Goodbye girls
October 8th 2007 03:05
Yesterday we said goodbye to a couple of girls we sold, Jessie and Penny. They’ve gone to live about an hour’s drive south of here.
I thought we’d be in for a challenge getting Jessica into the trailer as she likes to make a big fuss. However, little Penny hopped straight in and because Jessie is Penny’s mum, her instinct to take care of her baby over-took her fear of the trailer. After just the slightest hesitation she hopped straight in after her.
Most alpacas don’t like to be enclosed in small spaces. This makes perfect sense, as it removes their option to escape from a predator if they need to. Their flight instinct is very strong, even in well-handled alpacas, so it can be very daunting for them to go into a trailer.
Our trailer is quite large and has a high roof which I think helps a lot. It also has a clear plastic window in the front. This was mainly so we could see what was happening back there while we’re out on the road, but because the window makes the trailer lighter inside, it’s less frightening to the alpacas. They’re not being pushed into a dark box, they can see where they’re going and (and that there’s nothing dangerous in there that might eat them).
Our trailer is also very low to the ground – we had it made that way – so the alpacas can just step in. I would recommend that to anyone buying or building a trailer for their alpacas. Trying to coax alpacas up ramps or across gangplanks is just no fun for anyone. Having the loading process as stress-free as possible makes the rest of the journey much more pleasant for everyone.
Anyway, on the way to Jessie and Penny’s new home, we picked up another mum and baby, also going to the same place. Everyone must have been having a good day as they both loaded without a fuss too and everyone behaved themselves wonderfully in the trailer.
Since the two mums are pregnant again (hopefully), and hadn’t met each other before, I expected the trailer – and everyone inside – to be liberally coated in bright green spit by the time we reach our destination, but the girls just sat down with no fuss and stayed put for the whole journey.
When we arrived, we let them out to explore their new home. It wasn’t very long before they got down to the main alpaca occupation of eating grass. Their new owners haven’t had alpacas before, so it’s a very exiting time for them. They’ve been busy over the last few weeks, fencing and getting the place ready for their new alpacas.
It was sad to leave the girls. I don’t get attached to the alpacas like I do with my dogs, but I still miss them when they go. Their new owners are lovely people, so I know they’ll take good care of them. Their new home is great too, lots of lush, green grass and trees for shade. I’m sure they’ll like it there.
I thought we’d be in for a challenge getting Jessica into the trailer as she likes to make a big fuss. However, little Penny hopped straight in and because Jessie is Penny’s mum, her instinct to take care of her baby over-took her fear of the trailer. After just the slightest hesitation she hopped straight in after her.
Most alpacas don’t like to be enclosed in small spaces. This makes perfect sense, as it removes their option to escape from a predator if they need to. Their flight instinct is very strong, even in well-handled alpacas, so it can be very daunting for them to go into a trailer.
Our trailer is quite large and has a high roof which I think helps a lot. It also has a clear plastic window in the front. This was mainly so we could see what was happening back there while we’re out on the road, but because the window makes the trailer lighter inside, it’s less frightening to the alpacas. They’re not being pushed into a dark box, they can see where they’re going and (and that there’s nothing dangerous in there that might eat them).
Our trailer is also very low to the ground – we had it made that way – so the alpacas can just step in. I would recommend that to anyone buying or building a trailer for their alpacas. Trying to coax alpacas up ramps or across gangplanks is just no fun for anyone. Having the loading process as stress-free as possible makes the rest of the journey much more pleasant for everyone.
Anyway, on the way to Jessie and Penny’s new home, we picked up another mum and baby, also going to the same place. Everyone must have been having a good day as they both loaded without a fuss too and everyone behaved themselves wonderfully in the trailer.
Since the two mums are pregnant again (hopefully), and hadn’t met each other before, I expected the trailer – and everyone inside – to be liberally coated in bright green spit by the time we reach our destination, but the girls just sat down with no fuss and stayed put for the whole journey.
When we arrived, we let them out to explore their new home. It wasn’t very long before they got down to the main alpaca occupation of eating grass. Their new owners haven’t had alpacas before, so it’s a very exiting time for them. They’ve been busy over the last few weeks, fencing and getting the place ready for their new alpacas.
Jessica & Penny at their new home
It was sad to leave the girls. I don’t get attached to the alpacas like I do with my dogs, but I still miss them when they go. Their new owners are lovely people, so I know they’ll take good care of them. Their new home is great too, lots of lush, green grass and trees for shade. I’m sure they’ll like it there.
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
These pink girls are so pretty.
Dainty too. Weep, weep.
katyzzz
Comment by Techno
Geeky Blog
Techno
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
Hi Techno. They are cute and I can't imagine what living in suburbia would be like anymore - awful I would think. It's funny when you get woken by some noise in the morning and realise its a donkey braying, or a bunch of mooing cows! Cheers.
Comment by JoH
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
I think they'll be very spoiled.
We are very fortunate down this way. I don't complain about the rain or mud anymore. Just happy to have the water. Our tanks are full at the moment. (Could be just a teeny bit warmer though
Comment by Krystal
feelings
Crystal
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
They're not really pink alpacas, it's just bad lighting. It had been raining so they're sopping wet and the photo was taken with a phone camera because dopey me forgot to take my camera.
You can get apricot coloured alpacas though, they are beautiful. Cheers.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I'm so glad they went together and were not seperated. I understand that Alpaccas make very doting parents and Jessie looks like she would have pined horribly without her little girl around.
Albeit, she looks sad to see you go and little penny a bit aprehensive?
*tears* I couldn't part with any of them... you are stronger than me in that respect.
Glad the day went without a hitch...
Lilla ...
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
I'm glad the girls are staying together too. They were only going to have Jessica to begin with but then decided to take little Penny too which made my day.
I think when I get to the point that there's none in the herd that I could part with, then I'll just keep them and they won't breed anymore.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
If you decided to visit them in a few months time, will they remember you (like a dog or a cat?) or are they more like sheep. I won't say goats, because I know they certainly remember people... I'm not sure for how long though, until memories fade completely?
Such an interesting topic, sorry to ask all these questions.
Lilla ...
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
Yes, I think they remember. They're pretty intelligent animals (sometimes anyway). Some alpacas are more people oriented than others though. Some don't like human contact much and prefer to keep their distance, others will come running up and let you hug them. They're all different.
I try to stay in touch with people we sell to, so hopefully I'll be able to visit them and see how they're doing. Maybe when Jessie's new baby arrives. Cheers.