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Farm TipsDo you have a useful tip that you would like to pass along? If so email us! This is a great way to help each other out. December 18, 2007Nice and Easy DrenchI was reading the “fleet hint” and thought I’d add that you can buy aquarium tubing from Wal-Mart, or a pet store. The aquarium tubing will fit on a syringe end to make a nice drench. I have used it for a cria needing Dyne and he took the tube well. I could easily cut it to a size he could manage. Take the syringe with you shopping to make sure you get the right size for its end. Solid Rock Alpacas October 26, 2007New Location for Bluebonnet Llama Supreme FeedGood news, A-OK has located a new source of the high quality alpaca feed used by many A-OK members. Hale’s Feed and Seed Jeff @ 769-2711 Hales Feed and Seed is making a special effort to stock Bluebonnet products, so please utilize the products and services sold by this fine outlet. Hales can also special order products such as corn gluten for spring use. Ed Downs September 3, 2007Quick Shade and Wind Block
The T-post should extend about 2″ to 4″ above the wood so that a bungee can be used to strap the T-post together. I use high quality bungees that I purchased at Lowe’s Home Center which stand up well to UV abuse. Do not buy the “bag o’ bungees” type of product that Wall Mart sells. They will rot in just a few weeks. Some of my boards are over two years old and still holding up well. Last year the steel structure of one of my shelters was smashed down by a micro burst, but the “temporary walls” stood up and kept the structure from flattening to the ground. No alpacas were injured. The photos show the popularity of the shade offered and some construction details.
. . . . . Ed Downs August 23, 2007Getting a Drench Down an Alpacaor Inspiration Born of Desperation Case in point; my alpaca and I were involved in a struggle. I was trying to get a drench down my alpaca’s throat and he was trying to prevent it. The stupid fancy syringe thingee I had bought was awkward and required at least one free hand and a cooperative alpaca, I didn’t have either. When most, if not all, of the drench ended on the ground or all over me I stomped off to the shed for more, muttering as I went. When I reached for more medication my eye fell on the new bottle of Fleets enema. This brings up another hint, always keep some around for a plugged up new cria. I looked at the long soft flexible tip and the light bulb went off over my head, I dumped out the contents, popped out the valve, rinsed out the bottle and poured in my drench. My alpaca was waiting with his ears back and his jaws clamped shut. The Fleets bottle worked like a charm. I slipped the tip into the side of his mouth between the front and back teeth and squeezed and to his surprise he swallowed it all. I have used a Fleets bottle to drench electrolytes and/or Gator Aid, Thyroid and Corid. Once in awhile I even use it for its intended purpose. They are very cheap and found at any drug or grocery store. Karon Storm August 14, 2007Dog DoorsOur herd at Kindred Spirits Ranch presently lives in four large paddocks, divided by a long center isle. Alpaca safety dictates that these paddocks be protected by high quality fencing and gates. The question is, how do we allow our Great Pyrenees guardian dogs access to all of the paddock areas while keeping the alpacas contained?
Ed Downs August 3, 2007Paralysis + B Vitamin ProblemsHere is one I learned the hard way. Always keep some B-complex on hand, and do NOT keep it in the refrigerator. B-complex should be kept at room temperature, or it will be ruined. Last year I had an alpaca go down. We could find nothing wrong with her. After a quick call to Steve Hull, he suggested we give her a shot of B-complex. (The amount does vary depending on the B-complex.) Amazingly within a short time she was up, and acting much better. We continued giving her the B-complex shots, as instructed by Steve. I really believe this saved her life. The issue was caused by a fungus that is prevalent certain times of the year. It inhibits the absorption of B vitamins. Mountain Ash Farm August 2, 2007Bovine Ecolizer & CriaThis important tip was given to me by Steve Hull. Always keep Bovine Ecolizer +C on hand when you have cria due. When a cria is born it must be given to them in the first 2-3 hours after birth. This is important to help prevent ecoli disease. Mountain Ash Farm |
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Do you need a quick source of temporary shade or perhaps a wall to block the wind? Well, with a few 4 ft X 8 ft sheets of cheap particle board (I also hear it called chip board or press board, I can not remember the official name) and a few T-post, you can erect a surprisingly sturdy “wall” in just a few minutes that will cast a good shadow in the mornings and, hot, late afternoons, as well as block a stiff wind. As the photos show, I have used this technique as low walls for my temporary paddock shelters, but they can also serve as stand alone walls in a field. When constructed in the shape of a 16 ft X 16 ft “T” and 
positioned with the wind in mind, they become a popular gathering point for shade and avoidance of strong, cold, winter winds.
The answer has turned out to be dog doors in the fences. The doors I constructed are made of soft steel and welded together. Strong wood would do, but in any case, the door frame must be driven into the ground quite securely. I have five or six heavy chains hanging from the top of the door. This discourages alpacas from using the doors but does not even slow down a 140 lb Pyr. They must be strong, as the Pyrs hit them at a full run. The doors are only 20 inches high and 18 to 20 inches in width.
My older, experienced, male Pyr took about 10 minutes to become completely comfortable with their use. Our Pyr puppy immediately discovered that the doors were a shortcut to getting into more trouble and never hesitated to use them. We did have one cria, separated from her mother for weaning follow a dog through the door and we did need to block the door for a short time. Male alpacas living only a fence line away never did use the doors for a “date.” Alpacas will stick their heads through the doors to eat grass on the other side, but have not passed through the door to dine. See the photos for details.