tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69492826366041858642024-03-13T21:00:01.509+00:00Debbies alpaca blogJoin the adventures of Debbie and Paul Rippon. From townies working in an office looking after a cat from the RSPCA. Now they breed and sell their prize winning herd of about 300 friendly champion alpacas (including Supreme Champions and numerous Colour Champions) at the eco-friendly farm in rural Northumberland.Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.comBlogger1478125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-20658194630476816612020-08-31T21:33:00.005+01:002020-08-31T21:33:40.724+01:00Time to leave :-(<p> :(, I am not at Barnacre Alpacas anymore. I left
this afternoon, but I did see the final mating of the year before I left.</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6hWGVoo4sM/X01eAIMwKvI/AAAAAAAAF14/cCSWaM31jd4VuBj3IEcU5ywtBZw6sXAAACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/last%2Bmating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6hWGVoo4sM/X01eAIMwKvI/AAAAAAAAF14/cCSWaM31jd4VuBj3IEcU5ywtBZw6sXAAACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/last%2Bmating.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Happy Birthday to my amazing auntie and I still
don’t know how you can go out and do the feed round sun or rain or even snow,
on your birthday, Christmas and everyday. I hope you had a lovely day. I made a
cake for her yesterday too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVFVUQeLc9o/X01eHB1gOUI/AAAAAAAAF18/d3bEfY8AwE8Zm4CV68Nrhkjn8b3oeRo7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/birthday%2Bcake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVFVUQeLc9o/X01eHB1gOUI/AAAAAAAAF18/d3bEfY8AwE8Zm4CV68Nrhkjn8b3oeRo7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/birthday%2Bcake.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Also, I have done three alpaca movies which you
will find on the alpaca movies part of the website when Uncle Paul puts them on.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body">I won’t be writing them as often anymore because
I am going back to school next Monday so I will not have as much time. I will
try and write one whenever I can. Faith. :(</p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYdU5bkCTlmrjkSBDj_RiB9a5UG1dYz22L6Fgg9T6kIKTZf43QdFJpLIqGsxKyFYA7yzZSF5ZaJ7mhgIDGgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-22141618614762347822020-08-30T22:27:00.002+01:002020-08-30T22:27:47.134+01:00What's broody ?<p>Hi, today we have done some matings and put
Kamato and her baby out.</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">We did five matings, </span>including with one of the new stud boys boys Indie Skye today which means that there could be about 70 babies next year, if they are all pregnant. I'm sure that is more than there has been before!</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cGAd-WLVoI/X0wZiMcJp_I/AAAAAAAAF1o/TQKdm0ON6SQQdS1lkN6ozxHQVZdJNYq4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Indie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cGAd-WLVoI/X0wZiMcJp_I/AAAAAAAAF1o/TQKdm0ON6SQQdS1lkN6ozxHQVZdJNYq4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Indie.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">We have a broody chicken too that keeps hiding
the eggs, however they were naughty and I only got two today. They need to lay
some more before the new cottage guests arrive on Tuesday. I think Auntie Debbie might need some more chickens:-)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">I will be back tomorrow with the final blog of
my stay. Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-86470295087178239642020-08-29T21:57:00.003+01:002020-08-29T21:59:12.980+01:00Busy little bee!<div class="separator"><p class="Body" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Hi, today we did a lot of things.</p></div>
<p class="Body"><span lang="">I fed Hughie, my favourite alpaca on the morning
and evening feed round. He has been my favourite for as long as I can remember.
He was actually the 2nd born alpaca at Barnacre Alpacas.</span></p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDSq3sFuAc0/X0q-3uCpETI/AAAAAAAAF0k/lSbjNB8Aw-o_LUMlU4eHNk1D9ezzOwLeACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Feeding%2BHughie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WDSq3sFuAc0/X0q-3uCpETI/AAAAAAAAF0k/lSbjNB8Aw-o_LUMlU4eHNk1D9ezzOwLeACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Feeding%2BHughie.jpg" /></a></div><br />We have weighed and cut the toenails of the
little girls. Holding one while my Auntie cut the toenails, like in the picture
below I have never done before. I would not mind doing it again though.<p></p>
<p class="Body" style="text-align: center;"><span lang=""><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YIbjp1H2C8o/X0q-9OKbuaI/AAAAAAAAF0w/xfXf8pqvEg4UCSEI5G41Eie71_Az93R8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/toenails.JPG" /></span></p><p class="Body"><span lang="">I also have been putting the food in the troughs
like </span><span lang="">you can see me doing</span> for the girls below.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulilqg8cABU/X0rAj56frdI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/gm9E5zwNwrQ15KNW11Tk-nLUbKcBDWSPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/feeding%2Bthe%2Bgirls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulilqg8cABU/X0rAj56frdI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/gm9E5zwNwrQ15KNW11Tk-nLUbKcBDWSPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/feeding%2Bthe%2Bgirls.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="Body"><span lang="">We had a meeting about a new project, look on
the blog to find out what soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtOsSEbT-Nc/X0rAKZrKmeI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/EhFtqtHOByUAALoMEhZcm_EbNaCyc8s6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/meeting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1918" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CtOsSEbT-Nc/X0rAKZrKmeI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/EhFtqtHOByUAALoMEhZcm_EbNaCyc8s6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/meeting.jpg" /></a></div><p class="Body">Another one tomorrow. Faith.</p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-57147618167261040762020-08-28T21:47:00.003+01:002020-08-28T21:47:56.965+01:00Scared half to death!<p>Hi, today I was nearly scared to death by
Aramist while on my way to give Endeavour his bottle, saw the deer from afar
and done indoor jobs.</p>
<p class="Body">As indoor jobs I have finished weighing the wool
and done some labels for knitwear that you can find in the shop on the Barnacre
Alpacas website or in the shepherds hut if you are coming for a walk and talk. I love my alpaca things, they are so soft and cosy. </p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">As I said I was nearly scared to death by
Aramist because I was walking towards the shed to give Endeavour his bottle and
I saw Aramist in the middle of jumping over the hurdles. Totally forgetting that
I my phone in my pocket, I ran as fast as I have ever ran in my life back to
the house to tell my Auntie. Only then did I remember that I could of just rang
her.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">I saw the deer out of the shed in the distance,
sorry if the picture isn’t great. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NJ6PYDbZxQ/X0ltVm62bQI/AAAAAAAAF0Y/aviB0F42aAUM8qojZnGGJkXDHuDrw_pHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2NJ6PYDbZxQ/X0ltVm62bQI/AAAAAAAAF0Y/aviB0F42aAUM8qojZnGGJkXDHuDrw_pHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Deer.jpg" /></a></div><p class="Body">I will write another tomorrow, bye.</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Faith<o:p></o:p></span></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-66068820409171366522020-08-27T22:40:00.002+01:002020-08-27T22:40:14.988+01:00Alpacas take great photos<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Hi. Today we were joined on the morning feed
round by the cottage guests, that is bound to make your stay here even more special. While on the feed round Ziyad seemed to eat my
leggings, my coat and my fingers. He must of been hungry. I also got some great
photos of him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"> <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PW7HVE2kwrY/X0gn6SPLU1I/AAAAAAAAF0E/iBhJ0jAda1M6ALbMpCDhWPqxGXpoweOTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/Ziyad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PW7HVE2kwrY/X0gn6SPLU1I/AAAAAAAAF0E/iBhJ0jAda1M6ALbMpCDhWPqxGXpoweOTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Ziyad.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">I have done Endeavours bottle and fed Ashling at
breakfast, lunch and tea today, and I spotted that Auntie Debbie was watching me on the CCTV and posted the picture on Twitter, I'm not old enough for Twitter so only saw that when Grannie showed me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body">I took some other great photos too, this one is Isla who has a metal plate in her leg, but unlike Pablo hers is ok to stay in.</p>
<p class="Body" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span><img border="0" data-original-height="1743" data-original-width="838" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKgTMqNt8Oc/X0gn9MMwa2I/AAAAAAAAF0I/wzwQmz5vnkM26VHUnDiuAdc58Qd5ReyRACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Isla.jpg" /></p>
<p>I will do another tomorrow. Faith. </p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-20583327472690858812020-08-26T22:02:00.001+01:002020-08-26T22:02:15.441+01:00Only a short one!<p>Hi, today it has been wet again! Not all day
though, luckily. Another walk n’ talk and an adoption visit. I have fed Ashling
and got some great photos of me and Endeavour.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fLN7-bQ87b4/X0bNdLGrXNI/AAAAAAAAFzw/cmaBtYuNU3cJSHh3RAtl-CKPJQUBW7BNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1544/Faith%2B%2526%2BEndeavour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1544" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fLN7-bQ87b4/X0bNdLGrXNI/AAAAAAAAFzw/cmaBtYuNU3cJSHh3RAtl-CKPJQUBW7BNQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Faith%2B%2526%2BEndeavour.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Somehow, I have managed to read a whole book
today and a whole book yesterday and practised my knitting too. The books were
not small either, I just could not put them down once I picked them up. One of
the books that I read was about donkeys, I borrowed it of my Auntie, maybe that
is why she got donkeys? I don’t understand how I could do this while doing the
feed round and lots of other little jobs to help?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body">Every time I come up I always have the same job
to check for eggs everyday. These eggs are put in the holiday cottages for
guests to enjoy, these are amazing and I recommend staying in one.</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6I2vgxQgvjk/X0bNre3_2nI/AAAAAAAAFz0/HWeKiR06TVgc_l83qYXh-qJJeB6nRj_AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6I2vgxQgvjk/X0bNre3_2nI/AAAAAAAAFz0/HWeKiR06TVgc_l83qYXh-qJJeB6nRj_AQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Eggs.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">I will be back tomorrow with another blog. Bye,
Faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-52297523744132725112020-08-25T22:25:00.002+01:002020-08-25T22:25:15.021+01:00Wet weather jobs<p>Hi, as it rained
today so I helped with indoor jobs. I helped with some adoption packs and I have
started weighing the wool that is used to create knitwear.</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body">With the
adoption packs I have helped by printing things of and laminating them too. Why
don’t you by one as a present for someone or just treat yourself, you get some great photo's and the babies are soooo cute.</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1861" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4BLwvPT4PA/X0WAYiipWvI/AAAAAAAAFzU/53qeQhhGrJIkIkE2Brm3wLNOhxoGtysMACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Adoption%2Bpack.jpg" width="640" /></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have started
to weigh the wool to make sure that we know what we have got and what we are running out of. It's really good to see the animals fleece made into the wool. I've got a head snug and cowl which are really warm and cosy for winter.</span></p><p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> I also fed
Ashling her speedibeet at lunch, I also gave Endeavour his bottle today.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6OYU4DLKknM/X0WAMQKzytI/AAAAAAAAFzM/JOeAc1FK-Nody7tQ0f2-qC0-gpLwX0obQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Ashling.JPG" width="640" /></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I will be back
tomorrow with another blog about what else I do to help my Auntie and Uncle
at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barnacre Alpacas.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Faith</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">P.S. I nearly
forgot, yesterday we had two escaped boys so we hade to catch them and put them
back where they were supposed to be. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP4h6Z0Xcvo/X0WBplLqhjI/AAAAAAAAFzk/9F6vY6PPDmk7-vTtAaMzHKQeFG2xEQjoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/Grey%2Bstuds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP4h6Z0Xcvo/X0WBplLqhjI/AAAAAAAAFzk/9F6vY6PPDmk7-vTtAaMzHKQeFG2xEQjoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Grey%2Bstuds.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-68637204559132445322020-08-24T22:48:00.000+01:002020-08-24T22:48:06.224+01:00The last baby<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="Body">Hi, I have done Endeavours bottle again today and there has been another walk n’ talk and a baby was born.</p><p class="Body"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-riWUPBUKbFw/X0QxpqvE80I/AAAAAAAAFy0/9D-i4yjByiY0Mg989ROaEx_OCtLt1jjPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Bottle%2Bfeeding.jpeg" /></p><p class="Body">Yes, the last baby of the year has been born. This is one of the livery girls though as the last
Barnacre baby was born on the 20th. It was Daisy Jane’s baby and it was a girl,
dad is Jasper (one of Barnacre Alpaca boys). I watched it to make sure it
stood up and got a drink, this it did. It took a lot longer than I thought it
would for it to stand up, because the only one I have seen before was up in
about 10 to 15 minutes, I think?</p><p class="Body"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kal_jNI0IJ0/X0Qxo_3mJMI/AAAAAAAAFyw/jPT4ociDvX8BxXh2WAWf3M6u6vcj9qQTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/Daisy%2Bbaby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="906" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kal_jNI0IJ0/X0Qxo_3mJMI/AAAAAAAAFyw/jPT4ociDvX8BxXh2WAWf3M6u6vcj9qQTwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Daisy%2Bbaby.jpg" /></a></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am enjoying
writing the blog and I hope that you are enjoying reading it just as much, I am
also really enjoying myself. If you want to see the alpacas in person why not
book a walk n’ talk or stay in a cottage and get a £5 discount per person on a
walk n’ talk. Also adopting an alpaca is a great gift for alpaca lovers or just
people who are interested in alpacas. You can also follow them on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram by searching in Barnacre alpacas. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I will be back
tomorrow with another blog about the amazing things that I get up to on the
farm. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bye, Faith </span><o:p></o:p></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-92147156639800788122020-08-23T21:42:00.001+01:002020-08-23T21:42:17.700+01:00A very busy day<p>Hi, today has been a very busy day. I have done
the feed round, moved alpacas out of the shed, cleaned the area that had an alpaca
that had been here for a mating and disinfected the floor. As well as all this my auntie and
uncle have had a walk n’ talk too.</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">On the feed round this morning I feed Hughie and
he definitely remembers me. We feed the girls and you might of seen the live
video of them coming out of the field on Barnacre Alpacas Instagram. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDVbccHzjxI/X0LT6fH9ckI/AAAAAAAAFyk/bN0z63P2TRIs-f-njxAYVGzcbVYcrvP7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2906/Girls%2Bfeeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2906" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDVbccHzjxI/X0LT6fH9ckI/AAAAAAAAFyk/bN0z63P2TRIs-f-njxAYVGzcbVYcrvP7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Girls%2Bfeeding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">I have walked Aloyious (I think that photo was on Twitter!) and Indie Skye, done sweeping
and u</span>sed the muck rake. As well as this
I had to carry the disinfectant mat from one shed to another, this is actually
heavier than I thought it would be.</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Tonight, I gave Endeavour his bottle and helped
my Auntie (Debbie) to give him and Kamato’s baby vitamin paste. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rN0JP2dUq4A/X0LTfzsNeVI/AAAAAAAAFyY/e-2d6dEIyN8B0xElTsGMrK-vozSrnqrmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Endeavour%2Bpaste.jpg" /></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">I will do another blog tomorrow and tell you
about some other things I do to help on the farm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Faith<o:p></o:p></span></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-3177195503269216232020-08-22T20:11:00.006+01:002020-08-22T20:14:40.192+01:00I’M FINALLY HERE!!!<p> All Faiths own work, including the photo's!</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="">It is so nice to be back in the countryside and
be with the alpacas. They make me feel so calm and I don’t want to ever leave.
The smell is so sweet that I feel as if I am breathing for the first time in
ages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span>I arrived last night and I have already done so
much. I have met Ziyad, watched Endeavours Physio, seen a mating and more. I am
going to be writing a blog everyday while I am here and I will tell you all
about the things I have done that day.</p>
<p class="Body">Meeting Ziyad was funny. We were on the morning
feed round feeding the girls and there was a baby alpaca trying to eat my shoe
laces, this was Ziyad. Ziyad seems to of made friends with a dog called Sidney.</p><p class="Body"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5Hlyenmsg4/X0Fs9Ot3fnI/AAAAAAAAFyA/wqdwyy6uOuYdvvhK_ItRgqd8Jfczsw7bACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Sidney%2Bmeets%2BZiyad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5Hlyenmsg4/X0Fs9Ot3fnI/AAAAAAAAFyA/wqdwyy6uOuYdvvhK_ItRgqd8Jfczsw7bACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Sidney%2Bmeets%2BZiyad.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="Body"><span lang=""></span></p><p class="Body"><span lang="">The mating lasted for about 15 minutes and was
with Shaylee and Aramist. Shaylee was proving hard to catch until she suddenly
decided that she would sit down for us, thank you Shaylee. Aramist tried to get
on any girl he could and then he got on Shaylee the wrong way round, we got there
in the end </span>though.</p><p class="Body" style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lDBAG7ShGjs/X0Fs-3w63RI/AAAAAAAAFyE/nw0Kad0IYh8KR5oM_yFXcbkcYoerrIGEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/mating.jpg" /></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="">After the cottage guests left and the cottage had been empty for three hours we had to deep
clean the cottage before the next guests arrive. I helped with this by striping
one of the beds, using antibacterial wipes to do the light switches and the
banister. Cleaned the sides and other people did the hovering an</span>d bathroom,
made the beds and everything else needed to make sure you stay is as safe as
possible.</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="">I will do another one tomorrow and tell you
about some other things I do to help on the farm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="">Faith<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-3099943422516848092020-08-20T22:44:00.005+01:002020-08-20T22:47:00.881+01:00Faith again!!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Hi everyone, it’s Faith again. I can’t believe
that it is the summer holidays already but this is good because it means that I
get to go up soon. Yay! And so can you, because walk and talks are back on. In
this blog I am going to tell you about some of the amazing things that my
Auntie and Uncle (Debbie and Paul) have been up to lately.<p></p>
<p class="Body">First of all, they have some deers that keep on
visiting them in one of the fields, I hope that I get to see them while I am
there. I don’t think that I have ever seen a deer in person before, have you?</p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="">They have also been mating some of the girls
that have already had their babies. As well as this, they have cria sheared
some of the earlier cria which is the first time every. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang=""><o:p> </o:p></span><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntoPZCJpG1U/Xz7tpRUAk0I/AAAAAAAAFxs/-xrvorHaDyclhjRM7u0vyFmGuNlS7xDnwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Sheared%2Bbaby.jpg" width="640" /></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="">Wow! They have finished all of the hay, this was
in 5 fields, 55 acres approximately, it took a few long days to get all that
done.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body">They have had some very warm weather, why
couldn’t I have that on holiday :( . But they also had a monsoon, a bit like me
on holiday, rain, rain and rain. On a funny note, some of the alpacas seem to
be creating a Mud Pack Gang. With this warm weather the alpacas kept on using
the water troughs as a you might say a cooling station, so out came a paddling
pool.</p>
<p class="Body">Thank you to everybody who purchases thing from
the shop or spends any money at Barnacre Alpacas as the money is helping
towards vet bills for Endeavour and Pablo. Now that Pablo has had his metal
plate removed that should hopefully mean no more vet visits for Pablo.
Endeavour has had his pins removed and he still needs to do his physio, his
pins are being tested to make sure they are using the correct antibiotics for
the infection. Fingers crossed (only one hand) he will get better.</p><p class="Body"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJKCzYTZNyI/Xz7tlX5PhVI/AAAAAAAAFxk/8GO_eQVjopEu4vfueTDuO5TXn4dWH17igCLcBGAsYHQ/s4032/Endeavour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TJKCzYTZNyI/Xz7tlX5PhVI/AAAAAAAAFxk/8GO_eQVjopEu4vfueTDuO5TXn4dWH17igCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Endeavour.jpg" /></a></p>Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-17757873161368616472020-07-25T23:18:00.002+01:002020-07-25T23:18:51.292+01:00Not enough hours in the day so over to Faith!<br />
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There just aren't enough hours in he day to do all of the jobs on the list and my niece Faith has been complaining at me for months that I haven't written a blog. I tend to tweet and Instagram frequently so didn't think blogging was so important. However, during lockdown Faiths complaining has become even more frequent so last week I suggested she write the blog!! </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And here it is......</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
Hi, my name is
Faith, I am the niece of Debbie and Paul. During lockdown, I have not been able
to go up to Barnacre Alpacas and I have really missed it. So instead, I looked
through the whole website looking at pictures. When I got to the blog I realised
that my Auntie hadn’t done one since May
2016, so I asked her to do one. However, she got very busy as it is the
birthing season, so she asked me to do one. Here it goes…</div>
<div class="Body">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well, a lot has
happened since 2016. A lot more babies have been born and a lot more hard work
has gone into Barnacre Alpacas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2017
they moved house, they can now be found at Turpin Hill Farm. Soon after moving,
they built two new sheds and divided the fields and got field shelters. They
have had some new arrivals, Twiggy the cat and Nellie and Niamh two rescue
Donkeys as well as baby alpacas, baby goats and baby sheep. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAQqLYpyVhY/XxyvIzSg9lI/AAAAAAAAFxA/Kzd_oO8RXp8ByBm9VZaoQ1W3n3EJPtxSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Faith%2Bpoo%2Bpicking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAQqLYpyVhY/XxyvIzSg9lI/AAAAAAAAFxA/Kzd_oO8RXp8ByBm9VZaoQ1W3n3EJPtxSACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Faith%2Bpoo%2Bpicking.JPG" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This year, my Uncle
Paul has got some new, as my Auntie calls them, ‘boys toys’ a new tractor and
all the equipment so that they can do their own hay. The tractor is a Massey
Ferguson 5713, I actually got to drive it!!! I did all the research for them too and he even bought the tractor I picked!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As I said many
baby animals have been born and some have died as well. In 2019 Casper was born
to Casiphia and Ida, unfortunately he was orphaned at 9 weeks old because of
his mothers death. Sadly, earlier this year Loki was put to sleep because of
cancer in his foot. The thing I remember most about Loki is when him and Hughie
were looking after the sheep. They have already had 41 alpaca babies this year.
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In October 2019,
there was the Yorkshire Alpaca show, in which there is a young handlers and
fancy dress competition. I entered both. I came first in the fancy dress
competition with Jasper. I also came joint second in the young handers
competition with Apophis . In this Barnacre Alpacas also got 2 champions, 1
reserve champion, 2 firsts, 1 second, 2 thirds and 1 fourth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLTzIyHjDj8/XxyvFUQWSII/AAAAAAAAFw8/vImYrQyM9bUMLCb_SMFeTLjTv8raQl9dACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Faith%2B%2526%2BJasper.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLTzIyHjDj8/XxyvFUQWSII/AAAAAAAAFw8/vImYrQyM9bUMLCb_SMFeTLjTv8raQl9dACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Faith%2B%2526%2BJasper.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7GUCGLipXA/XxyvCGfDMuI/AAAAAAAAFw4/wj9pQWN4nEwLtwNLZRgVaBRCU68W7CkkACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Faith%2Band%2BApophis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7GUCGLipXA/XxyvCGfDMuI/AAAAAAAAFw4/wj9pQWN4nEwLtwNLZRgVaBRCU68W7CkkACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Faith%2Band%2BApophis.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I have missed
seeing the alpacas so much (seeing them on pictures and FaceTime is not the
same) and I cannot wait to go up. I enjoy all the fresh air and the animals
just make you feel so calm. I also want to see my favourite alpaca Hughie, I
wonder weather he will recognise me as he normally know its me. When I get to
go, the first thing I want to do is go for a walk around the farm to the
nearest field with alpacas in and say hello.<br />
<br />
<div class="Body">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGDf5a87ui8/XxyvMR4fzkI/AAAAAAAAFxE/TR7Pvn-XSUUObAiNCL5zMgVhIz4ViMnyACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Faith%2Bwith%2Bbaby%2Bgoat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oGDf5a87ui8/XxyvMR4fzkI/AAAAAAAAFxE/TR7Pvn-XSUUObAiNCL5zMgVhIz4ViMnyACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Faith%2Bwith%2Bbaby%2Bgoat.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To spend time
with the amazing alpacas you could book a walk and talk or buy an adoption
pack. To spend longer you could stay in one of the holiday cottages which
includes a £5 discount per person for a walk and talk. For more information on
this look on the other parts of the website. Personally, I would recommend
going on a walk and talk because you get to walk one of the alpacas and you get
to walk around the farm with a tour guide (Debbie or Paul).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I haven’t stayed in a cottage, I
have had a nosey and they look really cosy, and did I mention that you are
provided with some treats (some human, some alpaca). </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Body">
<br /></div>
<div class="Body">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">For regular
updates follow Barnacre Alpacas on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-77513711223746562172016-05-04T22:25:00.001+01:002016-05-04T22:25:11.762+01:00New life on the hill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Spring finally seems to have arrived and with if new life on the farm is beginning to arrive.</div>
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I decided not to tup our sheep last year as we never send our sheep to the mart and I didn't really want anymore, plus I didn't want lambing to clash with the Scottish Alpaca Show that we'd were going to attend (more on that another night). </div>
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I did make an exception for my three Wensleydale ewes though, Drizzle, Parnie and Mist. I din't think any of them were actually pregnant and in typical sheep style we sadly lost Mist a couple of months ago for no apparent reason! Anyway it turned out that Drizzle was indeed pregnant and surprised me with a very cute, in an ugly sort of way, tup lamb who Paul named Gromit after is dad Wallace!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzynkYYLcrI/Vypg5TkeJCI/AAAAAAAAFrg/yyj-e2l3RiAjPFBmCaiF3-WCW1SMg-aKQCLcB/s1600/Gromit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kzynkYYLcrI/Vypg5TkeJCI/AAAAAAAAFrg/yyj-e2l3RiAjPFBmCaiF3-WCW1SMg-aKQCLcB/s320/Gromit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Despite only having one lamb this year he is causing plenty of work (not that I'm complaining, I love him!). Initially his mum had no milk and wasn't very interested in him. Having not been expecting any lambs I didn't have any colostrum (and it was Sunday) so he started off on alpaca colostrum until I managed to get some from a friend, Sam at West Barn Pygmy Goats who also has a few pet sheep.</div>
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I thought Gromit was just a bit of a dopey weak lamb but then realised that he couldn't see, the poor little man has very little if any sight. As he has grown his front legs have become very bent too, this poor little man is in special care, on a course of antibiotics and vitamin injections in the hope that we can salvage at least some sight and splinted legs to try and stop them from getting worse and hopefully straightening them.</div>
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Next to arrive 24 hours later was a very sweet little angora goat who we have named Calico. Again, just like all my angora births assistance was required when April presented a head and no feet! Thankfully there was plenty of room and the gorgeous little kid was safely delivered.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0LTT3QeZbo/Vypg9sE71DI/AAAAAAAAFrk/E8BN447ARJkyip92BcOeAM6KES4G_IBdwCLcB/s1600/Calico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0LTT3QeZbo/Vypg9sE71DI/AAAAAAAAFrk/E8BN447ARJkyip92BcOeAM6KES4G_IBdwCLcB/s320/Calico.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have also been hatching some of our goose eggs, I'd put 8 in the incubator but only 6 were fertile. I had been told by a number of people that geese were particularly difficult to hatch so I wasn't too hopeful for much success. The first one pipped and made very little progress and eventually needed help as did the second. Sadly the other 4 didn't manage to hatch, but these two are doing just great and are now 4 and 5 days old and growing so fast.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzM3qyQ6-nk/Vypg-RxwAeI/AAAAAAAAFrs/82B1RvrOZvoVV6aw5IElG3eq7ThNy9TawCLcB/s1600/Baby%2BGeese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzM3qyQ6-nk/Vypg-RxwAeI/AAAAAAAAFrs/82B1RvrOZvoVV6aw5IElG3eq7ThNy9TawCLcB/s320/Baby%2BGeese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On the alpaca front Marne is now on 353 days, but having gone 410 with Oscar we could still have a bit of a wait. She doesn't really have much signs of milk yet either but she had none last time so that isn't much help!</div>
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Andromeda is as wide as a house so hopefully she wont have too much longer to go, she's on 352 days so is well over our herd average and not knowing how long she went with Nelson two years ago who knows what sort of gestation she likes.</div>
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<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-142128220757838052016-04-05T16:20:00.001+01:002016-04-05T16:20:11.906+01:00As promised, a blog!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve not found the time and if I’m totally honest the
motivation to write a blog in in long time, my life is so busy and grabbing two
minutes to do a quick tweet or snapping something to post on Instagram seems to
fit so much easier into my day. So if
you want to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/" target="_blank">Twitter</a> were @BarnacareAlpacas and on Instagram we’re
Barnacre_Alpacas <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However I appreciate that not everyone likes or uses twitter
and Instagram and also some of you enjoy the detail that I can include within a
blog, so I thought I’d better find the time to write one. So here goes for all you complaining at me
for not blogging!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
To be honest I’m not sure where to start, it’s been almost a
year since my last blog and this is starting to sound like I’m sat in the
confession box.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We had a great year of birthing last year, with just over 40 babies born,
not only our own but also from our various livery clients and this year is set
to be busier again. We’re only three
weeks away from the first due date of this year, don’t tell mum as she’s farm
sitting whilst we attend the inaugural Scottish Alpaca Championship in Lanark
the weekend before and she’ll only panic!
The early ones tend to hang on so I’m sure Andromeda (Nelson's mum) will wait until after her
due date.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Things haven’t all been great since last year, sadly we lost
my dad last summer. My dad was a huge inspiration
in my life, and without realising it he was one of the main reasons I was determined
to live my alpaca dream.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My dad (and mum for that matter) worked hard all his life
and planned to travel in their caravan when dad retired, but ill health caused
him to retire from work early and sell their beloved caravan and in the end dad
never really got to enjoy his retirement. I’d
always been taught that if you work hard enough you can achieve anything (and I’m
certainly not afraid of hard work) and I was adamant I didn’t want to spend my
life working my socks off like my dad for a retirement I might never get to
enjoy, so I managed to convince Paul the well paid office job could be
sacrificed for a chance to try and make the alpaca dream a reality. And that was over nine years ago now and the rest is history so they say!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite being crippled with arthritis, cancer and numerous
other issues dad still got to enjoy the alpacas, I even managed to get him on
the quad one or two times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was heart breaking at times when you know he would have
loved to get more involved, telling Paul how not to built the field shelter or
how he would do it; he was always right too!
He did manged to make me a couple of skirting tables along the way; we
soon outgrew the first one as our fleeces improved!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I then managed to persuade him to make me a button for a bag
I’d knitted because I couldn’t find a natural button I liked, of course he
couldn’t stop with one button he did it so well, I soon had him making tiny
buttons and scarf pins which meant he’d had to invent various tools for holding
them as his hands were so deformed by this point he couldn’t hold them!<o:p></o:p><br />
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I’m so proud of my dad and hope that he will be watching
over me as proud of me as I am of him, I love you dad! </div>
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Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-21482239256103590022015-05-13T08:13:00.001+01:002015-05-13T08:13:23.465+01:00Twins and a prolapseI had been hoping that I would have been able to blog with cria photos by now, however the first three are now overdue, Elysian is on 365 days, Gabby 354 and Chiquita is on 345. In fact we have 15 girls over 330 days gestation!<br />
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Sadly Venus gave birth in the early hours of Saturday morning in the pouring rain to twin girls, she had managed to carry them almost ten months. I found her stood over them in the field at 5am (my usual early morning check), she was a first time mum and clearly very confused by things.<br />
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The girls were solid brown weighing 4kg and a tiny rose grey weighing 2kg, I spent the first few hours beating myself up about the bigger girl who may have stood a very slim chance had she been born during the day.<br />
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Disturbing pictures follow.......<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKt_YEkyuUo/VVL1yY8lDYI/AAAAAAAAFpk/Gw9x6Ps7g0c/s1600/Venus%2Btwins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKt_YEkyuUo/VVL1yY8lDYI/AAAAAAAAFpk/Gw9x6Ps7g0c/s320/Venus%2Btwins.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
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Of all the alpaca lines we have Venus is from a line of girls who produce big babies so if anyone stood a chance of managing twins it would be this one, Venus's mum star was our biggest cria ever at 13kg.<br />
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Sadly the loss of the twins was only the start of it, Venus seemed to be taking a while to pas the placenta, and I was beginning to think that some oxytocin may be required but then she started to stain and out began to come the placenta.<br />
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It took slightly longer than usual, breeders out there will know that gravity usually plays a big part once the afterbirth starts to come away. However this didn't happen and it soon became apparent that things weren't going to plan and she was prolapsing.<br />
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Poor Venus ended up with a double horned prolapse! My phone went flat after this photo so you will be pleased to know you don't get to see the worst of things.</div>
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Venus isn't the most cooperative of girls and hates the halter and not getting her own way so catching her to resolve this problem wasn't going to be easy. In fact it took us the whole time it took the vet to arrive to actually get her out of the field! Thankfully I'd just managed to wrap things in clingfilm before she threw herself onto the ground squealing.</div>
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<a href="http://www.vetcentremorpeth.co.uk/home.html" target="_blank">Sam Prescott</a>, our vet, is fantastic and after giving Venus an epidural soon got the left horn hack into position but the right was much tighter and took some doing but he managed. Paul did ask if he was attaching it to her tongue at one point as he was having to go in so far!</div>
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Venus is now sore and not happy about being in but things are looking much better than they did.</div>
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The jury is out on whether to mate her again or not. Has anyone else out there got any experience on prolapses, particularly double horned ones following twins?</div>
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I'm not looking forward to a straight forward, text book baby please girls.<br />
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Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-80393529019207055542015-03-31T15:06:00.001+01:002015-03-31T15:06:18.682+01:00Big boys and little boysI'm under strict instructions to take things easy so I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to tell you a bit of whats been happening.<br />
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The sun has made a welcome appearance, although it seems to have been replaced today by frequent hail and snow showers and a howling gale!<br />
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We decided to put the two groups of boys together last week, usually the adolescent boys don't join the stud boys until after shearing when everyone looks and smells different and they go into a new field for another distraction. <br />
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However as we were moving the studs into a new field and seeing as they are all very well behaved we gave it a go We have a few boys who will start their working life this year, including Supreme Champion Thor, double fawn Champion Zoom and another of our white champions Linus, all unrelated and with very exciting genetics and fleeces (introductory discounts will be available on these boys so please get in touch if you are interested).<br />
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All went very well, it was head down munching....<br />
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With the odd bit of posing...<br />
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Until Loki remembered the burried wall, it makes a fantastic posing platform!</div>
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Loki is very proud of his tackle and likes to flash it to anyone and everyone, particularly Golden Guinea who is the boss.<br />
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Guinea tends to ignore the other boys for so long and every now and again reminds them he's the boss!</div>
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Frequent followers to our blog and twitter (@barnacrealpacas) will be aware that we also have a few sheep here too. Lambing isn't supposed to begin until 17th April, well after the NWAG show however someone seems to have forgot to mention it to this little cutie who arrived on Sunday from Bella one of our Texel girls.</div>
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There is also a pair of blackie twins on the top of the hill who have managed to avoid the camera so far. I love birthing season; alpacas start next month too :-)</div>
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<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-22765750896245334112015-03-17T15:45:00.000+00:002015-03-17T15:45:17.602+00:00Work Experience and job weekI'm pleased to hear my last blog went down well, so I thought I'd better make sure I didn't leave it long before I did the next one before I am in trouble again!<br />
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We are so busy what with one thing and another it's difficult to find the time to fit in sitting at the computer, but here I am whilst I have a cup of tea and sneak one of Paul custard creams whilst he's not here.<br />
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I've had a lovely young girl called Lucy here for some work experience for a few days which was great, she's wanting to become a vet and off to uni later in the year.<br />
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It's the second time Lucy has been and she is great, first job on our list was to get the littlies weaned. I have to say they have been a great bunch so far and with a couple of exceptions, Khaleesi and Xanthe.....<br />
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.......... they have all been good. They did crack it in then end though!</div>
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We like to get them used to walking on all surfaces and coming across different things so someone always accompanies me and on this occasion Lucy) to the post box. Selkis and Aryana are so friendly and happy to explore they love a stroll down the drive.<br />
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I also like to halter train them to walk onto the scales which always makes life easier in the future as some of the older girls and purchased girls do find the scales a bit of a scary experience!</div>
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Whilst Lucy was here all the girls got weighed and wormed and had a pedicure where required. Other than the usual drama queens it went quite well and for the first time ever we managed to weigh Venus (nickname crazy horse!) who was a hefty 80.4kg.</div>
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Porker award went to Vitoria who came in at 99.4kg although with a bit of luck she's pregnant. </div>
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Lucy also got to do the oral AD&E paste which all the littlies are happy to take.</div>
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It wasn't all hard work she did get to play on Paul's toy, although I don't think he realises us girls don't find it as much fun as he does!</div>
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Bottle feeding is a much more fun job if you ask me!</div>
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Weaning continues, I've added another four to the line of bums, they do have more troughs these two are just the favourites!</div>
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Arty, Pixie, Pandora and Stella have all settled in nicely although Stella has made it quite clear that she doesn't think she should have been stopped from having her bottle and had a few stroppy tantrums initially! </div>
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That just leaves the youngest two cria Oscar and Peaches to wean along with tiny Nelson, Slug and Eclipse who are on a go slow. They will be all weaned by the end of the month though with a bit of luck. </div>
<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-74341682741365363112015-02-27T22:45:00.000+00:002015-02-27T22:45:44.186+00:00Alive and kicking<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry for the lack of blog post and thank you to those of
you who have been in touch to check that we’re ok. Yes we are ok, I've just
very busy, but have continued to tweet (you can follow
us @BarnacreAlpacas) as I can do that whilst walking round the place!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I really can’t believe it was October when I last blogged, I’m
ashamed. Many nights I've sat down to write a blog but either fell asleep over the computer or started doing website updates. There is so much to tell you I’m
not sure where to start. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Yesterday we celebrated our 8<sup>th</sup> birthday, the alpacas
got lots of bonus veggies and I got treated to a bottle of Prosecco; thanks
Lizzie and we even saved Paul a small sip!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last year we had our best ever year for knitwear sales and for the
first time ever I went into the new year with a long order list of special commissions,
so the knitting needles are still smoking!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Like most other people we have mud, mud and more mud, I've
never known it so bad, the alpaca are so dirty I’m not sure they will ever recover! The boys are absolutely filthy and the girls
have mud dreadlocks! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ankha here not only likes to paddle backwards and forwards through the mud she likes to roll in it too!</div>
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At least the snow gave us a bit of a change from brown to
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And the girls are soon in the minute it starts to snow (or rain!); they’re
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Oscar and Nelson who were featured in some of my last blogs
are doing well, I’ll tell you more about them specifically later, sadly the
same can’t be said for little Black Betty who I mentioned in my last blog, she
continued to lose weight and despite being bottle fed and put on a drip towards
the end she lost her battle with life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We've now weaned most of last years cria and I've already
sold some of them, and as you can imagine already regretting agreeing to sell
some of them! They are currently being
halter trained and adjusting to life without mum which I have to say is going
very well, in fact I think with one exception they have hardly noticed they
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I don’t think the same will be said for the next few to wean
because some of them have been having a bottle.
Pixie and Stella have been getting a milk top us as their mums don’t
have much milk and Arty (work of Art) has been fully bottle fed since the death
of his mum Cara just before Christmas, which was very sad, she suffered a
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Arty is such a sweetie, he likes his speedibeet too…. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-88010578447401709822014-10-26T08:17:00.000+00:002014-10-26T08:17:14.045+00:00Eye eye Oscar, anyone for mushrooms?Thanks for your comments on Nelson, he seems just fine after his transfusion, today is weigh day so I'll update you on that next time.<br />
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He had Thiamine Judy and was clear of cocci, it didn't make any difference unfortunately, and his Albumin levels were normal too. The only slightly high result was his bile acid but this was only at the top end of normal and not something my vet or Claire Whitehead had any real concerns over.<br />
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Moving on to Oscar, the ophthalmologist was very pleased with him and his eye and the speed at which it was healing. He is still on a cocktail of eye drops but the injections are coming to an end and the drops have reduced, and there is definitely sight there. We're back again in three weeks.<br />
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We are are heading towards thoughts of winter and winter grazing so the main group of girls have had another move round, fresh grass always goes down well! Before they move I always check the fields carefully and there were some very impressive mushrooms in this field, not sure what they were but I don't think I'd fancy them in an omelet!<br />
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I've decided that I think I seriously need to look into a milking goat, as I have now started feeding another of the cria. Black Betty has always been a slow grower but last week she lost weight, I'd tried feeding her before but she wasn't having any of it, however she must now be hungry as she took just short of 300ml twice. Hopefully that will help her weigh gain, poor little thing doesn't have a very dense fleece either so she might end up with a second coat on before long too!!</div>
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Yesterday when checking the sheep we noticed that someone had hit the crash barrier on the far east side of our farm and had pushed it into part of our fence. Thankfully the sheep hadn't noticed that they could actually get out! I was not impressed that they hadn't bothered to tell me, it must have been a big lorry as they have pulled two huge lumps of concrete out the ground, the police knew nothing about it either so looks like it's another fence repair that we've got to fund.</div>
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Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-90236078803463896152014-10-23T22:46:00.000+01:002014-10-23T22:46:01.193+01:00Nelson news<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I mentioned little Nelson on the blog last week and the latest blood that had been taken by the vet to try and establish what was going on. We have tested for everything, you name it we've tested for it, including the nasties like BVD (not that we thought he has/had it) and everything comes back ok and it did again!</div>
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He has clear fecal counts, his heart, lungs and chest sound fine, but then you look at him and he's tiny, his growth chart is far from normal and without something we fear he wont make it through winter.</div>
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As you can see on his chart initially his weight gain was normal and at the first peak at just over 6kg he got heat stroke and nothing has been the same since. After lots of hard work and various medicines we did manage a month of very steady weight gain but nothing significant and we have now slowed to between 50 and 100 grams a week if we are lucky. At three months and one week he weighs 7.71kg!!</div>
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We had decided that the next step was a plasma infusion, not that there was really any evidence that this was going to help we are just running out of ideas! So on Wednesday we headed off to Robson & Prescott this time with Nelson and a bag of Barnacre plasma and a rather paranoid me!</div>
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He's the gorgeous little man waiting patiently for his appointment with Sam Prescott.</div>
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I've never know Sam struggle to get a vein but he did with poor Nelson and when he did manage to find one they either collapsed or there was a valve, but Nelson being the calm and laid back little man that he is just sat there and got more and more shaved and stabbed.</div>
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I was so relieved when the plasma was in and the cannular removed and all appeared well. I am the first one to admit I am paranoid when it comes to Nelson, I just can't help it!</div>
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Nelson was pleased to get back home and went straight to get a drink off his mum Andromeda and didn't seem to be in the slighted bit upset by his little outing, a bit of milk solves everything :-) Fingers crossed this will kick start some growth. Sam is off now for a week and on his return wants a phone call saying Nelson has hit double figures!!</div>
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<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-14999176686836657162014-10-19T22:55:00.002+01:002014-10-20T09:26:00.984+01:00Keeping an eye on Oscar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have so much to tell you I’m not sure where to start, if
you follow our tweets you will have seen much of what has been going on, but
140 characters can be very limiting at times!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Marne’s little man has been causing me major worries, you
may recall he was the 410 day gestation cria who was found flat and freezing cold in the field, initially couldn't stand, has had a
plasma transfusion and is being bottle fed because mum has not milk.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At a few days old he developed an ulcer in his eye which we put down to the fact he couldn't stand and had probably been rubbing it on the floor. With eye ointment the clouding cleared and his sight seemed fine, but it had left two white dots on his eye which the vet checked when he was out seeing Nelson (mentioned in my last blog, more on him another night). </div>
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The drops Sam put in showed that there was not retinal damage and he was happy that it was scar tissue that could be scraped under a local anesthetic if it bothered him. However a few days later the eye started to water and it clouded within a few hours and a black dot appeared next to the raised white scaring (you should be able to click on the photos to enlarge them).</div>
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Straight back to the vets we went as I was very worried, he now appeared to have lost sight in the eye. Sam Prescott referred us straight to an ophthalmic specialist, Chris Dixon at <a href="http://www.veterinaryvision.co.uk/" target="_blank">veterinary vision</a> who immediately prescribed a cocktail of eye drops and injections until he could move round his appointments to see us on Firday. Here is the little man waiting to see Chris.</div>
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The poor little man underwent a number of very uncomfortable examinations including an ultrasound of his eye which was rather fascinating. Put simply Chris diagnosed a protruding iris, his eye had ruptured and the black that had appeared was his iris! </div>
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He was happy that he was suitable for surgery and he immediately underwent very complex corneal surgery to remove all the clouding, return the iris to it's rightful place, re-inflate the front of the eye and have a corneal graft.</div>
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It took almost two hours, which seemed to be the longest two hours of my life sat in Morrisons car park 5 minutes from the vets! The relief when Sam (he was doing the anesthetic) rang to say he was out and in recovery was immense. I was there within minutes and within half an hour we were heading home with over 40 tiny stitches on his eyeball! This is his eye tonight.</div>
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This little man is such a fighter, he's had so much thrown at him in his short life how could I have done anything else but try and save his sight, I'll worry about the four figure vet bill next month when it arrives!</div>
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We have now given him a name, Oscar which is a Celtic boys name meaning jumping fighter. He's a keeper!!!</div>
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<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-26613302406639894612014-10-16T14:58:00.002+01:002014-10-16T20:32:01.314+01:00Thirsk Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Things just seem to be manic here, with the days getting shorter outside jobs are getting harder to fit in and with a knitwear order book growing by the day I'm trying to knit like crazy at night whilst fitting in four hourly (I'm trying to stretch them out!) feeds round the clock!</div>
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As I was on bottle feeding duties Paul headed off to Thirst without me last weekend, he was commentating as usual so my mum and dad were meeting him there so mum could do most of the handling, she's great at it and loves it thankfully.</div>
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First up was Boulevarde, this was the first time we'd actually shown him, although he'd already won a championship a couple of years ago as an adult. He won first place senior grey male and went on to win Grey Male Champion; result! He has a lot to live up to with his half brother, five times grey champion Sunburst. </div>
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Shirley said he caught her eye the minute he entered the ring, she loved his walking, his fleece and everything about him, he does have that effect on you!</div>
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Next up was little Galapagos, hes' only 12 and a half months but has a stunning fleece. 1st place and Champion brown male; Shirley's comments were finest, densest and best fleece structure, beautiful animal, watch this space!</div>
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Next in was Paul and Zoom, not sure if that was because he wanted a break from talking on the mike or he'd sneaked off for a Jan cake and thought I'd better give mum a break. Zoom won the Fawn Adult male class and also went on to win Fawn Champion.</div>
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Next it was the turn of the girls, Elfida in the intermediate fawn class. She came second with the comment that she was finer with more character than the girl in first place but not as consistent in colour.</div>
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After lunch it was on the whites, first in for us was Czara. The text I received was 'Czara in massive class be patient' I was struggling with the patience bit!! After what seemed like an eternity she was placed 2nd on density with the comment this fleece woos you. She went on to win Female White Reserve Champion.</div>
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That just left our two white adult boys, after a lengthy deliberation we got 2nd for Thor and 3rd for Plato. The joral reasoning from Shirley on Thor was fantastic, in fact I got three texts from different people all congratulating me on the fantastic comments, and another text described the comments as orgasmic! But at the end of the day she said she preferred a bigger 'boxier' male. </div>
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Thor then went on to win Reserve Male Champion, clearly he was rather bored by the whole thing!!</div>
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The darkside of the Championship line up was a sea of Barnacre, three out of 5 so not a bad days work. We took 7 animals can came home with three 1st, three 2nds, a 3rd, three colour champions and two reserve Champions so not to shabby ;-)</div>
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<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-72958540332576040752014-10-11T06:59:00.000+01:002014-10-11T07:07:25.716+01:00A gain at lastOops it's now early on Saturday morning and I have been meaning to blog since about Wednesday! Better late than never, I'm here now!<br />
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Thankfully Fair Lady's cria, who is still to be named; we can't agree on anything but none of the options seem to really suit her, has finally started gaining weight. <br />
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Fair Lady seemed to be starting with a touch of mastitis, but with having antibiotics and pain relief following a very traumatic labour I think I caught it very early and it has cleared up. I was struggling to get any milk from her back quarters and she wasn't keen for the cria to nurse on three of her four teats.<br />
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In the last three days she has gained 750gms so we seem to have cracked it, although I did notice a bit of scouring last night so now need to keep an eye on that; there's always something to be watching.<br />
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On Tuesday and Wednesday we had a lovely young girl Lucy here for some work experience, she is wanting to be a vet and is wanting some alpaca experience for her portfolio. She was very good and I'm sure will make a fantastic vet one day.<br />
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Tuesday I had the vet out, Nelson is still worrying me. Despite now being three months old he is still only 7.5kg and gaining no weight despite eating, peeing and pooing completely normally. He had started to stiffen up a bit on his back legs so that was a concern.<br />
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Sam has taken another two lots of bloods to see if the lab can find anything, so far everything has come back clear but I can't give up on this little man, I'm worried that without some growth he is never going to survive winter. He is the most adorable little thing and has the best black fleece we have ever bred, he is a very special little man! <br />
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Wednesday we did a round of Lambivac injections and routine cocci drench for some of the cria, Lucy was happy to get involved and was very competent at giving injections. Here she is giving Perry his.<br />
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We also did a bit of halter work with the young boys, Asher likes to think he's the boss and doesn't really like being told where to go! However for the first time he seemed to get it and walked the best he has ever walked, it is still a work in progress mind you.<br />
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Paul has headed off down to Thirsk this morning with an amended show team, I'm at home on bottle feeding duty so feel a bit like I'm missing out! Hopefully our twitter feed @BarnacreAlpacas will be keeping us all informed with proceedings.Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-24701370038921667002014-10-06T22:58:00.001+01:002014-10-07T15:25:57.401+01:00The wait is over At last the wait is over, Fair Lady eventually decided to go into labour late on Friday morning (just before it started to rain)!<br />
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I was quite pleased she'd decided that Friday was the day as we'd got mum farm sitting on Saturday whilst we were at Morpeth for the Food and Drink Festival with the alpacas and our knitwear. After the Marne delivery a couple of weeks ago I didn't want mum to have to deal with another overdue baby to be delivered.<br />
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At 11.30 mum went up to check and thought that Fair Lady was showing all the signs; she's getting very good at it now, she was spot on. After lots of rolling, and visits to the poo pile out fired one leg, yes just a leg, no sign of anything else!!<br />
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Fair Lady is a real worrier so I knew getting hold of her in the field wasn't going to be easy but I needed to investigate.<br />
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I decided the easiest way was to get everyone out the field and into the channel; perfect it worked and she was soon in a catch pen. All lubed up and in I went, further and further to try and find the other leg and a head.<br />
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I eventually found the head down low underneath the cria and squashed to its tummy, but as for the second leg I couldn't find it anywhere. I could find back feet but no front leg so I called the vet as I knew I was going to need help.<br />
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It took the vet over an hour to arrive so during this time we took Fair lady down to the shed, Rose and Selkis were happy to show her the way as it was raining by this time and they'd spent time in with Nelson if you remember and found it rather cosy down there.<br />
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I continued to try and get the cria out but try as I might I couldn't budge the head, she was on 365 days so I was thinking the cria must be big and I was starting to think it would be dead. Having chased the location of the vet (they said she'd left an hour ago so should be there!) I had one last go and somehow managed to get the head up and out. I've never been so relieved about anything, there was a few coughs and splutters but the cria was alive.<br />
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With some extra space I hoped I would now be able to find the missing leg but I still couldn't feel it and then I heard a car, I can't begin to tell you how pleased I was.<br />
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It took the vet some time but eventually after constantly finding back feet she sighed a sigh of relief she'd found the leg, somehow bent over the back of the cria! Fair Lady wasn't very keen on the cria being pushed back in to move the leg but she was clearly very pleased to have the cria and the vets arms eventually out!<br />
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Other than a bit of a wonky neck the cria didn't seem any the worse for her (yes it's a girl) rather stressful arrival into the world.<br />
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Despite being 365 days gestation she was only 6.48kg and is showing signs of prematurity, down on her pasterns and teeth not erupted. She is also causing me some concerns over feeding, my regular vet Sam Prescott is coming out tomorrow so we'll see what he has to say about her.</div>
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I've got to be honest she is not at all what we were expecting. Fair Lady was mated to Lavender Park Tully and has herself produced two very nice cria, the first one of our colour champions' Zoom and the second a very nice fine black Jumping Jack so we were hoping for grand things but that is not the case, however as long as she is happy and healthy that's all that matters, we all know alpaca mating results are far from predictable!</div>
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<br />Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6949282636604185864.post-40961335853526850572014-09-30T13:12:00.001+01:002014-09-30T13:12:12.025+01:00Still waiting for Fair LadyFair Lady our last girl to birth still has her legs crossed on 361 days today, I'm really hoping we don't have much longer to wait, hope you've had more luck with your next one arriving Barbara!<br />
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Seeing as there are no new babies to introduce I will carry on with the ones we have already. I had previously got up to Cerys, who is now owned by Balnuith Alpacas in Scotland.<br />
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Next up is Leyton, he's from Little Miss Irraquoy and Heart Throb, he was named Leyton because he was born late on in the evening the night before shearing. As is always the case Irraquoy is super protective of her son and as with all her cria he has attitude. He has a very nice fleece to go with it though!<br />
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Next up is Amarillo, he was born the day of shearing, again late by alpaca standards at 7.30pm and needed a fair bit of help to enter the world. He is from Amata and Sandstorm and has a lovely buttery beige fleece which will make fantastic yarn; I'm already working out what I can knit with it! </div>
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He got his name after a tomato (!), blame Paul, he calls his mum tomato for some reason so a tomato variety seemed to suit him.</div>
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The following day Kimchee gave birth to the biggest baby of the year (so far) at 10.5kg to a lovely brown girl Aryana meaning golden haired, she is sired by Darwin. She is still the heaviest of the year, despite being almost a month younger than the oldest. Aryana is full sister to Stargazer (black!) who is one of the boys we have for sale.</div>
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Next up is Stella (previously known as Cacace). She is also sired by Darwin and from Cha Cha, she is a lovely girl with a nice fleece and great presence. Stella and her mum have been sold, but luckily for me they will stay here on livery for a while yet.</div>
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The 7th June was a busy day for birthing, very shortly after Stella arrived Kealani produced Xanthe. She is a sweet little girl, sired by Heart Throb, she has a lovely fine fleece which is a lovely shiny beige, hence her name, Xanthe meaning bright and blond.</div>
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Debbie, Barnacre Alpacashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03396470435865685697noreply@blogger.com2