Crimson Rosellas, Lucien, Yves and the Fat Ladies in the Home Paddock

Immature Crimson Rosellas in the cotoneaster, knock yourselves out team, I am not a fan of this plant!  Started removing it, then realised it provides a lot of shade from the western sun for my bedroom.... need to put something else in to replace it before giving it the chop!!

Sweet Pea did not regain her figure after the birth of her last, and very late - therefore very large -  cria.  She is pregnant again and the lack of muscle tension seem to have given this next cria plenty of room, and its taken full advantage!!  It was over 35 degrees this morning, but she was still taking a nap in the sun, I say taking a nap, but she looked like a beached whale!!  She is due on March 10... if she doesn't burst before then!..... should be said she got up and moved into the shade shortly after this pic was taken!

The alpacas were taking a more sensible approach and resting in the shade from the get go!  All of these girls are due in March.

When is a baby bulge, not a baby bulge??  In Nellie's case its when your body score is 5+, note the flat area across her shoulders, room to rest a coffee cup!!  Unfortunately Nellie is not ready to give up on the game yet, so will have to wait until she is before we start over again!  Disappointed as this was an outside mating.

Lucien finally has a name!!  and he's a week old today.  He is looking good and strong, which is quite a feat since its been over 40 degrees everyday since he was born and he's had a nasty bacterial infection in his gut that he caught from Yves.  Luckily I had the meds on hand, and started him on the treatment straight away, so he barely got sick, before he started getting better :)

He is very curious about everything, but will be very pleased when next Wednesday rolls around and he can leave the yards behind.

Always wanting to know what I'm doing makes taking photos harder some days!!

 Today marks the 'cessation of symptoms' for Yves, so only another week in the yards to go and he, and his mother, can be allowed out into the paddock.  For their part, Yolanda and Orchid, have well and truly had enough of being confined, they have started to have a little of that 'cabin fever' look about them....

Yves is a plucky little guy, I had to take him to the vet last Friday, and I got quite a few stares as I drove along with him sitting on the front seat beside me... but he was very well behaved and remained cushed for the entire journey.  Despite the vet's fears that he would fall in a heap, he's hung in there and only improved - however slowly - from the time we started the treatment - daily IM antibiotics.  The reason Yves fell ill is unknown, he appears to have been susceptible to a common or garden variety of bacteria that I can do nothing about him or future cria coming into contact with, fingers crossed none of them go down this path again!!  He is not pleased to see me when I visit the yards and is very hard to catch now... having a needle stuck in you every day will do that for you!!  Will have to work hard to rebuild his trust.... last injection is today!

My trip to the vet was only made possible by the kind loan of 'the work ute' by my neighbour Alan Coles, thanks also to his kids for driving out to meet me, and further meds for Lucien were made available with the help of Peter and Ruth King of Lavender Park Alpacas.  Very grateful for their assistance :)

Orchid's New Cria, and Updates

While I have missed the births of all the cria so far this season, yesterday I was there for the birth of Orchid's cria, which was good because he got stuck at the shoulders and needed some help to make his way into the world.  If he'd been an unassisted delivery I probably would have missed it again!!

Trying her best but getting no where.

 Put camera down, render assistance, pick camera up when we're all done!!  He's 15 days ahead of schedule, but looks fully 'cooked' :)

He was soon dry, up and feeding.  Another boy!!

Orchid is a first time mum, but has taken to it like a seasoned professional.

This is a first cria for dad, Carter, as well.  Did not expect such a lovely black cria from 2 mostly white parents.

Today he's still looking good, don't know why I love black animals, they are so hard to photograph!   This little guy needs a name, should start with O... but I've broken the rules before today!

Nellie is due tomorrow, and should have been next... but Orchid can't read the calendar!!  Hopefully Nellie will break the girl drought.... or I'll have to rename the place Testosterone Park!!

Yves and Yolanda continue to do well, this morning he is trying to get mum to play wrestling games!

After the fog, out came the sun

This morning began with a thick fog, which cleared to beautiful clear sunshine.

Lead and halter class this morning went well :)  The Jester is still the star pupil, once his circuit is complete he likes to rest his chin on the rail while I remove the halter - very cute!

Yuri probably has the furthest to go to be fully trained.  The rain last week has given him a distinctly grubby appearance!

Misty only likes to participate under her own rules, but this morning, after an email from the hugely talented Marj, I went back to the beginning with Misty and got good results :)

Noisette looks quite fetching her in halter, and she getting much better about having it put on, but she doesnt like you to use it to lead her around... not part of her plan, improving slowly, but still a way to go!

Up at yards Azzura is looking well and happy.

There's a bit of dithering going on, Trinket and co have headed off, but there is a big gang of stragglers!!

Jemma, doing well in the road paddock even though there arent treats for breakfast, lunch and tea!!

Michelle is doing well too, she doesnt look very round or fat, so while I'm hoping she's pregnant, I'm not expecting it!!

Midsummer - in mid winter!!

The fawn girls, Midsummer, Yolanda (at the back), Nellie Melba (middle front) and Medallion (Midsummer's look-a-like!), I've been doing a little research and I think they'll all be going to our grey boy Bracken next season in the hope of black cria!!  This time round Nellie and Yolanda have been mated to whites, and Medallion and Midsummer have been mated to our black boy, Alba - roll on 2014!!

Orchid, demonstrating the economy size 'sulk'!!  LOL!!  Not sure who she had the argument with, but they definitely won!!

Pearl, looking gorgeous, even with dust on her nose!!

More milling of stragglers!

This is Vynka, she's not black, but I am very fond of her, she is a gentle soul and very friendly, especially if you might have llama lollies in your pocket.  Vynka and Tiana Rose (front left in the above photo) are both due to pop in November, so 2013 is not without merit!!  LOL!!

Back in the home paddock, Cushla seemed to be in need of some of the cooling effects that can be achieved by dipping  your feet in the water trough.  Even though the sun was shining I cannot believe this was warranted even for a black alpaca - surely you cant over heat when the temperature is still in single figures Cushie?

Cushla's son Casper, who is a little sweetie, very calm and quiet like his mother.

 Missy Moo and her mum, Myriah enjoying an intimate moment, which is really nice to see as mostly Myriah seems a bit over the mothering thing!

Kids in the sun, Missy Moo, Nanook and Casper

 Nanook is very curious and seems endlessly fancinated by the camera.  He has a dark wishbone of colour across his nose, a nod to his black mother?  He's going to be quite a big lad, like her, and is enjoying life and the general rough and tumble of home paddock life.

Holding Patterns and the Road Paddock Crew

Yesterday there was fog at Sydney airport, so lots of people were in a holding pattern... before being diverted to Canberra and other airports :(

Up at the road paddock, the girls were enjoying their breakfast.  Fresian:

 Jemma taking it easy.

All the llama girls seemed to have been involved in an altercation... observe the dropped bottom lips!!

 Midsummer, seem to have missed photographing her 'look alike' Medallion.

Nellie Melba, always keen on brekky.

Orchid, who takes forever to settle on one bowl and often walks away from it to stand in the middle of the yard and claim there's no breakfast with her name on it!!

Dont let looks deceive you, this willowy black alpaca is Pearl, and she's boss of the group!

Could see Tiana Rose's baby doing its morning exercise, roll on November!

 I have 2 pics of Trinket aka The Troublemaker, and none of Azzura!  Trinket's favourite thing, having worked out which way you'd like the group to go, is to turn them at 90 degrees to that and head off at top speed!

Lovely little Vynka

And the very friendly Yolanda, coping better without Yuri now :)

Kiki - trying to get the birds to come down out of the tree and 'fight fair'  LOL!!