Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[FarmerChick]

What are you going to do with it?
Make it into a farm income somehow or just a pet?

 

[punkin]

You can graze up to 5 Alpacas on one acre..........

Seriously? Are you kiddin? I've got about 4 acres of empty fields.

What feed supplements do they need? Do you have to trim hooves?

The most interesting thing we have in auctions around here is an odd colored calf or something.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

For now he's just a pet, but I have plans for his fiber. I know most Alpaca farmers try to sell the fibers, but really, I don't want to have to pay their prices to purchase that fiber! So, since I own my own Alpaca, I can use the fiber myself.

Ernie wants me to line a pair of his hunting pants with the fiber.

I'm thinking of looking into if I can use the fiber for quilt padding. How warm would that be?!

And then there's spinning into yarn for crocheting/knitting.

Huacaya (pronounced wah-KI-ya) is what I think I have. They are shorn yearly. The fleece on the Huacaya is kind of crimped and full but doesn't grow as long as the Suri.

Suri (pronounced surrey) are shorn every 2 years, and if everything I've read is correct, these are the harder ones to find/obtain. Their fiber grows long and looks like dreadlocks.

I have plans to look for a spinning wheel and learn how to spin my fiber myself.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

You can graze up to 5 Alpacas on one acre..........

Seriously? Are you kiddin? I've got about 4 acres of empty fields.

What feed supplements do they need? Do you have to trim hooves?

The most interesting thing we have in auctions around here is an odd colored calf or something.

I am not sure about trimming hooves, because they don't really have a hoof. They have padded feet with two toes. Like a camel, really.

I copied this from www.alpaca101.com

Forage and Grain
Alpacas are modified ruminants with three-chambered stomachs. This allows them to very efficiently convert food into energy and so they require much less food than most livestock. They need only 1 % to 2% of their body weight in good quality hay daily and a constant availability to fresh cool water. Supplemental feeds, vitamins, and minerals are also provided to maintain good health. Even with these additions, alpacas cost far less to feed than most traditional domestic animals.

Daily nutritional care includes:
Fresh water in all buckets 2X daily
On extremely hot and cold days, electrolytes are added as an option. Fresh water is always available.
1-2 cups of crumble to all 2X daily
Late term pregnant girls get 20% cracked corn or crimped oats plus a bit more crumble mixture. I am not sure about the oats, because I read somewhere else that you shouldn't give alpacas or llamas oats because they could get hung up in their stomach and kill them.
Hay should be tested to determine its nutrients. Remember, an alpaca's health is influenced by it environment and nutrition.
Good forage promotes good health. Check your pastures regularly. Your local Extension Office can help you in this area.
Weigh each alpaca periodically. The use a livestock scale is recommended, but you can also body score your alpaca by placing your hand on its back. This is a quick and easy method to determine your alpacas body mass.


ETA: Toenails do need trimmed if they don't wear them down naturally. Job won't let me go near his feet yet.

 

[TanksHill]

Oh my goodness. I stop reading for a couple days and look what you do. Wow!!! Is all I can say. He is very handsome Ally. I am sure you two will become fast friends. I did not know you got rid of your mini horse. Was Ernie terribly disappointed to see her go?

I can't wait to see what you do with the fiber. I must pay attention to your journal you always have so much going on.

gina

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

No, Ernie wasn't terribly sad to see Emmy go. He was more like, "More grass for the cows now!" He is not overly fond of horses, or hay burners as he calls them.

 

[lorihadams]

When we went to the pauwau a lady had 2 of her alpacas there with her spinning wheel and we bought some soap that had been felted with alpaca fiber and Chad says that's all he wants to use now! I guess I need to get an alpaca to put in with my goats, huh?

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

The soap was felted with alpaca fiber? I didn't know you could do that!

 

[TanksHill]

Does that make the soap exfoliate better? A built in wash cloth?? Wow, what will they think of next?

 

[punkin]

I've heard of putting silk fibers in soap, but not alpaca.

From what I understand, the silk fiber is put in with the lye and water, so it somewhat dissolves it. I wonder if it is the same way with alpaca fiber.

And, what a great reason: "Honey, I need goats and alpacas for soapmaking!"