Ovulation spit offs

This morning began with ovulation spit offs for Imala and Blossom, both girls were mated last week. So it was a little tease for poor Inca, I was slightly concerned that Imala was going to sit as she has been spending more time than I would have liked near Inca's fence. But nothing to worry about there, she wasn't happy with him in the pen and tried to escape, Blossom didn't even let me get within a few feet of her with him when she filled her cheeks with something very unpleasant!

Chiquita, our little dormouse was hanging round very hopefully. She still needs to double in size before any action in that department, although it doesn't stop her really trying and this morning she got poor Inca so excited he was making a bit of a fool of himself. In the end I had to drag (as she wouldn't move!) Chiquita away from him.

Feeding lessons

My parents have come up to stay for a few days today which is nice, they'd not seen Princess Mallika yet so mum was armed with her camera. Which Imala enjoyed poking her nose into - she loves to check out cameras.

I have been giving mum lessons on how to feed Gaussian this afternoon. As I've said before he's hardly very cooperative! He must have known she was a novice because he feed quite well (for him) today. I'm trying to encourage him to eat supplement at the minute but he's not showing any interest.

Don't count your chickens

It started off very grey and misty this morning but once the mist lifted we had a glorious afternoon which the alpacas enjoyed sunbathing in whilst I cleared out their shelter. I had the usual helpers, Ursula and Horatio - Mary certainly produces very nosey mischievous offspring!

Gaussian's lunchtime feed went very well and he actually drank standing up with minimum restraint. I got all excited in the hope that we had turned the corner, but alas it was back to the wrestling again tonight. I really don't know what else to try with him. He is such a little monkey, a lovable one mind you.

At the rate of progress Princess Mallika will overtake him in the weight stakes by the end of the week as she is piling on the grams with Duchess's huge bag of milk. I wish I'd taken my camera out with me tonight because she was sharing kisses with her mum, it was so cute.

Normal service returns

With Paul back at his paid work today it was back to doing things on my own again, which included trying to give Gaussian his bottle. Not an easy job when the little man thinks that he doesn't need it. I only managed a measly 40ml this morning and I think most of that went down me or the outside of Gaussians neck. By the time Paul got home I had managed to get a total of 105ml down him in some way, shape or form - not accounting for the covering I'd had!!

As I expected when I weighted him he had lost weight since yesterday. He is a nightmare to feed, pesky little chap. With Paul back this evening he was back to sitting on Pauls knee and being held and eventually took 245ml, thank goodness. I really don't know what to try with him next.

Aodhfin is also walking a bit stiffly on his back legs this evening, not sure what is going on there so I will have to keep an eye on him. He spends a lot of time chasing and play fighting with Barnaby so I'm not sure if he's pulls something. He has a great love of doing star jumps and twisting in the air.

Show sucess

Firstly let me apologise for the lack of blog last night. After a number of very early mornings, I was far too tired to turn on the computer, despite knowing (well hoping) that some of you would be wanting to know how we got on at the Border Union show at Kelso, in bonny Scotland.

Well, all went very well and the whole team came back the proud owners of ribbons, Loki managed two, he came first in his class and then went on to win Black Champion, so got to take part in the champions parade in the main arena with the other champions - see animals and owners alike looking very proud below!

My very special friend, and Loki's paddock mate, Hughie got third in his class and the girls did equally as well. Chiquita was awarded first place in her class, Oonagh second in hers and Ursula third in hers. A job well done team!!

Today has been spent catching up on some of the jobs that have been neglected over the past few days. There are just never enough hours in the day.

Paul is back to his paid job tomorrow, so it's back to being me doing all the alpaca jobs - poor Paul missing out on so much during the week.

Guess how many hay bales are in the garage

It's quiz night (blame Paul), as those of you who read last nights will know, we have collected our first batch of Alan's hay. All you have to do now is guess the number of bales in garage. I will help by saying they are 2 foot wide, 20 inches high and 3 foot long. We are still able to get to the door at the back leading to the workshop, fit in the quad, a bale of straw, the usual paraphernalia required for alpaca farming and general garage 'junk'!
I had an exceptionally early start today as we were heading off up to Kelso for the Border Union show. I was one of the fleece stewards so had to be there for 8am, so a 4am start for me as I had a few things that needed to be done before we left, including trying to convince Gaussian that his bottle really was nice!
I found the fleece judging fascinating, and learn an awful lot - next time I will have a much better idea of what I should be looking to remove. It's another early start tomorrow because it's animal judging and it takes longer towing than in my little MG.

Where did today go?

Wow it's been a busy day. First job of the day is checking over everyone and the feed run. This morning poor little Princess Mallika had sore eyes that had stuck firmly shut so we had to bath them. She was being bothered by the flies yesterday and they obviously irritated her or she's got a bit of an infection, we'll keep a close eye on her.

Then this afternoon we were off up to our good friends Jenny & Graham at Fowberry Alpacas with three girls and their respective cria in the trailer for appointments with three very fine studs. Everyone seemed pleased with their respective partners and hopefully they will all hold their pregnancies. Geena and Imala quite clearly remembered Fowberry, Imala so much so she wasn't keen to get back into the trailer to come home!

This evening we went to raid Alan's hay field, not literally, we had been told we could go and collect our ordered bales as baling had begun in earnest. More on this tomorrow night as it's getting late and we're off up to Kelso in the morning for the Border Union show - got to be their for 8am!

Barnacre Princess Mallika

First things first, we have finished phase one fencing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Duchess's little girl now has a name, Princess Mallika. She is so sweet and really stands out with most of this years cria being white, although she does have a good habit of hiding in the long grass which causes Duchess great panic. This afternoon we were sat on the rocks having a well earned cup of tea watching and poor Duchess couldn't find her baby and was running round in a panic until Geena pointed out her where abouts in a patch of tall grass. Duchess was checking all the other cria (who are completely different colours to her baby) to make sure they weren't hers.

Gaussian is also putting on wieght nicely now which is good, lthough he will only feed if he's sat on your knee and being held. He refuses to put the bottle in his mouth if he is standing.