Tuesday 23 December 2008

A sad day at Barnacre

This morning the realisation of what happened last night was beginning to hit home. We lost a female cria, all very sudden with no real warning.

When I went into the field yesterday morning I thought that she had spent the night on her own, still asleep away from the main herd. However she got up, albeit a little stiff, and went and had a drink of milk from mum and had her usual good appetite at the trough. I checked on her on a number of occasions during the day and she was happily munching on the grass.

The herd are due their AD&E vitamins so I gave her hers a couple of days early just to be on the safe side. Everyone else will get theirs at the weekend - I can't manage the likes of Blossom on my own, and I hid the tube from Gabby who loves the stuff (If you've not seen it there is a photo of her taking it on the photos page of the website http://www.barnacre-alpacas.co.uk/page_1172869167515.html ).

She had tea with everyone else and all seemed to be fine. But for some reason last night after dark, I decided that we should go and check that she'd not been left on her own to go to sleep. She had and things were not at all good, shortly after the poor little thing died in my arms. Not a very nice experience at all, and not one I ever want to repeat. I am currently awaiting the results of the postmortem.

On a much brighter note everyone else is full of the joys of a sunny winters day - obviously hoping that Santa will bring them something nice.

2 comments:

Patou Alpacas said...

So sorry to hear your news.
Sadly things like this happen, there is nothing that you can do about it. Keep your chins up.

Zanzibah Alpacas said...

Ah...Debbie, Im so sorry to hear of your terrible experience, I know how you are feeling, I have had my fare share of unhappy events also, its never something you get used to. I know that you would have done all you could to try to deal with the situation, however, sometimes theres just nothing you can do, and unfortunately its something that we must try to deal with, never easy. I hope the results put your mind at ease, and you just have to look at the rest of your herd and, I hope this gives you the comfort you need at this difficult time..All the best.....Jayne