Bruce's Journal

[Bruce]

I'm sure I can find a bridge in most any price range

 

[Bruce]

I have a small bit of actual herd activity to report. This afternoon DW, DD2 and I went out at afternoon "snack" time for the chickens and alpacas. After the boys started eating their pellets DD2 snuck around the barn and closed them in. Then I got their halters on which was easier than I expected. Of course they were kind of cornered against the outside door and that end of the barn alley which made it easier.

I did Teddy's nails first, DW held his neck. He isn't real fond of it but doesn't fuss too much though he will pull his foot back a fair number of times. When he was done it was Laddie's turn, as usual he resisted more. He tries to sink down, shoving the foot I want under himself on the opposite side leaning heavily against both DW and me. But we got them done, nice that they have only 2 toes per leg

First time in a year, should be doing it 3 or 4 times a year since they don't have hard ground to wear the nails down but since they so hate being handled I don't get to it. Several of their nails were quite long and curved but some hardly needed a thing. Good traction in the snow right? I'll try to do better this year, get to them at the end of July and October. Not going to try it in the cold depths of winter when I won't be able to feel my hands with gloves off.

OK, I know that trimming the nails on 2 alpacas isn't really up there with what some of you do but it's all I've got!

 

[farmerjan]

Hey, sounds like it all went "right" and it didn't sound like it was quite the chore it has been in the past..... or maybe that was the shearing??? It was work and obviously a team effort. Good work.

 

[thistlebloom]

Maybe if you handled their feet more often they would get better faster? Like just running your hand down their leg initially, then lifting a hoof for an instant and putting it down without working on it. If every time you handle their feet it's an ordeal for both of you then that's what they come to expect and get bracey and resistant.
That's my Alpaca whisperer advice for the day. You may go about your normal business now.

I understand this might have to start with getting them accustomed to getting haltered easily. Halter before their treat time and only at treat time.
Hey, it will give you something farmy to do!
(I have zero alpaca experience btw)

 

[Bruce]

Oh shearing is MUCH worse!! Teddy is still the "reasonable" one, not happy but he doesn't lean and drop and try to kick (much). Still takes over an hour (probably more) with hand shears and scissors. Laddie is so bad that he is still wearing last year's coat, we didn't shear him last spring. IF the shearing guy calls again this year hopefully I won't be heading out to a doctor's appointment when he could come after doing the 2 alpacas across the road in 15 minutes. Not a lot of pre planning there. Of course he probably didn't know I had these 2 until he talked to the neighbor, maybe she mentioned it when he said he was on the way or something. I think he's the guy that never called the year we got them from people down the road, he had sheared their 7 plus the ones across the road in the past.

 

[farmerjan]

Sometimes it just pays to have someone else do them. Hope that you can get them done this year by that guy, and not have to fight them. If it gets done quickly they might fight less too, so less traumatic???? Can't you find out from the neighbor about when the guy is coming so you can be better prepared to be there? Are theirs that much easier to handle that he can just call and come by? We've had llamas to run with the sheep.... lost the last one about a year ago I guess and have fewer sheep so don't need to get any more. Got 2 jenny's that run with the one group and the rams don't need protection.

 

[Bruce]

The only way I can get the halters on is to trap them in the barn, they are extremely wary. If they sense any sneakiness happening, they are gone. And it isn't just their feet, they don't want to be touched AT ALL. We got them in Oct 2016, before they prior owners moved the following spring I saw the man in the grocery store. I asked how they managed to work with the animals since they won't let anyone close enough to touch them. His answer I think is the reason they hate being touched: "We manhandled them". It is pretty sad given that Teddy was born at their place. I guess they didn't handle him when he was a wee cria either. I kinda figured that by not manhandling them they would figure out I wasn't going to cause them the distress that the prior owners did. I figured wrong.

 

[Bruce]

I know he does the standard "truss them up on the ground" shearing method, it is common with alpacas. Front legs stretched out one way, hind legs the other, they look ready to be spit roasted. Someone has to hold the head down and that usually means weight on their necks since they are so long and muscular. That all seems pretty traumatizing to me which is why I built the stand so I could shear them on their feet. They still don't like it.

But yes I should talk to Martha and see if he has contacted her this year or she contacted him. Given this is an agricultural endeavor I think there is not a moratorium on his work though I could be wrong. Though it is still early to shear since the temps are still regularly dropping below freezing at night.

 

[farmerjan]

Anything agriculture related is considered an essential business and is allowed. Of course, if you live in Michigan anything is possible - OR NOT - with that governor. Bet you anything she doesn't get re-elected.....

 

[Bruce]

I watched WTFarmGirl's channel last night. She is in Michigan and yeah somehow agriculture and gardening are not "essential" So you can't buy food and you can't grow food, are you supposed to eat the paint off the walls?

I'm willing to bet that while a lot of governors are getting good reviews for their handling of the virus, she isn't one of them. And I agree, her time in office is limited though she has 3 more years. I guess she has time to redeem herself, if it is possible.