A trip to the hill

As work was supposed to be starting on the hill lat Thursday we wanted to head off up there to make sure things were finally getting underway.  We had planned to go at the weekend but we ran out of daylight hours!

We took Carol and Dave along to have a look, I thought they might find a nice spot to sit knitting and carding.  As you can see you can only just spot Carol & I the grass is so long!

It looks like Dave likes this view down to the little footbridge and the hay field.

The hay has all been baled and just needs a nice big shed to go in - get on with it planners before it gets ruined.  Hopefully it will get piled up very soon so at least we can get a sheet over it.

And just to prove things are finally happening here is the digger, I was checking to see if they'd left the keys in as I thought I might help them along a bit.

We were working out where everyone is going to go.  The girls will initially go onto the hay field and the sheep have a little paddock waiting for them already. I just need to sort myself a caravan out now!!!!

National Trust Seaton Delaval Hall

We were booked in to take the alpacas along to Seaton Delaval Hall today, we went a couple of months ago and went down a storm so they were keen to have us back.

Typically as I was off out for the day Brinley decided he didn't want his bottle this morning, he was too busy feeding from his mum Geena.  She does have milk just not much of it so I knew he'd be ok until I got back.  With everyone else fed and water we loaded up Ochre, Pearson, Minimus and Niveous and off we went.

The boys went down really well despite the wet weather, this time we were right in front of the hall so all the passers by could see us.  This was great although there was very nearly an accident because someone was too busy looking at the alpacas rather than the car in front of them which had stopped to turn right!

It was great to be able to spend the day talking alpaca with lots of interested people.  The boys, particularly Ochre and Pearson love all the attention too. 

Our knitwear went down well, one lady when I offered to nicely gift wrap the Hughie Bobble Hat she has just purchased, said oh no just remove the label please and I'll wear it!

I cam home with an extra leg, not a real one I hasten to add!  One for displaying our knitted socks on.  I already have one and the trust had found one so were glad that I could put it to some use.  Our Barnacre socks go down very well, poor mum gets the job of knitting those - she's very good at it.

Rain rain go away, come back another day.

Oh boy has it rained today, it started off dry but during the dismantling of the field shelter the rain arrived and my word did it rain.

We had a visit from a lovely couple this afternoon who are thinking of keeping alpacas, despite the rain they seemed to enjoy meeting the Barnacre crew. 

The three young show girls from our recent trip to the Border Union Show were so pleased with them they they didn't want to go back into their field; at least our visitors got to see how much alpacas can enjoy human company!

Tomorrow we are heading off to Seaton Delaval Hall with some boys and our knitwear.  The forecast isn't good so wish us luck, or even better if you are nearby do call in and say hello.

Play time

It  has been another lovely day so I have been dismantling more fencing.  I was determined not to let this one particular post beat me.  It would not budge, even cursing it didn't help!

After tweeting about it I received a number of encouraging texts and tweets, mainly suggesting I use the tractor.  That was going to be my final straw.

Whilst I regained some strength I decided to sit on the bench and have a cup of tea whilst watching the littlies.  The are great to watch and I had the camera with me so I can share the pleasure with you.

They were full of energy and mischief.  Golden Guinea's latest three cria Nadia (front), Brinley (middle) and Piccolina at the back are all great friends.  Jam Packed is usually there too but he was busy having elevenses from the milk bar when I took this.

 

Brinley can pose just like his daddy.......

Nadia and Piccolina were watching wondering what he was up to!

After my tea break I didn't actually get back to the fencing, I nipped over to Carol's to pick up some more knitting she's done and get some sheep food from Cowans.

So after tea this evening Paul and I removed the last of the posts and rails.  That leaved the field shelter and the stile's to remove tomorrow.  It sounds like we will be doing that in the rain which won't be very pleasant.

More head room required

Today has felt more like autumn than summer, this morning it was really dank and misty, in fact if it wasn't for the dark girls I wouldn't have been able to see any alpacas in the girls big field.  They soon came running when they herd me at the gate though!

Shortly after I'd finished the morning feed routine and started to take down some more of the fencing the rain arrived.
The fencing we put up in the rented paddocks we used screws rather than nails on the cross bars so we could dismantle it.  Unfortunately I seem to be struggling to undo some of them.  Typically I am struggling with one screw on my bars - how annoying!  The young boys were watching with interest trying to work out what is going on.

Hopefully work began on the hill today so soon I will be able to start the fencing at the new farm.  I need the house and farm yard to be pegged out so I can start fencing from there.

I nipped over to Hexham today to pick up some feed and troughs, they cost me a small fortune, £160 for 3 of them,   I like the black rubber ones as they are easier to move and keep clean but I certainly didn't like the price.  Now that many of the cria are eating heard feed we were running short on trough space.

Dismantling fencing in readiness for rebuilding

It has been a real scorcher today, the alpacas have spent much of the day stretched out sunbathing.  A passerby was rather concerned and shouted over to me to make sure all was OK.  It did look like the whole herd had been wiped out!

Geena's cria, who I think I'd better christen quick before Mark has another glass of wine (check out his comment on last nights blog).  We have named him named Brinley, meaning burning wood.  He has been taking his bottles nicely.  He had obviously had plenty off Geena at tea time as he only wanted a little of the goats milk but he had his full quota at bedtime.

There are new neighbours moving in just across the road from the man herd and the girls soon spotted a strange dog.  Chief spot at Barnacre is Oonagh, closely followed by her daughters Freyja (2010 cria) and Kealani (2009 cria).  It is obviously a family trait as her mum Blossom was always chief spot.

My broody hen seems to be loosing interest in her eggs now.  She's been sat on them for over three weeks now so I'm sure these are dud ones.  I must remember to take my torch and see if I can candle them tomorrow.

Gaining nicely

Geena's baby who I have a name in my head for; I suppose I should run it past Paul before I announce it to the world, is looking good today.  His neck seems much better and he is moving it normally now, although he does have a tendency to hang it to one side if he's feeling sleepy.

You may recall Geena can't produce enough milk for her cria so they need topping up with the bottle.  Thankfully this little chap likes his, unlike Geena's 2009 cria Gaussian who I had to pretty much force feed for 6 months! 

He has gained a little weight today and now weighs 7.63kg which is good.  I also weighed Piccolina who is a very healthy 8.9kg, it took Minimus over a month to get to this weight so I'm hopeful she will be bigger than her brother.

Portamento was a whopping 19.85kg, he's only 6 weeks old, Minimus was that at a year, bless him.  I also weighed Jam-Packed, 10.44kg, it was an excuse for a cuddle really he is adorable, don't you agree...

A day early but still a day late

 Today has seen the arrival of the last Barnacre cria of the year, a day early yet still a day too late. 

As you will recall my parents have been here for a few days as mum was animal sitting whilst we were up at Kelso.  Mum loves to see the babies being born and was hopeful that Geena would oblige, but she had to go home yesterday afternoon.

I did think first thing that Geena thinking about birthing, she wasn't actually due until tomorrow  but clearly didn't want to wait any longer.  My mum was not very pleased - sorry mum!

It is the first time I've actually seen Geena give birth, it was a good job really as she needed a little help to release this baby.

It is a lovely dark fawn boy who weighed a healthy 7.48kg, which is quite small for us this year.  I think he must have been laid in an awkward position as he has a bit of a stiff neck.

He was a little slow to get going but having had a little top up bottle of colostrum which went down very well.  Geena can't produce enough milk so her cria always need a little topping up.