The alpacas love being out on the bank around the lake and they love this corner in particular. It is quite sheltered – important on a day like today with its blustery wind from the north. They will tend to move towards the wind direction which always surprises me and this is true even if there is only a fence and not the more established hedgerow.
They have a daily circuit – tending to spend most of the day at the end of the lake in the corner shown in the picture. They then gradually drift along the bank as the shadow arrives (valley life – we lose the sun earlier here). Eventually, they drift into the car park and around the buildings which hold some of the warmth from the afternoon sun. It also means they are closer to the stable for whenever supper gets put out.
Of course, being alpacas they also just do their own thing when you are not expecting it.
The challenge with timing for shearing is the night time temperatures. It seems about right now I think and certainly daytime temperatures are on the edge of becoming a problem for heavily fleeced alpacas. When they get uncomfortable they will roll more in the dust and it all finds its way into the fleece and the shears. The colour change from tip to skin level can be remarkable. “So that is what colour you really are?”
Sorting as we go fleece gets bagged as first, seconds and thirds – and reluctantly – rubbish (too dirty, too much vegetation, too short). Hard work but makes such a difference to the animals in terms of well being and is the harvest of the prime product from these amazing animals.
Busy time preparing for an open day – lists help but you do have to read them.
