Cria all around!

In the last three weeks, we have been the beneficiaries of many births... Starting on May 11 with 3 births, we have added 14 cria to the West Ranch herd bringing our numbers to 121 alpacas and 7 llamas with a few visitors about to arrive for breeding. We are expecting 3 more in the next week or so and then we will get a break until the onslaught of the Fall births.

It is amazing to experience the first few days of a cria's life.

Of course the birth process is the best... As the moment arrives, the dam starts to look uncomfortable or sometimes does not even let on that anything is happening. Suddenly, there is a bubble at the back end. Sometimes a nose appears quickly followed by a foot and then another foot. Sometimes it is the foot first and then the nose. From there the pushing begins. Slowly the head makes its way out along with the two front feet/legs. Often the dam will continue to walk around with the front end of the cria hanging from her back end. This part takes 5 - 15 minutes.

From there, the front shoulders appear followed quickly by the back legs and then the cria drops to the ground. The dam usually spins around smelling the new arrival while the cria wriggles around for a while in the grass/dirt. We do not interfere unless the cria does not look as though it is moving in the first 5 minutes. We do not endorse removing the placental covering as this protects the fiber while the cria is rolling around in the dirt getting his/her bearings on life and the dam can recognize the smell and associate that smell with her own cria.

The only interference is the quick gender check and sometimes a little clean out of the mouth to be sure there is not too much goop in there. If it is a cold day, we will move the cria into the sun to warm up but we find the first 30 - 45 minutes are so important for the dam/cria bonding and the last thing they need is the busybody human getting in the way!

We find that the norm is about 60 minutes from birth to standing and then another 30 - 90 minutes before the cria has found the food supply and is beginning to nurse. We treat the navel area with a 5:1 solution water to cholorohexadine 3 times after birth to prevent infection and help in the drying of the umbilical stub.

Then we leave the dam and cria alone. We do not separate them unless there is an obvious problem. We feel that the herd helps in the acclimation of the new cria and the older dams will often model the behavior for the first time moms. If we separate the dam and cria into a smaller pen, it is only for a few hours and never far from the herd the dam has been with up to birth. Alpacas are such social animals that they really do need their herdmates to maintain a healthy balance.

Over the next few days, we weigh the cria every day or other day to ensure that there are no problems. We do have the vet out to give the first round of "cria shots" - an all around, one time antibiotic (Amekacin), BOSE, Tetanus Antitoxin, and an ADE. If there is any question, we will run an IGG and we draw blood for the ARI blood card/BVD test.

Then we let nature take its course... cria is welcomed into herd, other cria play with new cria, lots of sunbathing, eating, sleeping, pooping and general baby activities. It is a wonderful process and we are so lucky to be able to observe the wonders of the paca world.

Earth Day 2011

Sometimes we try out new things only to discover that while it is fun trying something new, the reality is that the one try is enough. Other times we try out new things and we say to ourselves, why have we not been doing this all along. Such was the case for Alpacas at West Ranch and the CEC's Earth Day celebration. It was an absolute match made in heaven. We showed up on Saturday morning (after many, many emails back and forth with the wonderful Christa Backson of the CEC) with our portable pen, three adorable young males, products to sell, worms and composted "pellets", lots of really pertinent information and a hopeful attitude. One hour into the event, we knew we had made the right decision. Two days and probably 4,000 - 5,000 people later, we were certain (tired, but certain) we had made the right decision to attend this wonderful celebration. We met wonderful people who asked great questions about the animals. We were so pleased at the general respect for the animals and their space. The boys did not want to be touched, handled, etc. and people really seemed to understand. We were invited to give a 1/2 hour presentation about the animals and all the people who listened really seemed to enjoy learning more about the animals. It was great for West Ranch and great for the alpacas in general.

Knitting for all ages

An amazing thing has happened in the Jessup household. I am the proud mother of four children, 3 girls and 1 boy. Ben is the youngest of the 4 by six years and luckily a wonderfully independent young man who loves his sisters but is definitely not ruled by them. He is an athletic boy who currently plays soccer, basketball and lacrosse. He is involved in some type of sports every afternoon after school and when not participating on a team, he is usually shooting baskets outside, jumping on the trampoline or skateboarding in the driveway.

Recently, his 5th grade class has learned to knit as part of their community service project and their art class. The children are learning to make "beanies" for the preemies born at the local hospital.

Ben has found that he LOVES to knit. In fact, as I write this, he is watching a movie and knitting. He likes it so much that on a recent outing for a family dinner, Ben brought along his knitting and quite happily pulled it out as he was waiting for his dinner to arrive. Later that evening, as I went upstairs to say goodnight, I found him sitting in the middle of his bed knitting. His comment to me was, "Mom, I really like knitting. It calms me down so much. Mom, I think I will knit every night before I go to bed!"

He enjoys it so much, he now has his school project and his home project. The school project, a beanie made from alpaca, will be worn by some lucky baby some time in the near future. The home project is a scarf that I have now learned is for his mother (me!) and he is very, very proud of it!

I can't begin to tell you how happy this makes me!

Llama Trekking in Yellowstone

Last Tuesday, Joan and I had the wonderful opportunity to experience a llama trek with Jackson Hole Llamas. It was, without a doubt, one of the experiences of our lives. Spending 4 days, 5 nights with great friends (3 other alpaca/llama people, and 1 newbie), 10 fabulously well behaved, calm beautiful llamas, and 3 outstanding guides who were chefs, naturalists, and superb outdoor experts was the best way to spend each of our special birthdays.

The scenery in Yellowstone at this time of year was superlative. The 6 mile hike to the first campsite was a gentle introduction to the week...when we arrived in the campsite - a beautiful meadow, forrested campfire area and a stream running by, we hoped we were in for a treat! When the double rainbow was revealed after a quick rainshower, we knew...

It only improved over the course of the week with Mama/Baby Moose sighting, hot spring bathing at the base of an enormous waterfall, wild raspberry and huckleberry picking and each hike a lovely surprise.

Book your hike for 2011 as they will fill up... August/September are the best months and you can't go wrong with www.jhllamas.com.

Fiber Fantastic Coming to West Ranch

We are getting excited about our annual fiber event on August 15. We are hosting with Silver Springs Alpacas, Purple Mist Alpacas and Ranch of the Oaks. All are welcome to come and learn more about the myriad uses of alpaca fiber and also to share projects. Spinning, dyeing, felting, knitting, crochet, sorting, skirting etc. a one-day crash course!

Meanwhile, things at the Ranch are hopping. We are waiting on two more very pregnant moms and then we have a few weeks off before the next wave of cria is due. The five that are the most recent, (two Manchu cria, one Diego, two Barreda) are certainly keeping the Nursery Pen hopping and have been entertaining the Ranch visitors to no end.

Finally, the plans are beginning to evolve for Camelidynamics in October. We are really looking forward to having Marty back for the 4th year at West Ranch. We know that we will learn something new again as we always have in the past.

New Cria on the Ranch

Well, the nursery pen has been very busy... there are 4 bouncing babies running around the pen, keeping each other and the dams quite busy.

Congratulations to Eddie Jones on the arrival of Ariana's little female out of Diego and Sedona's little male out of Luke. Congratulations to Joan on the arrival of Dove's little female out of Manchu and to yours truly on the safe arrival of a little male out of Titania and Manchu. The quality of the babies only gets better!!!

Plans are firming up for the Fiber Fantastic, so join us on August 14 and 15 for a fun-filled weekend.

Welcome to the West Ranch Blog

This is the first entry of this blog... what a fun way to keep updated on the fun and games at West Ranch. This is a great time of year to start this... cria, breeding and so much more.

The most important thing is that we are open to visitors every Saturday in the summer from noon - 4 pm so come on by.