WEANING

This morning we brought the dams and crias into the yard for weighing. With good gains since the last weigh-in and the right weights for weaning, the process of separation began.  We decided to do the whole lot in one go ... some could have stayed longer on their dams age-wise, but in their cases their dams were beginning to lose too much condition and needed the break.

Our tried and tested method of getting dams and crias separated, with as little stress to both humans and alpacas as possible, requires a certain amount of forward planning, the right help, in this case Rebecca and Lucy, plus shear native cunning.  We moved them all together to where the crias were to end up, then we split them in the field shelter leaving the crias in a secure penned area.  The females were then called away into the direction of their new field (they're always keen to go somewhere new) completely out of sight and sound of their crias. Sounds easy doesn't it? Well actually it was fairly, thankfully, only one Mum looked back for a moment and we rushed her along before she could tell everybody else what we were up to!  Once in their new fields both the weanling group and the female group were busy tucking into the grass, seemingly without a thought of eachother. Photos to prove it!!

The weanlings safely penned up whilst their dams are moved away.

15 minutes later and no-ones looking for Mummy!

The females all settled - looks a much smaller group now!

Later on in the afternoon, as we passed them with the dogs on our way for a walk, some of the females rushed up to the gate to see if we had returned with their crias, a couple were humming loudly.  The weanlings came over to us too, but they really didn't seem that bothered, just wanted to look at the dogs and not a sound.

I can see both groups from the windows of the house and all is now peaceful and quiet. A few days to settle down, and then the halter training begins!  21 - thats a lot of halter training!

There is one young lady Aglaia, a 2011 girl, who is supposed to be living with the other maiden females of her year, who is an escape artist. She gets under any fences that don't have stock wire on with apparent ease. For the last couple of weeks she has been residing with the females and crias - her decision and she's not daft they get more food! This morning she was put back where she was meant to be. Less than 5 minutes later she was back having crawled under two fences and wanting to go in with the crias - not sure who she's attached herself to, she obviously just prefers their company!  More fencing needed then....

Aglaia - "I want to be with them - they have more fun!!!"

The Weanlings - not bovvered!