Yesterday was our first shearing since getting the girls. With all this warm weather I bet the girls couldn't wait to get their coats off. We prepared the paddock the night before and crossed our fingers the weather would hold. For shearing you do not want wet alpacas. (I did consider doing my rain dance in reverse, but didn't get time!)
The weather stayed fine and Colin the shearer came over early evening. After getting over the shock of how many steps up it was to our paddock, he soon gone on with the task ahead - shearing, nail trimming, teeth cutting, injecting vaccines and drenching for worms. The girls had a full MOT. Camilla's rear toe nails were very long and slightly curly - white nails grow faster than black. Suzy's teeth were extra long, it appears she still has one baby tooth. Alice was an angel considering she has never been shorn before. Sophie - escaped being done this year - but watched on in interest. They look so tiny and bare afterwards.
For those who have not seen an alpaca shorn before it is quite a site. The legs have to be hooked up either end and a weighted pillow is used to keep the alpacas down. If they cannot lift their necks, they cannot swing to get up. Each one is sheared in less than 10 minutes. Camilla is suffering badly from mites which we are treating her for and also needs to put on more weight.
Sunday we are going over to our breeder friend's near Mullacott to see Colin shear one of our males Oscar.
The weather stayed fine and Colin the shearer came over early evening. After getting over the shock of how many steps up it was to our paddock, he soon gone on with the task ahead - shearing, nail trimming, teeth cutting, injecting vaccines and drenching for worms. The girls had a full MOT. Camilla's rear toe nails were very long and slightly curly - white nails grow faster than black. Suzy's teeth were extra long, it appears she still has one baby tooth. Alice was an angel considering she has never been shorn before. Sophie - escaped being done this year - but watched on in interest. They look so tiny and bare afterwards.
For those who have not seen an alpaca shorn before it is quite a site. The legs have to be hooked up either end and a weighted pillow is used to keep the alpacas down. If they cannot lift their necks, they cannot swing to get up. Each one is sheared in less than 10 minutes. Camilla is suffering badly from mites which we are treating her for and also needs to put on more weight.
Sunday we are going over to our breeder friend's near Mullacott to see Colin shear one of our males Oscar.
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