Hail the Mighty Llama

[Percepticon]

Oh hey, the Great and Wonderful Alpaca is one of the Lesser Gods.

[Bucky Ball]

(02-12-2012 04:00 PM)Dom Wrote:  

(02-12-2012 02:47 PM)Bucky Ball Wrote:  We have 2 llamas. They only spit at strangers when they're frightened, (or mad). I also could worship llamas.
They do look quite chilly though when they get their wooly sweaters cut. But they keep our few sheeps, (the "ships") safe from things like dogs and coyotes. I don't pray to them, but they like me anyway. They like treats like carrots, and one likes apple slices. They do NOT like the 2 ostriches, so we keep them far away from each other. We thought mama-llama was preggers, this past year, but no.

Sometimes you can't see it much. You know they carry for 11 months, right? And they are only receptive right after birth = geez! Have you ever seen them give birth? They keep right on walking, and the baby Llama head comes out and looks around for quite a while before it decides to push on out of there. Then mama won't clean it, the sack broke while the head came out and since the baby falls quite a ways to the ground, usually everything comes off easily for the baby. It's a mess though, we used to towel them off while mama went off to have sex. It's kinda dangerous for the baby (or anyone) when mama has sex, so we used to hold on to it til they were done mating.

Mine have outlived the herd of sheep they used to protect.

No. I didn't know that. The vet didn't say much, just that she wasn't pregnant. He said when it happens, he will have to attend the birth...I suspect for the reasons you mention. We now have a few goats integrated into the group. They get along ok. But one of the neighbors dogs hates the goats for some reason. The llamas keep them safe too, (we think). My little brother feeds them all the treats. He's like the pied -piper to all the non-horse critters. Even the rabbits eat of his hand. My mom raises the hosses.

[Erxomai]

Thanks to Dr. Doolittle, 3 year old Erxomai thought they had two heads.

[Percepticon]

(02-12-2012 04:30 PM)Erxomai Wrote:  Thanks to Dr. Doolittle, 3 year old Erxomai thought they had two heads.

Hm. 2 heads. Quite a uh, concept....how novel.... {ahem}

Think I'll go now...

[Dom]

Here is a pic of a Llama birthing:

[Bucky Ball]

That's exactly what horses look like at birth. Spindly legs first.

[Dom]

Thing is that they usually take a break at this time, at least mine did. She'd go grazing and the baby wakes up all the way and lifts it's head and looks around and scopes the place out before deciding to push on. At this time the other Llamas come to meet the new guy also, before he comes out all the way. It looks hilarious. I bet that's where the image of the double headed Llama comes from originally.

[Noelani]

(02-12-2012 04:27 PM)Bucky Ball Wrote:  No. I didn't know that. The vet didn't say much, just that she wasn't pregnant. He said when it happens, he will have to attend the birth...I suspect for the reasons you mention. We now have a few goats integrated into the group. They get along ok. But one of the neighbors dogs hates the goats for some reason. The llamas keep them safe too, (we think). My little brother feeds them all the treats. He's like the pied -piper to all the non-horse critters. Even the rabbits eat of his hand. My mom raises the hosses.

You have horses? I am so jealous! What kind of horses do you have?
I used to take riding lessons in Rancho Bernardo. It's now a golf course
Lamas are kind of neat. I've never really known one before.
When I'm starting a new knitting project I always wish I could get some of the alpaca skeins. Too pricey.

[Bucky Ball]

(05-12-2012 09:10 PM)Noelani Wrote:  

(02-12-2012 04:27 PM)Bucky Ball Wrote:  No. I didn't know that. The vet didn't say much, just that she wasn't pregnant. He said when it happens, he will have to attend the birth...I suspect for the reasons you mention. We now have a few goats integrated into the group. They get along ok. But one of the neighbors dogs hates the goats for some reason. The llamas keep them safe too, (we think). My little brother feeds them all the treats. He's like the pied -piper to all the non-horse critters. Even the rabbits eat of his hand. My mom raises the hosses.

You have horses? I am so jealous! What kind of horses do you have?
I used to take riding lessons in Rancho Bernardo. It's now a golf course
Lamas are kind of neat. I've never really known one before.
When I'm starting a new knitting project I always wish I could get some of the alpaca skeins. Too pricey.

We have lots of hosses. My mom raises them. It's her business. Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses.
Sometimes, I hear, you can find alpaca wool in the shops over near Borrego, for cheap, or over near the small desert towns.
Sometimes on sale on eBay ? http://www.foothillsyarn.com/products/pl...ltimo.html