Wet llama in the snow?

[Shiloh Acres]

Ok, maybe I'm overstressing here, but I really want to make sure my girl is ok. She doesn't like being handled.

She has an open barn she can go in. Last night she slept in the open on the ground, as always, and there was freezing rain and sleet. Today sleet and snow.

She's out there now, munching hay like she always does all day. She looks like a giant drowned rat. . Her coat seems totally wet and is slicked down to her, some snow on her back, her legs look so thin because the fiber is lying flat.

She hasn't been sheared in at least 2years, btw, and has (to me) a reasonably dense, long coat. It does have some matting especially under the chest that might decrease it's effectiveness.

I did trim her a bit on the sides early last summer to try to get her used to it but didn't get far and only removed a few inches.

She has come into the barn out of the rain a couple of times but usually avoids it. Now that I'm thinking of it, I'm not sure she's been in there since the coyotes broke into another section several months ago.

Are llamas ok out in the weather? She really won't let me put her in easily, and it would stress her if I force it. Is she ok being wet under these conditions?

I don't know what to do. I have another shelter for her too, three walls and a roof, but she won't go in there either.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Anyone know? It's getting dark. She took her pelleted feed, and when I touch her, the hair feels frozen in strands. Forecast low is 26-29F.

Except maybe being slightly more skittish, she's acting normal. I can't get my fingers under the top wool to check underneath, she skitters away.

Not sure if I can make her come in.

Thanks if anyone can tell me if this is normal for llamas in winter?

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I don't know a thing about llamas, but I hope someone can answer that for you! Any way to close her in the barn for the night even if it just serves to alleviate your worry?

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Well the main barn stall area is where coyotes broke in and killed my milk does. So I wouldn't lock her in that area. There is another part of the barn that inside the pasture that is open but provides a deep windbreak and roof. She seems to be avoiding it, though the young goats spent most of the day in there.

What I did was use an extra cup of her food and entice her into the other area, which is attached to the house and has a regular roof, 3 walls, plus the other wall with an open doorway. She came in slowly, sniffed everywhere, made sure she easily turn around in there (I think that's what she was doing, LOL -- she seemed to be measuring it. Then she finished the food calmly ... And bolted out the door.

It wasn't hard to get her in. It doesn't have a door, though I have locked goats in it in the past by strapping large pallets over the door. I COULD lock her in there if I can keep her in while I get a sheet of plywood over the door. She's very watchful though, and I'm worried about stressing her too. She could be pregnant and if she is she's getting to within a few months of delivery.

I dunno. Don't horses sometimes stay out in the snow? Llamas are from a very harsh climate. I'm not SURE what I should do with her, but since I know she knows she can enter the shelter and isn't freaked out about it, I'm tending to let her be and let her decide. She's pretty frisky too, and actually loves the cold. She's not at all depressed or lethargic. So ... Deep breath ... I think unless someone tells me otherwise I'm going to leave it up to her. I normally check on her a few times a night anyway on the nights I hear coyotes, since she's right by the house. If she seems in any distress, I'll rethInk the situation.

Thanks so much for your reply and concern.

I may be overly worried from losing my milk goats and baby llama over the past months. Just seems things haven't been going my way and I worry for her.

 

[ksalvagno]

She is probably ok. If she hasn't been shorn in 2 years the fiber by her skin probably isn't wet. I would just keep an eye on her. If she really stresses being locked up, then that is probably worse than her being out. She may hurt herself trying to get out.

By the way, I can't stand my alpacas and llama to be really wet too. But I suspect part of the reason why she doesn't want to go in is because she is by herself. My one guard llama hated to be alone. I had to feed her by herself and keep her in the pen while the others ate and she would put up a big fit until I let her out. All my girls need is to feel a little rain on their face and they make a mad dash to the barn.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Thanks, Karen.

That's what I was envisioning ... Her trying to get out and getting hurt.

I got her to come into the shelter twice with extra feed. She checked the place out and stayed just long enough to eat. But she was forced to stand close to me and once I got a light in there I could see the under wool appears dry. I didn't touch her cuz I did NOT want to freak her out in there. She knows it's there, and I put a light on out there so she can easily see. I realized I don't know what llamas' night vision is like.

She's actually a bit of a loner. She watches out for the goats but she really seems happiest when no one is TOO close. I think she likes seeing and hearing goats and the little llama around, but doesn't really like them right with her.

I think maybe it bothers her that she can't see what's out there from inside? I wish she'd know she's safer in the shelter against the house, though the rabbits and geese are probably safer having her right next to them.

But yes, thank you so much, I'm hoping she's ok. It rained for a few days last month and she never came in out of it. Just worries me more being below freezing with snow on the ground.

At least there's no wind. Tomorrow night is supposed to be colder and windy, but supposed to have sunshine in the afternoon. Hopefully she'll dry better.

Thank you!

 

[mully]

They should weather just fine ...just keep your eye on them. Mine are out in the snow today frolicking and having fun in the cold even though they have shelter. My fussy goats are even out in this weather.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Thanks Mully,

She's acting just like normal. Hopefully getting dried out a bit since it's supposed to be windy and even colder tonight.

I will keep an eye on her. Most of my animals are fine with it. The goats are not too happy but out eating and shivering. I'm keeping the guineas in their coop for a few days tho. But the llama ... I guess she's fine, thankfully.

I'm working on trying to get her comfortable with coming in. She still stands calmly and eats, but dashes out when the food is gone.

Thanks again.

 

[ksalvagno]

It will take time but if you don't do anything to her in that area, then she will learn that it is "safe" to go there. I feed 2 of my alpacas in the middle of the barn because they need extra feed and the one takes forever to eat. The one that takes forever to eat is also very high strung and doesn't want to be caught. She has learned that I won't touch her when she is in the middle of the barn so she has no problem running past everyone to get out and get her grain.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Thanks, Karen. That's why I didn't touch her in there to check her fleece. . I think I'll keep working on it, because now I see that I'd like to be able to put her up. Not that I ever will, but I don't like not being ABLE to.

She's gotten dry today and was running around and excited because I did extra chores and all the animals were following me around by the time I finished.

She's more used to coming in too. Just does NOT want to stay there.

I noticed her nails will be needing trimming too. We are going to have to come to an understanding about grooming. And if she IS pregnant, sigh ... I hope she's not going to need help. At any rate, I'm going to start taking time to work with her every day again.

Thanks again!