30/08/2009 by Rosemary.

We had a visit today from the Surfers for Sewage, so sorry about the title but the sight of a well muscled ex marine in a pair of skin tight leggings will remain with me for some time!  They brought the camera to get some shots of the alpacas for the website - but it rained and the mist rolled in.

We shuffled the hay around a bit as the girls are using it as a hay bar and destroying the outer bales by ripping great mouthfuls out.  Flamenco is not humming so much today, or running up to me so much.  I think she is beginning to accept that Yoda won’t be back.

P.C. Dave drove past and stopped for a chat last night.  He had been up to check our neighbours were okay and asked them to tie their dogs up (again) - they were  loose when he called.

Just waiting for news from Mum as Dad was taken into hospital again.

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29/08/2009 by Rosemary.

I left Yoda in the barn this morning.  All the alpacas went out except his Mum who lay beside him humming and nudging.  In the night he had lain on his side again, he kept doing it during the day and I think his organs must have packed up.  When we had to take a sick alpaca to the Royal Veterinary Hospital in London last year, Claire Whitehead the vet said we must never let them stay on their sides and I had tried to keep him upright but you need to see them all the time to do that.  I put him back in a kush position while he was still warm.  At 10am his Mum gave up and wandered up to the others, stopping and looking back as she went.  I was going to leave him there for the rest of the morning but then a bird came and pecked his eye so we picked him up and put him on the quad, he was stiff by now and he is now in Carl’s shed.  He looks lovely (apart from his eye).  I keep going to stroke him which Carl says is morbid but it is not.  I am not upset anymore as at least he is not suffering now and I had my doubts that he would ever recover.  You just get a special feeling for an animal who you have been so close to, he was premature and needed help feeding.  Flamenco has been running up to me whenever I go near the girls and humming at me - I think she expects me to appear wheelbarrowing Yoda up to her.  That is sad.

We took our minds off death by doing spit offs with all the girls and they definitely spat!  Poor Spike!  We then got Cool Dude and Dobby down just to check them over.  Cool Dude was so good!  We caught him with the Camelidynamics bracelet technique and did a little T touch.  He loved it and relaxed right into Carl’s hand while I checked his fleece, body scored him and had a little feel of his undercarriage.  He is such a sweetheart!  Unfortunately, on the way back where the run has a gap in it, Dobby disappeared off at full pelt into the middle of second field.  Cool Dude trotted obediently back to his own field!  Poor Dobby was trying to get back to Ceadmon and Spike but Sam rounded him up on the quad and Cool Dude ran up to welcome him back - Dobby spat at him!

Lot of screaming, shouting and manic dog barking all this afternoon from our new neighbours but the lot that were separate up by the car park moved on this morning.  They forgot to put out the large log fire they left blazing under the trees and to take their gas canisters.  They must also have had a lapse of memory as they also forgot their two piles of rubbish, one hidden behind the bushes at the back.  Never mind, all the used toilet paper flapping in the breeze on the bushes will no doubt amuse those out enjoying the countryside.

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29/08/2009 by Rosemary.

Yoda died in the night, I’m afraid.  He was still warm when I found him and at first glance I thought he was asleep - but his eyes were wide open.  His little ears were pricked up and he didn’t look as if there had been any distress.  We left him with the others and this morning Frank, Alf and his Mum were lying by him.  Flamenco, his Mum, is humming in a worried fashion so I’ll leave him there for now.  It is very sad.

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28/08/2009 by Rosemary.

Yoda is still hanging on, despite the vet calling him Rhoda!  This morning he looked on his last legs and I really thought that would be it but then he rallied.  By the time the vet had arrived he had suckled from his mum several times, whilst sitting on my knee!  I keep having these awful visions of a Camelidynamics practitioner screeching to a halt and telling me not to cuddle the alpaca!  What can you do though?  Anyway, the vet pulled up and Yoda was kushed properly and eating hay with his ears pricked up.  He seems now to be of the opinion that it could be a spine abscess so he gave some antibiotics.  I did ask if he thought it had all gone too far but he suggested we try the antibiotics first.  So it was back to the wheelbarrow races.  Yoda is drinking a lot of water though which is a little concerning and his tummy is very swollen.  I haven’t seen any toilet around him so I think he is constipated.  Mum is an expert on constipation so I will have to consult with her (she hasn’t got constipation she just knows about it!).  I think the swollen tummy is making him feel bad so I wondered about a drop of cod liver oil.  Any one with any ideas?

The vet took blood samples from three of the others to check their selenium levels.

When Carl got home he told me I smelt nice.  I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was alpaca wee!

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27/08/2009 by Rosemary.

It has been quite an intensive 24 hours of Yoda.  He can’t stand at all now and you might be thinking that the time has come to end it all but he really seems to be in no pain at the moment and I wanted to wait for the vet to get the results of the blood tests.  They have now arrived and he is low on selenium.  The vet is coming back tomorrow morning to test two of the other cria and see if it is a general problem.  He has also suggested that it may be an ulcer on the spine so he is going to try some antibiotics if he survives the night (if Yoda survives that is, not the vet!).  Problem is when I lift Yoda and carry his back-end for him, like a wheel barrow, he is quite happy.  His little ears perk up, he looks around and then charges off on his two front legs with me running behind.  To drink I have to balance his back end and we have been doing this every 3 hours.  Of course, we can’t go on like his much longer or he’ll turn into a berserk male anyway!  I will also be a nervous wreck - I have not run up and down the hill so much, even when I was in my get fit mood!  The Wise Lady has suggested a skate board, for Yoda I think and not me, but as she pointed out he might not be able to stop.  Carl has disappeared into his shed and I do hope he is not constructing something.

Two ladies came to the door this afternoon asking if they could park in our parking bit as they were going for a walk and were too scared to park in the picnic site car park because of our new neighbours and the loose dogs.  We said of course and they had a lovely time walking up over the ridge.  Carl has finally come out of his bad mood caused by the dogs.  I gave him faggots for tea and that cheered him up.  For some reason they make him laugh and start singing silly songs!

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26/08/2009 by Rosemary.

Alpaca breeding is one of those things where you do get highs and you do get massive lows.  The highs are so high though that ultimately the lows get forgotten.  It is one thing to keep a few wethers as pets, they are just a constant joy, but when you get into breeding and trying to develop a business of course it gets harder and I am sure that any farmer would agree.  BUT the rewards are tremendous.  We have had our fair share of problems this year and it is easy to forget all the good things.   I don’t regret getting into alpacas and love every minute of being with them.  Now we are trying to develop things so we can cope with the inevitable problems that come along .  One of the things that has been most helpful has been the support we have had from other breeders and from people on this blog and I would just like to thank them heartily - it makes a huge difference to know others are thinking of you.  I read all the other alpacas blogs I can find - some make me laugh, others make me cry (real sympathy for Wellground and for Coire alpacas at the moment) and I learn a lot from the experience of others.  The alpaca people I am in touch with are all  ultra helpful, free with advise and ideas, supportive and encouraging.  I know this industry can be a success but with animals still relatively new to this country we all have so much to learn and I expect it is complicated by the fact that the animals are changing and adapting to life in this climate.  Anyway, back to the alpacas.  We have been on a mite offensive and, with the aid of large quantities of Frontline, appear to have it under control.  We were relying on dectomax but, following an article in the Australian magazine we did Frontline from knee to foot - all surfaces - at three weekly intervals for six weeks and appear to be OK.  Bert has been having an Equine udder cream rubbed on her leathery bits and I think we are getting there.  It seems to me that mites are just there and don’t always cause a problem but some animals get an allergic reaction like Bert.  Anyway, we appear under control.

Not the best news about Yoda, I am afraid.  After last nights euphoria, he was down again this morning.  It has been raining constantly and I think he is getting chilled where he can’t move around.  The barn is full apart from a corridor I have made in the middle but, where there are is no front and back, the rain blows straight in.  I have propped up barriers and shut them down there this afternoon but it is a bit of a squash so I then had to let them out this evening.  Yoda has a coat on now and we will just have to see.

The sheep have taken over the Community Centre and George sits inside with her face poking out of the door.  The racing pigeon is still here as are our new neighbours (around 32 vehicles).  Carl is currently winding himself up to fever pitch as every day he drives past to work at 6.30 and two of the dogs are loose on the road.  But it must be our imagination as the Council says they are kept tied up!

It is raining here and Sam was in charge while I went to get the shopping and popped back to Mum’s.  I had to rush though as I don’t like to be out for long at the moment.

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25/08/2009 by Rosemary.

Yoda walks again!!!

The vet arrived yesterday lunchtime and by then Yoda was unable to stand, he couldn’t get up at all.  When I lifted him his whole back end sagged and his feet turned back so he was trying to drag himself along by his front legs and his back feet folded over so the backs were on the ground.  It was so sad to see.  The vet took blood to test for a deficiency of copper, calcium, magnesium, selinium and phosphate and could find nothing physically wrong. He gave him another anti-inflammatory and rang in the afternoon to say the calcium, magnesium and phosphate were all normal.  The results for the other things will not be through for three days.  I held Yoda up to drink a couple of times but then Flamenco started to reject him a bit.  I was going to ring my gurus at Wellground but with all their hassles that would have been the last thing they needed!  I couldn’t get Yoda in the barn as all the hay and machinery is stacked up there, not that it is much good anyway as it is just a roof and sides. I had given him a shot of Vitamin D as a sort of, I’ve got to try something, move and I am sure that was the solution because this morning he stood up!!  He is not totally right and is obviously pretty weak but he can now get up on his own and keep up with the herd.  He is drinking all by himself and his feet are not turned back anymore.  It really is a remarkable improvement.  I was so excited, I rang Tim Hey at Inca alpacas and he said he would get me another bottle of Vitamin D and post it on as soon as it arrived.  We have always given Vitamin D through the winter, starting in October and going through to February, every two months, but this year I am going to start in September. It really is remarkable!  Talking of Tim Hey, if you don’t know who he is he breeds wonderful black alpacas near Dorchester, we went to see him a month or so back and had ours sheared by him not this year but last and he still remembers Roberta from her time as an import at Wessex and asked after her baby, Little Star!  When we took some for shearing he knew Dobby’s dad was Denzel just by looking at him - fantastic eye for alpacas!

Anyway, we celebrated Yoda’s improvements by managing waste in all fields and had the complete joy of seeing Yoda attempt to join in Alf and Frank’s game - he fell over but he had a go!

I know he is not out of the woods yet but I am so happy.  Yesterday I almost made the decision that he would have to be put down and I am so glad I didn’t.  Hooray for Vitamin D!!!!

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24/08/2009 by Rosemary.

First of all I have just got to say that I am completely at my wits end here.  We left Yoda on Saturday, limping but moving around slowly.  While we were away he began to move around more and on Sunday he was almost normal.  One back leg was always OK and the other had the limp.  We arrived back about 9.30pm and I went over to feed.  Yoda was lying down quite normally.  I went to feed at 6am and he couldn’t get up.  I had to hold him up to his Mum to feed.  His whole back end seems to have collapsed.  To me it looks just like when the cat broke her pelvis.  Something must have happened to him in the night - the one night I wasn’t over there and I feel awful.  I am waiting for the vet and he still isn’t here.  I have fed him again by holding him up and it is horrible to see.  I gave him a shot of vitamin D in desperation but now I wonder, if the vet is right and nothing is broken, could it be some other vitamin deficiency or even a calcium deficiency?  I am writing up the bit about the weekend course to take my mind off the panic!

Well, the Camelidynamics course was fantastic.  It was very hard work and there is a lot to remember.  We met some really good people including a couple breeding alpacas in Norfolk, Salix alpacas, who were really good company and thought in the same way we do which was great.  I have to admit to any readers that my Camelidynamics techniques were rubbish but did improve.  Julie was very patient and encouraging and I did improve a little but a lot of practise is required and I think I will need a refresher course!  You feel a bit of a fool when you have so many alpacas and you can’t get the handling right.  As Julie won’t read this I will admit that at one point I even reverted to the old grab technique, luckily she didn’t notice!  I really think all alpaca owners would love this course - new and old.  It is very hard to break old habits though.  Putting yourself in the right position is so powerful, in our catch pen we often get the “washing machine” effect where the alpacas go round and round the outside with us lunging at the one we want from the middle.  It is so easy to stop that by just positioning yourself right.  The bracelet, where you hold the animal under the head is something we do use and we knew that was effective but actually having some of the T touch methods demonstrated was very powerful and it is very exciting to have the animal relax completely in your hands.  We have got some of the equipment but really need to get the leads and wand to use with the catch rope as, once we got the hang of it, they were incredibly useful. On the Sunday I had Christabel, I think that was her name, and completely forgot how to put the halter on the new way without crossing the mid line.  My nerves then got to me and it all went to pot!  Julie, very patiently got me reorganised and we succeeded despite my efforts!  We then had to take the alpacas out round obstacles and mine started by refusing to move, jumping around - I looked like I had never come close to an alpaca in my life!  But, and this was very powerful, when I got my act together and remembered to, “Ratchet, ratchet, ratchet” and to breathe we were away - in and out the poles, under the tape, over the mini poles, through the guttering and past the flapping poly tunnel.  I even managed to lead her into the trailer.  Now, I am sure that Christabel was very well trained anyway and it was only me that needed the training but when I did things the right way it worked!  The most impressive thing for me, of this bit of the day, was when we all stood with our alpacas watching other people try trailering.  Me and Christabel stood still and watched.  We didn’t circle once, now did we revert to kushing or munching!  I just used my “Ratchet, ratchet, ratchet” and we were fine.  I have never shown an animal and never thought I would due to my nerves - Carl and Sam deal with all that - but one day, I just might!!  I now need to get Sam on a course because he would love it.  I just want to get good enough so my animals can all be handled in this way and so that when we sell I can just show the basics and recommend the course.

Rolf, if you read this, Julie said what a lovely man you are (which I can tell anyway from your website!) and I know Neena is also a fan of Camelidynamics!

On the way there and back we passed the turning to Axminster and it really is quite close to us so if our new friends in the Blackdown Hills read this, we will be in contact to come and see you in September!

Still no word from the vet but I shall try to get Yoda feeding again now.

P.S. Chippendales and Sam you did a fantastic job!

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21/08/2009 by Rosemary.

Sorry, got to mention Travellers again - but it is a funny Traveller moment!  The dogs were barking so much last night that even one of the Travellers got fed up with it.  There was a lot of shouting and swearing at each other to shut the dogs up and get them tied up!  More Travellers arrived after 9 at night.

Dorset Council see no need to start any eviction proceedings as they are not making a nuisance of themselves and causing no harm!  They appear to feel only a couple of people have any complaint.

Sorted out everything today ready for the Camelidynamics course tomorrow.  I am now wishing I wasn’t going away but it is all booked and paid for so we must.  I’ll be back Monday with news of the course.

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20/08/2009 by Rosemary.

Good job the hay making was done yesterday as it rained this morning.  The day has improved though and it was the weather the alpacas seem to like best - warm sun, wind and no rain.  We got back to a little overdue alpaca maintenance today and checked everyone over.  This was not as easy as usual as the barn is full of hay and every available steel upright has machinery padlocked to it!  The girls are desperate to get into the hay field and I must say it looks very inviting - lots of clear space to run around in and their little chalk rolling pit beckoning.  It’s not secure enough though, at the moment, so they will have to wait.

We took Yoda’s support bandage off tonight, he is still limping but does not seem in so much pain.  I think he must have twisted his ankle.  We also checked over all the cria and started getting them used to having their legs handled.  Emily and Frank were very good. Lily was a little jumping and then grunted constantly but actually lifted her legs for me!  Alf  was not keen at first but settled quickly.  I also checked Sherbert’s udder as she had a lot of flies round it today.  It looked a little cracked around one teat so I will have to keep an eye on that.

We are going on our alpaca course at the weekend but have decided to go early Saturday morning rather than going on the Friday night as we had planned due to everything going on here.  The Chippendale’s are coming up to stay and help Sam look after the animals while we are away. I was really looking forward to this break but now I am worried about going away even if it is only one night and I know Sam and the animal sitters will do a great job.  I want to get everything up together before Saturday to minimise the worry.

It should be my turn in the caravan tonight but I am hoping to avoid it!  Who in their right mind would want to live permanently in a caravan?!

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