Happy Birthdday Hughie

Everyone knows Hughie, he is a very special alpaca, the friendliest there is and today was his third birthday.

It doesn't seem three years ago that I was worried sick that this premature cria would not survive. Paul was away (as is always the case when something happens) but my parents were here when Duchess gave birth at 323 days. Hughie was very flat, had no suck reflex and the vet told me to prepare myself for the worst as he didn't think he was going to make it.

Thankfully we proved him wrong and after initially tube feeding and a week of top up bottle feeding you'd never know there had been a problem Hughie was running round the field and feeding happily from mum. He did still find balancing for a wee a problem though and used his head as a fifth leg! Life was tiring, here is a very little Oonagh staying close to her new play mate!

Three years on Hughie is a great asset to the Barnacre herd and has repaid me a thousand times over for that initial intensive care. Hughie can always be relied upon for any public appearances and loves the attention he always received.

Hughie is the only gelding in our herd, I would never part with him, he holds a very special place in my heart.

Happy birthday Hughie!