Alpaca Antics

Before our first alpacas arrived on the farm we were warned of an 'illness' that is common on new owner's farms. It's called 'dead alpaca syndrome' (or various twists of that title). When the sun is out, it's not uncommon to look out into the pasture and see alpaca bodies stretched out on the ground. Many 'newbies' go into a panic thinking their herd has been poisoned only to find out that they are just enjoying the warmth of the sun. I must admit that some days I'd like to go out and join them!

Now you would think that with this lovely grass for grazing that Peter Alpaca would be content in his new pen, but last night he jumped over the fence to join the goats and chickens. We thought that he might be lonely and just wanted some companionship since he is a herd animal. Since we have to quarantine for 2 weeks from the other alpacas, we thought putting him with the goats might help with his loneliness. This a.m. we put one of the goats into the nice grassy pen with him after he spent the night in the goat barn. A few minutes later Katelyn came running in to announce that, "Rudolph just cleared the fence again!" It seems that he's more content with the chickens in their bare ground pen munching on hay then in the green pasture. He does keep looking over at the alpaca pasture and hum. Hopefully, he won't try to join them on his own before his quarantine is over. We may have to cut it short after the vet gives him a once over on Friday's vet visit.