Crias Go To New Home

After spending all day at the ranch yesterday, I was pretty tired last night. And, I wanted to collect my thoughts before I wrote about my day.

I'm very glad the Alpacas are now wearing their bathing suits instead of their winter coats, because it was 92 degrees in the shade. Rick has sprinklers throughout the fields to keep everyone cool when necessary. Oh yes, the sprinklers were on yesterday. It's funny to watch, as the Alpacas can hear the water coming through the hose before it ever reaches the sprinkler. They all start heading toward the sprinkler and try their best to hog it from each other. I've learned, in the heat, as long as you keep their bellies cool, they are fine. In between "sprinklings", some of them will "bucket dance". They have buckets on the ground full of water for drinking. A few will put their two front legs in the bucket to cool off. Fred enjoys bucket dancing so much that he tends to knock over his bucket.

It was too warm to do any breeding today. Instead, we haltered up Otieno and Dewey to go to their new home. A family in Villa Park had bought them for pets. For little boys, they were pretty good being haltered and walked to the show pen to wait for their new owners to arrive.
Figures, Felix just gets used to two of his new roommates, and now they are leaving. It sure is hard to say good-bye to those little guys. I remember when each of them were born, and I've watched them grow over the past 6 months. I know they will have a great home and get oodles of love and attention. But, it still will be hard not seeing their little faces when I go to the ranch.
The family came in the early afternoon and they seem like very nice people.

Another cria also went to a new home today. Carmella was in labor when I arrived at the ranch. The overwhelming excitement at witnessing the birth turned to extreme sadness when the cria finally arrived and was not breathing. Carmella had a hard labor and what normally takes about 30 minutes expanded to a few hours. Rick called Dr. Thatcher and she was on her way when the cria finally appeared. Apparently, the cria had taken it's first breath too early and filled it's lungs with fluid. Rick did everything possible to drain the lungs and get air into them. It was too late. So, this little boy also went to a new home today called Alpaca Heaven. Rick allowed Carmella time to process what had happened and to grieve. Yes, this was very hard to experience, yet I must be prepared for when the day comes I have my own ranch. It also reinforced in me how loving, sensitive and compassionate Rick is with the animals and how grateful I am to have him and Pati as my mentors and friends.

Once saying good-bye to 3 crias was over, I needed some joy. Thankfully, Felix is back to his old self and was anxious to go for a walk. We walked all around the ranch and I took him into some new places. Today he walked into the big barn, which is full of hay, bags of fiber and machinery. Kinda close quarters. No problem! He even walked up a few steps. I wanted to see if I could get him to step into the horse trailor, but couldn't figure out how to open the door. Next time.
He was super today and let me love all over him. Thanks, Felix, I needed that.

Just before leaving, I went out into the main field for photos. I was able to get a few, which I've posted. I FINALLY got a full body shot of Star, but not without her best friend and constant companion, Meg Ryan. They are inseparable! I, then, helped with treats (don't tell the Alpacas, but their treats are actually vitamins). Every day, at about 6PM, all the girls and the crias get a few buckets of treats. They are small pellets that are spread on the ground. I swear they all have little clocks in their tummies, as they know exactly what time to line up at the fence. Sometimes, Princess will eat some out of my hand, and I can count on Manda Smith and Marquita eating out of the bucket. Piggies!

Next weekend we will move ALPHA away from mom to Boy's Town with Felix. He'll be 6 months old May 4th and is starting to act like a boy (if you know what I mean). It will be sad to take him away from his "childhood" friends, but it also means he is maturing and on the road to being a herdsire someday. Actually, he will reunite with some of his old friends, Felix, Landis, Shaq and Harrison. The only one in that field he doesn't know is Ares. Oops! I almost forgot about Flash and Storm. They are two beautiful future Suri herdesires. ALPHA should get along well with them, as they are both very sweet boys.

MAYBE....Star will want a "date" with Mo next weekend. Keep your fingers crossed....