In the Delivery Suite
August 30th 2007 22:32
Alpacas generally deliver their crias (babies) unassisted with very little fuss. They often wait until you’ve gone out before delivering, but I have been fortunate to have been around for quite a few births.
The alpaca will go into labour and start to behave “out of sorts”. Sitting down, getting up, going to the poo pile. Sitting down, getting up, looking round at her belly, that kind of thing - this might go on for several hours.
The delivery itself is nerve racking to watch, especially the first few times until you know how it all works.
The nose appears first, then nothing happens for quite a while, while you assume the cria must be suffocating in there. Then the rest of the head appears with the front legs - this is the usual way, though you can get breach births (back end first).
With the head and two legs emerged, the cria is then left hanging about, for (what seems like) an eternity, while the mum wanders about, sits down, stands up, and spins around occasionally to see what's happening back there. This is a good time to get the mum well away from fences, trees, walls etc.
At this point it is very hard to resist the urge to "help" by pulling on those legs, but remember, they’ve been doing this by themselves for thousands of years without any help for us!
The cria should be breathing (spluttering) and thrashing about by now you can relax as you realise that it is alive. The cria will then usually be delivered within 30 minutes, often less. The fastest delivery we’ve had here, from nose emerging to cria hitting the ground, was 14 minutes.
The normal alpaca cria is trying to get up within 15 minutes and is on his feet trying to nurse by 1 hour. They need to get up and going fast to keep up with the herd and avoid being dinner for a waiting predator.
The alpaca will go into labour and start to behave “out of sorts”. Sitting down, getting up, going to the poo pile. Sitting down, getting up, looking round at her belly, that kind of thing - this might go on for several hours.
The delivery itself is nerve racking to watch, especially the first few times until you know how it all works.
The nose appears first, then nothing happens for quite a while, while you assume the cria must be suffocating in there. Then the rest of the head appears with the front legs - this is the usual way, though you can get breach births (back end first).
Head and feet emerge
With the head and two legs emerged, the cria is then left hanging about, for (what seems like) an eternity, while the mum wanders about, sits down, stands up, and spins around occasionally to see what's happening back there. This is a good time to get the mum well away from fences, trees, walls etc.
Checking out what's happening back there
At this point it is very hard to resist the urge to "help" by pulling on those legs, but remember, they’ve been doing this by themselves for thousands of years without any help for us!
The cria should be breathing (spluttering) and thrashing about by now you can relax as you realise that it is alive. The cria will then usually be delivered within 30 minutes, often less. The fastest delivery we’ve had here, from nose emerging to cria hitting the ground, was 14 minutes.
On the ground, being checked out by an auntie
The normal alpaca cria is trying to get up within 15 minutes and is on his feet trying to nurse by 1 hour. They need to get up and going fast to keep up with the herd and avoid being dinner for a waiting predator.
Next morning
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Comment by katyzzz
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Comment by Catherine
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Have a good day, keep us updated on how this little one goes.
Catherine
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
Hi Catherine. I love to be around for my girls. I don't interfere unless I have to, but they're very used to me so I don't think they mind me being there.
Little Patrick is doing great.
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