Cria Shearing

Friday we got our first crop of cria sheared.  They ranged in age from just over 2 months old to just shy of 3 weeks old.  We like to do this around 3-4 weeks old, but then waiting for a group to all get done together some do get older then the ideal.  The purpose of shearing the cria is to get the tips of the fiber that have been touched by amniotic fluid off.  These tips tend to get a bit like split ends and will end up collecting bits of hay like Velcro.  If we wait until the following year for the first shearing to be done with the rest of the herd, it is not unusual for a not "tip sheared" alpaca to become rather hay encrusted.  This virtually ruins that first fleece from an alpaca, which is generally the softest and finest of their fleeces.

Cria are shorn using a table and are very gently restrained~

This is Monique, she may not be too sure about what is happening, but she
is safely secured to minimize any risk of getting hurt during her haircut~

Getting these tips shorn off will help their fleece remain relatively vegetation matter free as adults.  Most hay or leaves or grass will easily dust off the cut ends of alpaca fleece.  It also ensures a much nicer product when processing the shorn fleece from next year's shearing.  This first fleece is so fine and soft, it is the fineness that will be referred to as royal baby fine and is the most exquisite to wear next to your skin.

This is Klondike, he handled his haircut with ease~

For final touches and trimming up chest hairs, they need
to be up on all fours to make sure everything is even and
no wild hairs are left behind~

During cria shearing is also when we'll insert microchips for identification and take blood draws for DNA testing for registration into the Alpaca Registry, Inc.

Monique, Golden Treasure & Klondike all showing off their
new haircuts~

We sheared 5 cria and they all handled it wonderfully.  Our friends Gina Martin from Mak-Ky Corral Alpacas and Kelli Cronn from Four Seasons Farm Alpacas do a awesome job!  You wouldn't think these young cria would have that much fleece, but some are born with an amazing amount of fiber.  During this warm weather they have been pretty warm in their alpaca coats and I think very much appreciative of feeling the cool breeze once it was cut off.

Vacation in Paradise

As much as we love the alpacas, I have to say it is all too rare that we get an opportunity to "get away from it all".  It's been a bit long since I've posted because we've been in Northern Idaho paradise with no internet or cell coverage.  It might make me a bit antsy to be so disconnected, but getting over that initial "hmmm, how can I handle this?" it was absolutely glorious!

Our view from the motor home for a week~

Seems like most of the time we get away from the ranch it is somehow still alpaca related.  It was wonderful to get away and visit a good friend who lives on a 150+ acre ranch, surrounded by mountains and beautiful scenery where ever you look.  Of course, we don't ever seem to get too far away from alpacas.  Our friend also has a herd of fiber boys that get to graze peacefully and roam as free as alpacas can get in the US on this open land.  There are also horses, llamas, sheep, goats, cows and a yak.  So in addition to our getaway vacation, we also brought a few boys to add to her fiber herd and deliver some females to another farm in Idaho to add to Eden Criations breeding program.

Alpacas coming across the field to say hi~

We had a great time and as vacations tend to go, the time flew by way too fast.  We have some great memories, thoroughly enjoyed our down time of walks in the woods, fishing in the lake and enjoying great company.

One of the llamas that was out for a walk on his own one afternoon~

Our dog, B.A. out to greet the horses, they weren't too interested in
the small visitor~

I don't know how anyone could ever tire of the peacefulness and
beauty of this landscape~

We saw lots of little fish along the shore and Deb got an opportunity to fish and catch several, we don't have any of those "you can't believe how big" fish stories to share.  Catch and release small mouth bass and let them grow bigger for next year.  Maybe then we'll get a big fish fry to cap off one of the best week's of the year!


 This may not be what everyone thinks of paradise, but we certainly do.  A week away from work, technology, chores and activities of running a ranch in this gorgeous setting will always be a paradise for us. 

To see more pictures check out the Northern Idaho set on Flickr.

This week's high...

Tuesday we had another new cria.  This was a rather exciting cria being 100% Moonshadow, from Moonshadow's Olivia and Moonshadow's Revolution's Patriot.  It is also the first cria born here for our good friends Janice and Jeremy.

Alpaca mom's are always so nurturing, nuzzling and encouraging their cria~

Not only are the moms always so loving and attentive with their cria, but it seems like the dads are just as interested.  We have noticed that if the Sire of a newborn is onsite, they seem to know the new addition is one of theirs.  Seems like the Herdsire of the newest born is always the one spending the most time trying to look across fence lines as if to check out what they've produced.

That dark guy behind the fence and tall grass is Patriot checking out
his newest offspring~

I have to say this new young cria is the spitting image of his dad, just in a luscious shade of brown instead of black.  He is strong, healthy and thriving from the moment he came out.  It is always great to have a proven mom deliver and take care of her cria with no worries or intervention from us.  Definitely a great way to pick up spirits from events of the previous week.  Looking ahead to each new cria is absolutely the high side of raising alpacas!