Llama Boy Season

Our third llama cria was born on December 23rd, Sweet Pea delivered a slightly undercooked male cria.  He is a third son for Totem, and we've named him Cheetaro.  Happily it was a normal delivery and he is doing very well, ear tips a bit floppy and down on his  bumpers at birth, but that's already changing.

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!!

Berry Ag Show, Pumpkins, Valentine's Day and Sweet Pea Pops

On the weekend of Feb 15/16 I made another quilt run to Nowra :)  On the way I stopped in at Berry Ag Show, right across from the poultry pavilion - where I was delivering ducks - was the animal nursery, always a fun spot :)

As usual I enjoyed my stay with Shayne and Brad at Camberwarra and got to catch up with Tarquinn - outstanding in his field!

Also talked to one of Shayne's bunnies - DJ - hardly ever still!! but very friendly and very soft :)

And her Call Ducks

And her geese :)

Not sure who this goose had just told off, but whoever it was, they are minus a few feathers!!  LOL!!

Exciting garden news is that the Marina de Chioggia pumpkin has started fruiting.  This pic taken 13 Feb:

Growing well - 25 Feb:

Last, but very definitely not least, in the way of news was the early arrival yesterday - 24 Feb - of Sweet Pea's cria.  Finally a break in the series of males, she's had another daughter - YAYYY.  She is mostly white with some pale blue patches, on the back of her neck and her tail... will take a few days till she's all cleaned up and we can really see, and it will also take a few days for her to get over the premmie traits of floppy ears and low on her pasterns.  She is up and about now, has figured out where the milk supply is and seems to be doing well so far :)  We've called her Bianca.  Late afternoon birth, but text book in every other way, luckily a nice warm day so plenty of time to dry off before nightfall.

When I posted this entry I forgot to put up a pic of the gorgeous red roses Eddy got me for Valentine's Day, here they are:

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 :)

Good Job Vynka and Bentley Update

This morning while I snored on, Vynka got on with the job, and presented us with this delightful little male cria.  We've called him Victor Hugo.  I had expected a fawn cria, but am very pleased with our first brown.

Luckily his legs aren't painted on, they work fine!

Tiana Rose is getting to be as wide as she is long… only her left to go now before Christmas …. no pressure Tiana!!

Bentley is doing well, has got the legs working well and is often to be seen doing happy laps.  'Aunty' Sweet Pea is quite enjoying the company of little ones… though she wouldn't say so out loud!!

Mum, Michelle, is quite proud, and rightly so:

His colour seems to be lightening a bit!  Think Champignon or Morelle would have been good names for him also!!  But he, and his ears, will grow into the name Bentley!

A new baby always draws a crowd!!

Think these two little guys will end up being great friends :)