One chick or two

My parents headed home this evening after an enjoyable few days, mum got to spend a little bit of time on the bench knitting with the girls in between her jobs!

We have done some spit offs with the maidens today, all three girls flatly refused Gianmarco's advances. Star decided that she would like to be mated and sat next to the pen, Marky thought his luck was in.

She is only just 13 months old so I've told her she can wait a little while longer. We are going to mate her this year though as she is a big girl and clearly thinks she is ready. We would usually wait until about 18 months old to mate our girls, however if we have a girl who has matured and is well grown we will consider doing it earlier.

I have been playing lifesaver to one of our sparrow families today. When I first got up I noticed that a tiny bird had fallen out of it's nest onto the patio. It was still alive and I couldn't make my mind up whether I should get a ladder and put it back or try and hand rear it.

It was tiny and after giving it a couple of flies and a grub I managed to find I decided I was going to put it back in the nest. With baby safely returned to its nest I went about my normal morning chores.

The at lunchtime I noticed a slightly larger sparrow chick on the floor, again alive and in need of rescuing, there is obviously a nest malfunction going on! This time daddy sparrow sat on the wall with a beak full of grubs and watched me return his baby to the nest. Once the ladder was removed and I was at a safe distance he went into the nest with lunch and no doubt give his chick a stern talking too.

Tea for two

We have had a visit from the vet today, we had a couple girls that needed checking. When Nefertiti was shorn it revealed a lump, it isn't bothering her and it didn't seem to be attached to anything but it needed checking.


Also our youngest cria, Casiphia has been worrying me a little. When she was born her umbilical cord seemed thicker than normal and it hasn't dried and fallen off like normal, it also feels different. I've never seem an umbilical before but I was sure it wasn't that, but I got Alan my farmer friend to look at it when she was first born and he confirmed it wasn't.

Thankfully having had a good poke and check over of Neferiti the vet was happy to leave her, he thinks the lump is a result of a knock she received some time ago.

He also agreed that Casiphia didn't have an umbilical hernia, but could feel a little hardening at the navel. She is gaining weight and doing well so he wasn't too worried about her but she's had so long lasting antibiotics and has got to have a second dose on Friday just to be on the safe side. He said that the cord will fall off eventually.

After rain this morning the sun came out this afternoon and as my parents are heading off home tomorrow mum headed off into the paddock with her camera to take some photo's; Pearson thought he would have a sup of her cup of tea whilst she was busy!
Best friends Ochre and Pearson have been wrestling again!

Happy Birthdday Hughie

Everyone knows Hughie, he is a very special alpaca, the friendliest there is and today was his third birthday.

It doesn't seem three years ago that I was worried sick that this premature cria would not survive. Paul was away (as is always the case when something happens) but my parents were here when Duchess gave birth at 323 days. Hughie was very flat, had no suck reflex and the vet told me to prepare myself for the worst as he didn't think he was going to make it.

Thankfully we proved him wrong and after initially tube feeding and a week of top up bottle feeding you'd never know there had been a problem Hughie was running round the field and feeding happily from mum. He did still find balancing for a wee a problem though and used his head as a fifth leg! Life was tiring, here is a very little Oonagh staying close to her new play mate!

Three years on Hughie is a great asset to the Barnacre herd and has repaid me a thousand times over for that initial intensive care. Hughie can always be relied upon for any public appearances and loves the attention he always received.

Hughie is the only gelding in our herd, I would never part with him, he holds a very special place in my heart.

Happy birthday Hughie!

Don't panic I'm back!

I have returned safely from my trip back to Nottingham and am pleased to report that not only did Paul manage to feed himself he also managed to feed all the animals and water my tomatoes, potatoes and raspberry's.

It is his turn to be away now and as I type he is on his way to London for an early meeting tomorrow.

Whilst I was away, Paul received a call from a very pleased Juliet at Lavender Bee Alpacas to say that Aria had given birth to a lovely solid brown girl from Golden Guinea. Doesn't she look lovely, well done Aria and Guinea. It sounds like she is like our other Guinea cria and very friendly already which is always nice.

Talking of Mr Guinea, he had a job to do today here. We are so pleased with Meketaten, our Nefertiti and Guinea cria we have repeated the mating agaain this year. Before Guinea got to do the nice bit though he had some sit off's to do on the girls we mated last week. Fabulous news all four spat, or in Willow's case whimpered and panicked which means get him away from me quick!

Alice also spat off which is three weeks on the trot now so fingers crossed she is pregnant to Legend of Spartacus with a cria at foot from Gianmarco's Masterpiece. She would be a fabulous addition for someone looking to top quality alpacas. I really don't want to part with her, if only I'd sold my house and had more land!

Worry ye not - in Paul's safe hands

Yep, I've been left home alone to fend for myself while Debbie has gone to Nottingham for a couple of days. And you know what that means - the blog is mine so stand by your cholesterol! I know you all get worried when Debbie doesn't blog and I've had an email from Carol (super-knitter) checking up on me already...

What can possibly go wrong? I have my list of jobs to do: feed the chickens - done (there was some blueberry and strawberry plants that seem to have magically grown in pots outside the back door, the chickens really liked them).

What next, oh yes one of my favourite jobs - breakfast!

"You know where the Special K and Fruit 'n' Fibre is Paul for your breakfast?"

"Yes Dear, in the cupboard" - and that's exactly where it's going to stay!

So to all the hungry folks out there, I'd like you to be safe in the knowledge that I am (just) able to feed myself. Voila, the scene is set:

and there's more. Could this mere morsel sustain a high octane man? I think not. The pierce de resistance and proof of male skill and dexterity is yet to follow:now we're cooking on gas - well electric actually, but you follow me right?

Enter stage right the main event...

But wait, what is that noise I hear? Could it be the patter of 'tiny' feet and the sound of engines starting to rev and sat navs being programmed for Barnacre Alpacas in Northumberland?

Those sounds must stop now. Messrs Patou-man, Bearman and Rawlins - turn those engines off now and go back to your weekend duties and be happy and content in the knowledge that...............................
You're too late and I'm full. Take care all and enjoy the sunshine!

Paul

All ship shape

I'm not quite sure where today has gone, I've just noticed the time!!!

As well as all the usual jobs we had someone coming to look at the house this evening so I had to make sure that was ship shape too, and get ready for a couple of days away - yes I'm leaving Paul in charge whilst I go home to Nottingham for my niece's 2nd birthday.

You'd laugh, I moved the trailer down the road before the viewing and Golden Guinea got very excited he obviously thought there were ladies in there coming to see him as he came charging down to the gate strutting his stuff. He really does know how to pose. He's passed the pose thing on to his youngest son, Pearson who stands just like his dad.

I have spent a lot of time today trying to drum up entries for the Border Union Show at Kelso at the end of July. The biosecurity requirements are very strict which is great news but it does mean that entries are proving hard to get, but there is one thing for sure it will be a very safe show - or we would not be there, it's the only one we are going to this year.

Providing neighbour entertainment

It is usually the alpacas providing the entertainment not me, but I have been busy making 'bricks' today much to the amusement of one of my neighbours - that's the downside of the field that the girls are enjoying at the minute, anyone walking up the lane can see me collecting poo! It's one thing doing it with the machine but another crouching down putting it in a mould. With all this hot weather they shouldn't take too long to dry out.


Ochre, our first Golden Guinea cria was offering assistance. He is almost a month old now and thankfully has inherited his dads pleasant character. His mum Kate (our grey) has a very large chip on her shoulder!!

All seven cria are doing well and gaining weight nicely, the oldest Kazuo (five and a half weeks) weighed in this evening at 19.1kg, at this rate everyone should be weaned early this year. We usually have one that gains slower than the others but thankfully so far they are all gaining plenty of weight. Hopefully it will stay this way.

Wide load

It has been another glorious day here today so I managed to find an hour to sit on the bench knitting with the girls; don't tell Paul though!!

I could feel myself cooking whilst I was out with the muck truck in the girls field, I was that engrossed I didn't see Carol stood at the gate trying to get in! It was only when Ursula went wandering over to show off how much Pearson had grown since they round him in the field for me on Friday evening, that I realised she was there.

Every time Carol comes she has more knitting, she's like super woman with the knitting needles. In a week she has knitting a hat, pair of fingerless mittens, a big long scarf and some baby socks. Dave has also done me some more carding of Mary's fleece - I'd best get spinning it and quick!

Whilst I was out in the field I took a couple of photo's to share with you. This is Casiphia, our Legend and Veruschka baby born on Saturday. We chose the name as it means gleaming silvery white and she is, well was before she acquainted herself with the mole hills! She has a stunning fleece already so we have high hopes for this little (or not so little) lady.

Next up is a photo of Gabby (right) and Imala (left) on a mission. As you can see Gabby is huge, despite still having three weeks to go, if she sticks to her usual time lines. Imala on the other hand always hides her pregnancies quite well. She was scanned empty by the vet however I think he is wrong - maybe it's just wishful thinking but I think she's pregnant. Time will tell as she will be due the day before Gabby of she is.