The Poultry Keeper

Teasal · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject: My Llama

Today, we made the long journey down to Lincolnshire ....almost near Peterborough it was. It took us three and a half hours to get there towing our horse trailer. Also on board were two of my kittens for the farmer we were getting the Llama from - one howled the whole journey. I was upset enough parting with them, and him crying made me feel worse.

I then felt bad taking Robbie the Llama away from his family. He is only 1, and lived with mum and dad, big sister, and his little sister born this year, and a nephew also this years Cria.

It was quite a complex job getting Robbie in the trailer. The Llamas are not halter trained, so we had to back the trailer up between two gates so there was no exit, bring the whole Llama family out into the yard, and then put a gate behind them an sort of walk them towards the trailer. We did it all very slowly and quietly to avoid any stress, and it went very well. Then the sad bit, when we had to get Robbie, and gently push him so he was the other side on the gate and then kept his mum and dad back. I am sure they were sad too that he was leaving. Had a bit of a problem getting Robbie up the ramp, and Rick and the owner of the Llamas sort of half carried him, and we quickly shut all the doors.

I had taken all the partitions etc out so there was plenty of room, with a deep bed, and plenty of hay, and leaves to eat, and the people there put some feed in.

Then a three and a half hour journey home carrying our precious cargo. He travelled very well, and had eaten his leaves, and some of his hay, and corn of course. And I had been told Llamas lie down when travelling, and he did - clever boy!!

As it was getting late, we left him in the trailer with plenty of hay and water, and he seems happy enough. Did not want to turn him out with the goats until morning, so he has plenty of time to get used to his new home.

Next job is halter training, and then finding him a nice lady friend, so we can start breeding Llamas.

From left is big sister, then Robbie, this years two little cria, then the mum and dad. Dad is the white one, and Robbie should grow that big too in time!

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1178 Location: Cornwall

Robbie is a very handsome Llama. Hope you find a girlfriend for him soon so he's not too lonely for his own kind.

tracey061196 · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:48 am Post subject:

Hi Teasal

I got 2 weeks ago 5 Alpacas, lucky for me the breeder delivered them.

What are you putting him with?, do you have any others?

I want to halter train my alpacas but this blasted rotten weather has put a damper on things for a while. Plus one of the girls is pregnant and due in 20 days.(very nervous about that as i hope all goes well).

Do their fleece feel the same as the Alpacas?

Anyway good luck with him he looks gorgeous. Very Happy

crazypianolady · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 758 Location: Nottinghamshire

What a very handsome boy! Smile

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2237 Location: North Cornwall

Hes very smart Very Happy

Is that a South Devon in the background Laughing

Teasal · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

Yes, the farm had South Devons, in fact it had some of every type of livestock!! Pigs, pygmy goats, hens, ducks, turkeys, geese, ducks, donkeys, jacob sheep, lots of dogs, all sorts of birds, tortoises - a right menagerie. Made my lot look a small menagerie!!

enlisted some friends to help unload Robbie this morning, I thought once he say daylight when the ramp went down he would do a runner. But he was too scared to come out, and we had to half carry him out of the trailer. He took off after the goats and little pony, but after five minutes he was grazing with the pony - goats keep moving away when Robbie goes near. Hopefully they will soon realise that he wants to be friends. After all he is only a baby.

I am just so relieved he is finally in the field - it was worrying me, how he would react, but he seems quite relaxed about it all. We have got a railway at the bottom of the field, so he will have to get used to trains, and a lot of walkers go up and down the track, so plenty for him to see. And I don't suppose he has seen many cars, but there are a fair few go down the lane, so all new experiences for him.

I am getting him used to a halter, and eventually he will have a pannier on and go for walks, and fingers crossed once I find a nice female, we will have some cria - little Llamas.

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 934 Location: St. Asaph

He is beautiful.

Teasal · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:41 pm Post subject:

Robbie is settling in well! Goats are still a bit wary, but creeping closer to him. He seems to have taken a shine to Tyson the little pony, and when he goes in the stable at night, Robbie goes and stands looking over the door.

Two of my cats were squabbling down the field tonight, and Robbie took off like a shot, with his long neck to the floor - he broke up the fight, cats were very miffed!! He also chased poor Charlie the cockerel, yet left the hens alone. He has been leaning over the wall into the lane, causing the cars to slow down and people are staring at him. We are very near a nasty corner, hope they don't crash. I am amazed at how inquisitive he is, he has been peering at my rabbits as well.

I have been going back up the track every night about 10 pm, to check he is ok, and he is always lay down by the top of the field on his own, as the goats are in their field shelter, and pony shut in the stable, but he can go down and be with the goats if he wants. No matter how quiet I am, Robbie sees me - hopefully he will guard my hens from the foxes too!!

Bhindi · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:32 am Post subject:

Robbie sounds lovely, its like Alpacas and Llamas are peace makers.

CP · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:41 am Post subject:

He's a lovely boy! Very Happy

Bradders · Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 970 Location: Cambridgeshire

Have they spat at yet Laughing

farmercoop · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

Robbies gourjous! he looks really lovely! if only i had the space! aha! How is he settling now?

Teasal · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:19 pm Post subject:

Robbie is a bright boy. He knows the sound of our Discovery coming up the track, after only a few days of being here, and he gallops upto the gate to meet us.

He has given me a scare a few times when he has rolled over. My ponies roll, but thats what they do. If sheep roll, they always seem to get stuck. Robbie enjoys rolling - I think the midges and flies irritate him. He must be hot in that thick coat.

I took the little pony to a driving event yesterday, and was trying to sneak him out of the field before the llama saw him .....I was scared he would try and come with us. Anyway, he seemed happy enough with the goats.

He has got the public falling at his feet. They are pulling up on the lane in cars, and looking at him. He duly goes to the wall and looks over, for them to get a closer look.

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1960 Location: Cheshire

He is a sweety. I saw a few in a field I passed today.

Now, forgive my ignorance. Why would one have a llama? I know all about their protective properties for chickens, but what else do they offer? Just wool? Meat?

... or is it just a for the fun of it type thing?

farmercoop · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject:

bloody expensive meat! haha