Monday 24 January 2011

Weaning went well

We got up with the determination that weaning would happen today, it had been put off for one thing and another for a little while now and did need doing.

After tempting everyone into a pen with some nice fresh grass those who required separation were split off and loaded into the trailer, eventually.  Only Ochre decided the trailer was a good place to go other other six weren't so keen and took a little persuasion!

We normally wean into one of the stud strips or one of the isolation fields however this year we had saved some grass behind the house for the weanlings.  Well we had more this year and this field and shelter is bigger; plus I can keep a closer eye on everyone.

With nice fresh grass the youngsters didn't even notice they had left their mums, until tea time that was and they realised that the milk bar was missing.  There was a little humming but nothing much at all, so all very pleasing.

As for the mums, to be honest I think most were pleased for the break, with the exception Willow that is.  She is always very close to her babies and this evening she was looking for Layla, hopefully she will soon get over it.  When we weaned her last baby, Chiquita, we ended up having to do it three times because she kept letter her go back to suckle, even after three months!

I was going to share a photo of the youngsters with you but by the time I got out with the camera all three of the whities had found a mole hill to roll in and were a disgrace.

3 comments:

Rosemary said...

Glad to hear it all went well - will have to get on with my weaning now, I've no excuses any more!

Zanzibah Alpacas said...

Nice to hear the weaning went to plan ....ah the first night alone !...I bet you sleep less than the alpacas.......and fancy them finding a mole hill to roll in...to scupper your photography plans.......Jayne

Denise said...

Weaning any animal is more worrying for the owners than the animals themselves.