Sunday was vitamin injection time for the alpacas and we started with the boys. There was mud and it was like a low budget ice show. I had a great laugh watching Josh sliding and falling in the mud while the boys darted past. Alpacas obviously have 4 wheel drive while Josh does not. His falls weren’t graceful but they were funny. He dramatically ended up flat on his back at one point and was greeted with laughter. Luckily his big Beyonce-style bum allows him to bounce back up easily. As you can tell we are a loving family š
There isn’t a small pen in their field so it was a matter of catching each one and injecting them. 6 down, only 33 left…
We “encourage” the girls in with food. The trouble is that the pen is muddy and they aren’t keen. It takes 3 of us and the blue rope. We were always told that alpacas do not challenge fences or barriers. This means a rope at the correct height will prevent them passing. MOST of ours were made aware of this but not all of them. It’s usually Arwen. š¤¦āāļø After lots of shouting, arm waving and finally some swearing, they were in. I have the list, Josh catches and Neil injects. That was our plan. Popcorn escaped and either Bernadette or Clara (I can only tell the difference if they are next to each other) sat down, blocked the entrance to the blue shelter and refused to move. I keep myself away from all the kicking if possible but there was a lot of spitting going on and I got hit from close range in my face. The smell is only now beginning to go…
Injecting vitamin A,D + E is essential for the health of the alpacas. The Camelibra that they have, is meant to help with their vitamins. If you’ve visited, it’s the feed that looks like gravy granules. However they still need to be injected through the winter months. This is because their fleeces are so thick that they cannot take in vitamin D for example as there is no skin on show for absorption.Ā Wales in Winter isn’t known for sunshine so we have to inject. Just because its good for them, doesn’t make it easy. But it wasn’t raining so win-win!
Monday was beet pulp delivery day. The beet pulp is molassed and so high energy. The sheep are all in lamb now, due in March and April. We supplement them with this feed from December/January, depending on the amount of grass. The alpacas will get some of this too as a supplement in the middle of winter. Josh had to move two pallets of this with the tractor. Trips back and forth with heavy weights on the tractor have churned the grass up even more. There are deep ruts and mud everywhere.Ā
I was asked if I was available on Tuesday as a much loved colleague is retiring. Not a problem. TheĀ meatboxesĀ are due for pick up on Wednesday. Then Josh said “We are having theĀ meatĀ on Tuesday now.” Marvellous! He was picking up at 2pm. I was working from home. I was at the computer, writing reports when he phoned. “Mam, there are 400 burgers!!!!” Well I had made space in the fridge for 1 box but 3?!?! I had to fit in some speedy rejigging. Josh got home and I bagged the burgers for each meat box and off he went to deliver them.Ā
On Wednesday one of our vets, Tom, had to come out to see Anabelle as she has a bad pelvis. We have pain killers for her. She has been a great first time mother to Olaf but Tom advised us that we should be wary of having any more cria from her. Her pelvic issues may mean she will have trouble unpacking. She is supposed to be in cria already so she will be monitored very closely. Visitors may know that Anabelle is my favourite. She was one of our first 3 alpacas so is special for that reason. She is also shy and has a lush moustache. Let’s hope she will be alright.
Thursday afternoon. I went to the farm after work. It was a nightmare. Munchkin, Josh’s annoying former pet lamb, pushed passed me into the barn. To say I couldn’t get her out was an understatement. I coaxed, chased, shouted, screamed, threw empty buckets near her. I rang Josh and shouted at him. He laughed at me and said “Do it yourself.” In desperation I put some beet pulp in the bucket and went out of the barn. I thought she would see the silvernoses eating and come out of the barn. But no. They all ran in too. I rang Josh again. Shouted at him even more and shouted even louder at all the sheep. No one would listen to me. I left them all happilyĀ eating alpaca mix from bags they had ripped open and stormed off. (JB edit here. Yes Helen stormed off and yes she is an adult š)
Eventually I came back in the mule. I parked it in one part of the barn to block one area off and funnel them out. I used a barrier and a blue pallet to block off another area and I started shouting and waving my arms. They went out! I jumped in the mule and began reversing out at a tight angle so I didn’t have to make a big gap. The gate wouldn’t open far enough because of all the tractor ruts. Frantically I lifted and pushed the gates. The shouting and swearing was back too. I beeped the horn and shooed them away but the flaming mule got stuck in the mud. Aaaaragghhhh. After some manoeuvring I managed to get out and off I went to feed the alpacas. I fed the boys without incident and began reversing up to the gate to the girls’ field. I’ve done this too many times to mention, but not today. I skidded in the mud and now it’s stuck. I’ve had a ‘mare this afternoon. I’ve come home and eaten copious amounts of Dairy Milk (other brands are available) I’m going to relax this evening and finish the peg loom bed runner made from Garth Hall sheep fleece.Ā
Tomorrow is another day and the last day of term but Josh already has work for me next week as there’s a walk booked in š¤¦āāļøĀ In all honestly, apart from being a bit frustrated with naughty sheep and the amount of mud, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Helen x
