Big Bellies

There are some big bellies out there!!  We've had one little blue black female alpaca so far this season - good start - but I am looking forward to things really getting under way .... soon!!

Some of the biggest bellies are on the maiden llamas:

Aymara:

Chaska:

Kantu:

And biggest belly of all, Noisette!!

Sunshine, Sun Dragons and Sleeping

Beautiful sunny days at the moment, and cool nights, good for sleeping... but I'd rather TC didn't sleep when we're in lead and halter class!  It takes a lot longer to train calm quiet animals like TC if they choose to lie down rather than walk!!  The rowdy, boisterous, bucking, rearing ones are actually easier I find!!

One of 3 sun dragons regularly seen in the yards.  I have seen a llama step on one, and it just waited till she moved on.  And I've seen the mad Myriah take exception to their presence and try to stamp them out of existence, but mostly they seem to get out of the way and live to sun themselves another day.

Some of the girls in the Creek Paddock:

Aymara:

Misty:

Noisette:

 Heavily pregnant Orchid, very much looking forward to this cria, hope it is the same temperament as previous cria, Lucien - repeat mating:

Also looking rotund, Paris:

Due March 1, if she can hold out that long, Pearl:

 Sevanah, always wants to be first, but not always sure where we're supposed to be going.... sometimes more trouble than help!

Disappointingly Sweet Pea was a late slip, start waiting all over again, a Totem cria this time we hope.

Sweet, quiet and friendly little TC:

Trinket, in the pink, and generally behaving well lately... for a change!

Vevina, looks to be faking for a second time... not impressed!

Wia, looking good, Manrico baby on board :)

In the Home Paddock, Myriah's son, Monty, little cutie:

Voodoo Love, with Monty behind:

Red Riding Hood, who was a bit stand-offish at first, but is now very calm and quite forward :)

RRH's daughter, Rapunzel and Michelle's daughter Mareebah are as thick as thieves, mostly together and often a long way from either of their mothers.  Rapunzel is lovely and easy going and her halter training is going really well.  Mareebah is more like her mother and she is not fond of co-operating, though she knows very well what she's been asked to do.... just more time and we'll get there!!  She's not as stubborn as her half-sister Misty.. but close!!

Apu Royalla and Mt Tanga

Enjoyed a short visit to Apu Royalla earlier this week.  Aymara and Tikal had their vaccinations.  Aymara is looking very similar to Noisette, will be difficult to tell them apart from a distance, fersure!

Meanwhile, back at Mt Tanga, the halter class are busy hanging out.  Misty and Noisette:

Misty and Jester:

Jester, still star pupil of the lead and halter training sessions.

Misty, getting better, but still very much her own llama!  Lucky she's gorgeous, eh?

I hatched some posted araucana eggs, got 6 from 12, not a bad result. Got 5 pullets and 1 cockerel, normally I'd be pleased, but I was looking for a cockerel from different lines to go with Minnie, Lizzie and Dara.

Luckily the one cockerel I did get is a rather good looking lavender boy.  Need to give him a name?

Looking forward to ducklings soon, time to get laying girls!!  Pretty, Chumba and Limpy Lou

New boy on the block Frankie, looking gorgeous.

Harley's stay with us is drawing to a close, need to get some fertile eggs from her before she heads back to the Sunshine Coast, she will not miss the weather here!!

Saffie, still looking good, now has 2 daughters of breeding age in the flock, not as good as her, so another season Saff, must try harder!!

Sting, Frankie and Shake Me Up Judy enjoying some sun.

Bubbas, now and in the future

Casper and Nanook are growing up nicely, as is Missy Moo.  She is the youngest, but is nearly the tallest, though not the heaviest, but she's got the meanest temper and will not tolerate the boys trying to push her around!!  Casper is sweet and gentle like his mother, Nanook is larger and very curious, very people friendly like his mother.

Casper:

Nanook:

 Missy Moo in the background, her mother Myriah in the foreground.  Myriah's mother is a suri, and although Myriah is a huacaya her hairstyle and neck fleece have definite suri 'influences'!!

Up at the road paddock I keep talking myself in and out of Tiana Rose being pregnant, her friend Vynka is due the same day and is looking very nicely rotund, but some days I can talk myself out of Tiana being pregnant at all... time will tell.

Tiana Rose:

Vynka Lee:

Took these pics of Collette today in order to show you how much like Alba she looks, but unhappily my camera battery went flat before I got to the boys paddock!!

Collette's signature look is very much deer in the headlights!!

Also up at the road paddock and in the pink is Jemma, still very keen on her brekky being delivered on time and with a side of more brekky!!

Dont be fooled by Misty's soft as marshmallow looks, she's very much in charge of herself and anybody else who'll stand still.  She and Noisette have been teasing the boys mercilessly, getting these girls through to breeding age without boys jumping fences will be a difficult job!  And they are definitely working against me!!

Old friends The Jester and Noisette, before Yuri and Misty arrived they were inseparable, but now they are not so often together, still get along well though :)  Both dominated by their more forward pals Yuri and Misty.

 Yuri, on the 'for sale' list - please see www.maisonmauve.com.au (shortly) for details.  Colour?  Technically white, but more accurately 'also comes in white'!!  LOL!!  Needs his toenails trimmed, down for a pedicure on Sunday!!  Doing well in lead and halter class, nice fleece for home spinner.