The Garden, My Birthday, Crias and Sunday with Scarlett

I spent Sunday afternoon with Scarlett Rose, she had just had a bath and was in her robe when I arrived, then she had a yummy lunch of meatballs and then some play time.

I HAD one lovely red nerine in the garden... Ruby fixed that for me only minutes after this photo was taken!!

Cushla helped my birthday along by giving birth to a black female cria that I have named Rosamund.

Later we had a lovely dinner at the Bowning Hotel :)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Nicholai is growing well:

And so too is Yvette, who is a quiet little soul, and not nearly as boisterous as Nicholai.

An early start this morning, Joeley was in labour but with a malpresented cria, left leg bent back at the shoulder and right leg bent back at the knee.... beyond my skill set to fix that, call for the vet, muscle relaxants and major manoeuvring, then presto, she's here, a little medium grey female cria.  Its been a tough start, her head and neck were very swollen after all Joeley's straining to push her out.  She's recovering slowly, but not able to stand yet.  Think good thoughts for Jemima, she's not out of the woods yet.

Collette was hanging tight with Joeley all morning, despite vets, cars and me also being in close proximity.  After the vets left I helped Collette deliver an enormous (9.46kg) grey female cria, Chiara.  She is a pretty little thing and is doing very well.

Nicholai and Portia are best buds, here hanging out with Pearl, but mostly off on their own.

Portia is beginning to realise that you should be careful what you wish for.  She was at Nicholai from the time he was born to hurry up and get into play mode... now.... Portia has to find her mum Pearl to hide behind because Nicholai wants to play  ALL the time!!  LOL!!

Tiberius of Rome and the Home Paddock Girls

Sometime between last Tuesday lunchtime and 10am the following day, Tiberius (of Rome)'s mother, Tiana Rose, died.  She would have been 17 years old in mid April, so I'm not ruling out old age, but could have been a snake bite.  Either way Tibby is on his own.  It took a little while and quite a bit of effort but he is now taking the bottle well, and this morning, rather than waiting till the whole group came into the yards I went out into the paddock.  Bottle in hand, and with a 'Yo, Tibbs, Brekky' I sought him out, and he quickly downed 500ml - good job little guy!  Later in the yards he was hoping there would be more.... he now follows me around mmmm-ing on the off chance I have a bottle of yummy formula milk squirrelled about my person, LOL!!  He is very cute, just wish he had been a girl!

There are 10 girls in the home paddock at present, Pearl has had her cria, and little Portia is thriving.

But there are 9 girls to go, and they are looking, well frankly, fat!  This is Yolanda who is being treated for lumpy jaw... yet again :(  She responds well to treatment thank goodness, but definitely does not enjoy the 50ml sub cutaneous injections of sodide that are required to deal with his problem.  She is due Mar 12 to our grey boy Bracken.

Collette often looks like a deer in the headlights, her daughter Chianti is more friendly and interactive, so I am very much looking forward to this cria, also due Mar 12 to Bracken.

Cushla has the most modest bulge, but she usually has small and dainty cria, think this one will be the same, due to our black boy Alba Mar 18

Little Fresian is sporting an enormous bulge, she's nearly as wide as she is deep.  Due Mar 19 to Alba, wishing and hoping for her first female cria.

Joeley is also enormous, due Mar 18 to Bracken.

Misty only joined the home paddock group yesterday.  I was hoping she wasn't pregnant, but her widening girth means that I am playing safe and she's had pre-birthing shots and been brought in... just in case.  If it arrives... her cria will be the result of an un-authorised mating!!

Here she is sunbathing in front of the shearing shed, looking for all the world like a beached whale!!

Narcissus was due yesterday - to Bracken - I have tapped my foot and pointed at my watch to remind her that she usually 'goes' bang on schedule!

Not to be left out in the placings for beached whale impersonations is Orchid, she's due Mar 15 to Carter - she went early last time, so keeping a close eye on her.

Even standing doesn't make the bulge look small!!

Last, but not least, is Paris, who is due to Minstrel (a grey stud male standing at Accapacca Alpacas) on Mar 18

Shayne and Brad's visit, Cria Update and 'its all fun and games till somebody gets hurt'

Shayne and Brad called in for lunch on Sunday, had a very enjoyable time and a great barbie :)  They brought Minto with them, and she and Kiki had a marvellous time.... only trouble is a marvellous time is very very tiring... Kiki couldn't even make it to her bed!!

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Bianca's ear taping is off now, and her ears are nice and upright... she (still) seems pleased with the look :)

Lucien is also growing well and looking good - just ask him!

Yesterday Trinket went into labour, but several hours later nothing had been achieved.   Called the vets to come out and help, meantime Collette also went into labour.  Decided that while they were there Collette should get checked out too, turned out to be going OK, just slowly as its a first time for Collette.  Unusually she seemed determined to give birth lying down and this seemed to be slowing progress.

So vet Jayde, decided to give a helping hand.  Here trying to present Collette with her cria.

Very pleased to say we ended up with a healthy female cria :)  We've named her Chianti.

Today she looks bright and happy :)

 Things did not go so well for Trinket, despite being in labour for several hours her cervix was not even slightly dilated and Jade told me that a c-section was the only course of action and that it needed to be done back at the surgery!!  Between us we man-handled Trinket into my trailer, Jade rang ahead to let them know we were coming and off we went.

Trinket was wheeled into the OR on a guerney, you can tell she's not a well/happy llama because she's had no sedation or any other drugs and she's cushed on a trolley and not moving!!

Jayde had to work hard, and work quickly, when you put a slash in the side of belly as big and as tight as Trinket's some of the 'inside' stuff wants to become outside stuff!  All this was got back in, and the baby found and brought out.

Will working on getting the cria breathing and cleaned up, need a clamp on the cord which was pulsing blood at 'birth'.  Oxygen mask, hot water bottles and more towels added shortly after this photo.  Antibiotic shot given as she had 3 strikes on the premmie score board!

After the op, Trinket and the cria were transported to the stables and yards to recover, Trinket was still quite groggy.

And the cria - who we will name Jade Princess if she makes it - is weak and quite premmie.  Fingers crossed.

 The weather was all over the shop this season, the pear tree lots all its fruit - and there was a lot!! - to a series of very late and very harsh frosts.  The tree is now so confused its flowering again in March!!