some body scores and spit offs to check who had held the pregnancy through the winter.

Out of 11 all but one definitely spat off!! Some more than others, poor old Cosmo!!

Sadly Cosmo was not going to get the chance to mate the one girly who appeared to have lost her baby during the winter, so wasnt too impressed when he was put back out into his paddock!

We then needed to mate one of the girls who had given birth a couple of weeks ago, it was now Efrons turn to do the business, and without much trouble at all, Cleo dropped down to the floor and off we went, only problem being in their 2nd year of fleece it was very difficult to part the fleece out the way and make sure this were in the right place!! if you know what I mean, but being as professional as Efron is there was no problem, so we left them to get on with it.

Toya who had lost during the winter was then introduced to Ewen, again she went straight down, so that obviously proved she wasnt pregant as normally she's a real spitter and a kicker. Much easier this time to see things were in the right place, so again left them in peace to get on with it.

Then it was the job of getting them all back in the correct paddocks, but that wasnt too difficult with the offer of fresh grass on offer.

So they are all now happily grazing and sunbathing. :)

Knitted Teddy and Knitted/Felted Bag

2011-04-04T15:46:00.000+01:00

Well here are some pictures of my latested achievement, Never been a knitter before, but have surprised myself and my family!!

First is my gorgeous big teddy, made from wool I spun myself from our home bred girl, Dayna.

Then there is my knitted then felted handbag, this has been made from hand spun suri fleece, donated by two of our home bred Suri girls, Bonnie & Cleo.

The babies are doing well and Now the Boys are fighting

2011-03-28T18:40:00.000+01:00

Today started of quite cold, but this afternoon has been lovely. But I hate to say it BUT!! we need some rain!! The grass could do with a drink, especially the over seeding we done the other week. I'm afraid my hose pipe wont cover 5 acres!! The babies are doing really well, and have settled well into the smaller paddock, they have been introduced to the last years babies who have been away from their mummy's for three weeks now and they are all very happy and settled. We did have a bit of a scare last night with the little boy, some how he managed to squeeze through the slip rails and got into the big boys paddock!! Luckily being on site and able to see all the paddocks and fields from my mobile home window I noticed before he came to any harm, phew!! As one of the big boys was taking quite an interest in him, so it was very useful that I could open the bottom rail and get him back in - so it has now been blocked up so the little rascal cant escape again. Spring is in the air and the big boys now realising as two babies have been born, there are a couple of future matings and they are now doing lots of posing, pushing and shoving. They have been together all of their lives, and have generally got on very well. They have had their fighting teeth seen too, so there shouldn't be any harm done. But again the benefit of monitoring everything from my window, I noticed that the youngest of the three was getting quite a bullying, there was lots of screaming and spitting and he was down on the floor, so I had to intervene and get him out of the paddock, luckily it was made easier by the slip rails, again I could open the lower rails and push him out into the main field, while the top rails stopped the bully from getting through at the same time. He is now on his own in the main field, but this is surrounded by the smaller paddocks so he can see all the girls and the other boys, hopefully he will be happy, will just have to monitor how it goes. Never a dull day down on the farm, but thankfully we are here on site to keep an eye on everyone and sort problems out before they become to difficult or dangerous. Well that's it for today, all the alpacas are happily grazing and I must get the tea!!

Water troughs and Poo Picking

2011-03-27T17:40:00.000+01:00

Well another very busy day, cold this morning, but warmed up in the afternoon. We have been busy installing some automatic water troughs in the fields, not sure what the alpacas think of their high rise troughs that hiss at them when they have had a drink!! But needs must and they are well out the way of any intruders drinking from them (sorry mr fox and mr badger - no free water here for you!!).

Then it was on to the lovely job of poo picking!! But how lovely is to see nice clean and tidy paddocks.

The two new cria seem to be doing well after the hairy start and are now bonded with the right mummy!! Although the little boy seemed to be rather lazy and kept being left behind in the big field, so we decided it would be better to put him, his mum and the other mum/baby into a smaller paddock, this seemed to work and mum is now usually not very far from him.

Here's the proud daddy looking to see what all the fuss is about.

He now the proud daddy of a lovely little light fawn girl, and a lovely little white boy (who follows his mummy in colour)

We are very pleased with him, last year he produced a lovely dark fawn girl and a lovely white boy.

But being Suri, they are not so well fleeced as the Huacaya, so they will need to keep their coats on.

Our first cria of the year

2011-03-24T20:06:00.000Z

What a day!! What a lovely warm and sunny day. Watching the alpacas out of the window while carding and spinning, my idea of heaven.

Having two girls due at the end of the month, I have been watching them more intently, and notied both girls seem very restless this morning, sitting down, then getting back up, down again and rolling, both girls are the same age born within days of each other and have a very close bond between them, and this was their first baby.

I decided to walk over to see if anything was happening, yes I was right both of them were in labour within feet of each other (how close is that!!) I have never heard so much humming and moaning, they were definately in labour, it was a race to see who gave birth first.

Bonnie was first giving birth to a light fawn little girl, five minutes later Cleo gave birth to a white boy, so one of each. Both birth were perfect, then the problem set in!!

As they were so close together, they got confused to who was their baby!! And decided they wanted the same one!!

Watching from little way away, it was apparent that they were both convinced the little girl was theirs, we decided we needed to step in and split them up. We moved the little girl further away from the little boy so there was some distant between them, but still the mums were still wanting the same baby. The little girl was on her feet first and ended up trying to feed of the wrong mum!!

We decided we need to split them up completely, so getting them into the barn, we made sure both mums milk was coming through and put each mum and baby in seperate paddocks, with some of the herd with each of them. Some of the other girls werent too impressed with being split up, but we had no choice.

Thankfully this worked and both mums have now bonded with the correct baby, phew that was

a bit hairy!!

Sunshine and Grass Overseeding

2011-03-17T12:28:00.000Z

What a lovely day it has turned out to be, was very damp and dull first thing, but the sun is shining now and its turned into a beautiful day.

All the alpacas are enjoying the sunshine, lying around and chilling, really nice to see after such a hard winter.

The weanlings have now settled without their mums and are happly grazing and playing, being watched overl by our two expectant mums who are acting a aunties and keeping thgem all in-line.

We are expecting rain tomorrow so thought I would make the most of the damp ground this morning and get some grass overseeding done in the main field, it was looking quite sad and patching. But had to sort the spreader out first!! the chain had come off, what a pain of a job to do!! But eventually got it fixed and off we went, all overseeded, just need to roll now, ready for the rain tomorrow.

We live not far from the Cheltenham racecourse, so the roads are very busy with race goers, after a very misty day yesterday, today sunshine is sure to pleased the punters.

Well thats it for now, better get on a roll the field.

Our very first official visitors

2011-03-15T18:25:00.000Z

Well today was a big day for me, we had a visit from 15 students attending Evesham college studying animal care. Having never done anything like this, it was quite a challenge for me, but with the help of my daughter Natalie the day went extremely well. We packed two hours with alpaca information, care and handling, which flew by. (I think our love and ethusiasm show through)

Our feed display.

Our Fleece and goods display

New to blogging

2010-09-09T19:45:00.000+01:00

Hi my names is Ginnie and we are fairly new to breeding alpacas, I love looking at everyones blog to see what they are doing and how their alpacas are going, especially all the new births :)