Help..... Llama we thought not preg. had Cria !!!

[chickenzoo]

This morning my friend called to tell me Sabrina had a baby. A while back we halved the investment on a bred female llama. When she had the baby it would be mine, well I was told she was to have her baby in June, she never looked big and no baby, so we thought she was not prego, until today. So I am unprepared... I am going to bring mom and baby to my farm in a couple of days since I am home all the time and can keep an eye on them. Help ! LOL The Cria (sp) is a little boy, black with white socks.... he is nursing well.

What should the mom be fed to help out the baby while nursing?

At what age can the baby be weaned?

What should you start the baby eating once weaned?

What else should I know......

Yes, I do have 2 other llamas and an Alpaca............ but this is the first baby one....


big_smile

Pics tonight !

 

[ksalvagno]

Your little guy is adorable!

Just feed her the normal llama feed. Make sure she has good hay. Alfalfa hay is very good but just a grass hay will work (or any mix). Big thing is that it is quality hay and free choice. I would get hold of her and feel her back and sides to see if you can feel ribs or not. You want to feel them a little but there shouldn't be big indentations between ribs. If there are, then you can up her feed and also add something like shredded beet pulp.

I usually wean at 6 months. Definitely no earlier than 4 months.

The cria will start eating hay pretty quickly. First they start nibbling on it but not really eating it, then they eat it. They will also start eating pasture pretty early too. In time just add the llama feed. Make sure the cria is eating the llama feed and hay and grass before weaning off mom.

I would give him a shot of BoSe if you are in a Selenium deficient area. Give 1/2cc.

I would also give him a shot of CDT. Give a shot in a couple days, then again 4 weeks from first shot. 2cc of the CDT.

Also, was the navel dipped in iodine? The umbilical cord should be dipped in iodine. You normally do that shortly after birth so the umbilical cord may already be dried up.

If it is cold in your area and he seems cold, then put a cria coat on him. I like to weigh my crias every day for the first week to make sure they are gaining weight and mom has enough milk. I like to see 1/2 pound per day gain but sometimes they don't gain this much per day in the first week. If it is questionable, then I weigh them every day into the second week.

Congratulations and good luck!

 

[chickenzoo]

Thanks, yes I dipped his navel in iodine. I remember that with horse foals. Can you explain the abbreviations of the shots you suggested? Where can I find those.....I order from Jeffers, does TSC carrier them?

I have heard that I shouldn't handle him much. I have rubbed him all over and picked up his feet, touched his ears and rubbed his face. Then I have left them alone. How much should I handle him. I have a male llama and alpaca here that are more standoffish and I was hoping to have one more like my female llama, that is friendly..

 

[ksalvagno]

BoSe is a selenium product. You have to get this from your vet. Since you really won't need it again, I would just get one shot from them.

Do you give your adult llamas and alpacas annual vaccines? CDT is important to give on an annual basis. Llamas would get 3cc and alpacas get 2cc. This is a Clostridium Perfringens Types C & D- Tetanus product. I buy Bar-Vac CDT. That is a specific brand. I think you can find the CDT at TSC and I'm sure you can get it at Jeffers.

If the adults have never had a CDT shot before, then you would give them a shot and then a booster shot about 3 weeks after the first one. Then just annually after that.

I would really recommend either Gentle Spirit training by Cathy Spalding or Camelidynamics by Marty Bennett. There is a book you can buy for the Camelidynamics.Both methods are similar and do work well.

 

[chickenzoo]

thanks, and I'll ask my vet about the shots. Everyone I've talked to here do not vaccinate them, but I do all my animals if I know what to give.

 

[Citylife]

I have not had llama's in years but used to have 19 of the sweet creatures. I do not recommend babying or spoiling a baby male llama. You will want to handle him and get him used to halter and being lead. You can spoil the female cria more but not the males.
When I had babies, I would towel them dry myself with mom in there and touch it all over, massage it, rub its gums with my fingers. And I would hang with it for a couple hours. After that, yes there is contact but not much. The reason for no spoiling or babying of the males is they can show great disrespect to you as adults and treat you as a competitve male in the herd. You do NOT want that.
Once they are weaned... start working with them alot more and have fun! Then you can spoil them more when they are doing what you want.
They are very easy to work with and train when you are calm, quiet and respectful. I so............ miss llama's!

The lady with 4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 2 bunnies and bunnies to be and a lizard

 

[helmstead]