Who doesn't like a good challenge?

Raising alpacas is not all we do here at Moonshadow.  We also started raising chicks last year and have some laying hens.  We'd like to do more and have more options, but space was always limiting and we didn't have a hen house.  So it's always good to have friends in odd places and Deb had an ongoing friendship with someone who wanted all the chicks we could provide at a variety of life stages.  From 4 weeks on up to egg laying age.  For anyone who doesn't know about raising chickens, you can't have all different stages of age living under the same roof.  Hens can get rather aggressive and bullish and really aren't healthy for the young ones to be around.  In fact, they won't survive it.  So we built a brooder box for the hatchlings that has been in our garage, which works well, but creates an amazing dust mess and we would like it outside.  Our laying hens have been living in a converted dog run since last summer, which worked very well for stage 2 and 3 of a hens life.  The problem now is we have no rotation ability to have stage 1 and 2 going simultaneously. 

So back to friends in odd places.  Deb's friend ended up having this building she was willing to provide that could be perfect.  It was an 8'x12' wood building, they would even deliver it!  All we had to do was get it off the truck once it got to our place.  No worries!  This is not the first time we've moved a building.  So for anyone interested in seeing how we did this, we documented it in photos.  We have a great neighbor, Roger, who must have grown up solving puzzles, but is amazing at tackling unique challenges. Click on the link below the picture if you are interested in seeing the slide show off getting the building off the truck.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonshadowalpacas/sets/72157626186560023/show/

Okay, so it's not pretty now, but it made it off the truck and has tons of potential.  Stay tuned as we turn this little shed into a little haven for our hens!

The First Day of Halter Training

The first day of halter training is always an adventure.  We generally wait to get started on this after cria have been weaned.  We will let them get the feel of the halter on their heads a couple times before attaching a lead rope.  So we've done that and today was the first attempt at getting them to trust us and maybe even walk with us.  For those who have never witnessed this or participated in halter training before.  Alpacas can perform many acrobatic leaps, flips, etc. before settling down and realize going out with us on a lead can be a good thing!  Sometimes we make some assumptions on behaviors to expect from individual alpacas just based on the personality traits they have displayed growing up.  From that sweet curious cria who likes to give kisses, to those firey attitudes and extreme aloofness.  The first day with the lead attached is all about learning trust.  We started working with the 7 oldest today and tried a couple new techniques with a few.  Overall, it turned out a pretty successful first day.  We even had a couple walking with us, admittedly timidly walking, but this is huge for the first day!

Class of 2010

This was the first year I was able to get some group shots that contained all of our mom's with their cria.   It's been fun as a photographer to have some assistance in making this happen.  Deb doesn't care for it so much, but if our little toy Aussie Sheppard comes out with me they group up nicely and perk their ears up.  Great for photos, but I will admit the truth is they are showing signs of alert because they know dogs don't belong in our fields.  This photo was taken before the routine weaning began, never one of the happier events at Moonshadow.

Welcome!

We have been encouraged for quite some time now to share our stories of life on the ranch.  Well, here we go getting our feet wet with our opening post.  For us, literally getting our feet wet, as well as the alpacas, is a typical winter experience in the NW, so it seems as good a time as ever to get started.

2011 has already blown through it's first month.  Somehow, beginning a new year makes me want to kick things into gear and start planning for all the activities of the year.  Before I know it, January is over and we are on our way to another whirwind year with alpacas.  As crazy, wet and most of the time just nasty as this time of year can be, there has been lots of activity and interest from people wanting to learn about raising alpacas.  This is always exciting to see!  As dreary and alarming as world events, economy and winter weather conditions can be, there is little I can think of more calming and satisfying as living with alpacas.

For the alpaca business this is a time we are planning for our spring shows, weaning last year's cria, halter training and looking forward to this year's crop of cria!  More to come on all of that.....