Our alpacas

In March 2008, we bought three of our four male Alpacas mainly to guard our hens from foxes.  It seems that foxes don’t like the smell of Alpacas, and to prove it, we haven’t had a fox attack since!

Cappucino was born in June 1997, and is the oldest of the four.  He was already named Cappucino when we got him, and not surprisingly, is Cappucino coloured.  The second oldest Alpaca is dark brown and was born in September 2003.  He didn’t have a name when we bought him. Vicki asked guests, volunteers and staff at Treetops Hospice* for help, and after getting about 20 suggestions, the name ‘Barnaby’ was pulled out of a hat. Both of these boys needed to be re-homed, because their owner was ill.  Domino was born in August 2007 and came from Discovery Alpacas, near Sheffield.  He was just 7 months old when we got him, and perhaps because of that, has become the most tame.  Rupert is just a month younger than Domino, born in September 2007.  He was a year old when we got him, so he’s slightly less tame. 

SOME BASIC ALPACA FACTS

Temperament: Alpacas are extremely intelligent – they are amazingly alert and communicate with each other through body posture and a variety of sounds.  The only sounds we’ve ever heard are a gentle bleating noise when they’re anxious, and they have been known to make a shrill noise when being shorn.  They have a loveable disposition and are gentle and docile by nature.  They can be easily trained to lead – they don’t butt or bite and do not possess the horns, hooves or claws to do serious damage.  They warn each other off by spitting, but rarely spit at humans unless they feel threatened or mishandled.  We’ve never known our boys to spit at us, though we have occasionally got in between them when they’ve spat at each other – very smelly!

They are however a herd animal, and cannot be kept or travelled alone.  It’s recommended that no less than 3 alpacas should be kept together.

Alpacas belong to the Camelid (Camel) family and originate on the high plains in Peru, Chile and Bolivia.

Hardiness:  Alpacas can live a long and productive life of between 15 and 25 years; they are extremely hardy and easy to manage.  Apart from routine annual shearing, worming, vaccinations and occasional toe-nail clipping, no out of the ordinary care is needed.  Alpacas don’t suffer from problems associated with sheep such as fly strike, foot rot, or sheep scab.  Steve and I went on a husbandry course before we got our alpacas, and as well as caring for alpacas in general, we both learned how to cut their toe nails and to give injections.

Why keep alpacas?  Alpacas aren’t bred for human consumption.  They are kept mainly for their fine fleeces which are shorn and spun and made into soft, durable and non allergic garments.  Vicki has a friend at Treetops Hospice with whom she shared the cost of a spinning wheel.  She tried to learn how to spin on a course, but wasn’t very successful so she leaves it all to her friend.  Vicki has made Ladies scarves from the wool, as well as a little jumper for Bedlington Terrier Floss. 

Alpacas make excellent pets and paddock grazers as well as their use for guarding stock.  They are useful guard animals for poultry and sheep, often keeping foxes at bay.  Stocking rates are similar to sheep ie. 4 – 5 animals per acre, and they’re quite happy to graze with other animals. 

Fencing and Feeding:  Alpacas don’t require specialist fencing – it’s not in their nature to wriggle or barge through hedges and fences like sheep, or push them over like cattle.  They don’t require housing because their fleece is waterproof, though a field shelter is recommended to provide shelter from heavy rain, and shade from the sun in the summer.  It’s also useful to have a handling area (preferably covered) for husbandry tasks or to care for a sick animal.  In the winter we’ve sometimes brought the boys in to the shelter, but they usually quickly walk out again, and often just shelter beneath hedges, trees and walls.

Alpacas are naturally lean animals, but they require hay all year round.  Although Alpacas are not touchy/feely/cuddly animals, they are very inquisitive and our boys have become friendly enough to eat from our hand.  Guests to our holiday cottages love to come and feed them.  We give them a supplement all year round to encourage hand feeding.  Nursing mothers also require a supplement.    

Fleece: Alpacas produce a fleece of between 3-5 kg, according to the location, type and age of the animal.  Cappucino, Barnaby and Domino are Huacaya alpacas and produce thick teddy bear-like fleeces.  Rupert is a Suri, and his hair grows almost like dreadlocks.  He doesn’t produce such a prolific fleece.  They’re sheared once a year.

Breeding:  Alpacas have one baby a year, rarely twins – with the gestation being between 11 – 12 months and births occurring in daylight hours (very civilised!).  The babies (known as cria) will stand and suckle within an hour of being born. 

Paperwork: Apart from basic animal records there are no regulations associated with other forms of agriculture. 

We’ve got to know the characters of our alpacas pretty well: Cappucino is probably the most mischievous of the three – he’s often to be found in the hen coops, eating layers pellets! He hasn’t produced any eggs yet.  Domino is the most inquisitive of the three, and will come forward to see what’s going on.   He loves having his photo taken, but all you get is his face too close to make a good photo!  Rupert will also feed from the hand.  Barnaby remains feisty and aloof, and won’t come near us at all.

Vicki and Steve are always delighted answer questions about the alpacas, when they take guests down to fetch the alpacas in from the field, and hand feed them. 

 

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