Kensmyth

well we have been busy as usual but the weather is something else. I have said it before and I will say it again – WHAT do we pay the weathermen/women for please? Apparently – please correct me – all Weather channels use the same Satellite access so HOW can they get it so wrong between channels… and WHY when they look outside their windows, do they not correct what they have written previously and update it?

here are some examples of how different forecasts are, thank goodness we are not making hay this year!

Well annual shearing took place – as it always does – and it was all hands to the deck. Folk often ask if it is stressful for the Alpaca, especially the pregnant mums… my answer is simple.  Not in my experience of the past 8 years!!

The only Alpaca that make a bit of a fuss and not always are the previous years cria – coming up to yearlings at that point. The others know the blessed relief of the heavy fleece coming off – in some cases 4kg plus – but one always has to be mindful of the weather conditions that immediately follow shearing.

Too cold and they will die of hypothermia, too hot and they can literally burn.

This year shearing was completed in sunshine but rain, cold and wind followed so great care was taken to keep everyone warm… lets remember those hot days shall we?

What a majestic beautiful creature the Alpaca is shorn or unshorn!

Two weeks ahead of schedule, a stunning white girl from a top Alpaca, the floppy ears denote the prematurity amongst other things… doing well so fingers crossed…

not named yet for obvious reasons and mother now shorn… perhaps these little beauties should share a name?

the title says it all really. the Cotswolds is renowned for Ants nests in its clay soils and we top these to keep them in control in fields NOT used for Alpaca. Fascinating little creatures and all part of the Eco system so should not be destroyed…

well we have been frenetic with premature births and shearing – not related before you ask and more on that over the next few days but we also have been sorting out the Quarantine Paddocks. These are what they say they are and for just that. not used otherwise… so often overgrow… I wonder who that handsome chap could be?

Training Alpaca to go into trailers is something folk often dread but it is easy if the Alpaca have been handled all their lives.

Keep the trailer light and airy, put straw on the ramp, hurdle the sides and let them walk in themselves…

simples!

in my last post I went off on a tangent about Fly Strike in Alpacas but meant to talk about shearing… related of course because when cuts occur during shearing (inevitable but not often) folk often think that being shorn means Alpaca cannot get Fly Strike. WRONG, they are actually more vulnerable when shorn where a nick or cut might have been missed.

meantime, this little black beauty clearly needs a hair cut!!

Crazy busy here with so much going on I do not know where to start. The ground had dried out so relevant ground work completed, including topping to prevent the grass “getting away” from us. It is feast or famine in the Cotswolds with the warm wet weather and the Buttercups have gone bananas. I am hearing it all over the country along with FLY STRIKE so caution – YES Alpaca get it too folks!

meantime, our Willow Whips planted are doing well and blue skies appear…

Every year around about now we load up our trusty 1996 Landcruiser (well mine and what would I do without her) and take our straw off in bags and a few cable ties (no 50 shades whatsoever) to a local pony charity.

nothing is wasted at Kensmyth – see for yourself…

here at Kensmyth we planted Scots Pine nearly 4 years ago and at last we have our own …

cones…

but do you know how they grow?