We loaded up the girls around 12:30pm. Yes we took them in the van. They did NOT like the trip. Delight was totally stressed as was Destiny.
You can see the looks of slight horror on their sweet faces.
When we arrived at the farm they were SO glad to be let out. They practically ran over the three boy alpacas who were all waiting in line to be sheared.
When the shearers were getting their equipment ready and started the electric shears up (they sounded like a buzz saw) I thought that our girls were going to just skip the shearing and JUMP out of their fleeces. Poor things. Shearing day really is the most stressful day for an alpaca.
They are SO little and skinny under all that fleece. Well, most of them are. Delight is large for an alpaca and Destiny is a little porky too. But that's beside the point...
So, the shearers started in on the first alpaca. Hampton screeched the whole time. You can imagine what this did for the morale of the ones who were waiting in line. :grin: Jaxson was much calmer. Dante spit and drooled spit pretty much the whole time. It was not a pretty sight. Funny, but not pretty. Heehee
Delight went next. She actually did great! She is 5 years old though so she's seen this whole thing a few times now. It has to be scary to them. Here is a link with pics and it shows the process. This is not our shearing day but it's basically the same process... Under the picture on the left, click on the "click for more" and you will get access to all their photos.
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/04/photos-shear-madness-nc-alpacas-are-fleeced
Interesting eh? :)
While they were down we vaccinated them also. MUCH easier to do while they are tied. Destiny was let up early and that was a little tough. She's a little spitfire and it took three of us to give her the shot. That's my girl!
Speaking of Destiny she didn't squeal while she was being sheared but she did buck and kick while they were tying her legs. Poor baby. I wanted to watch but Delight was so perturbed that they were messing with her baby that she kept spraying spit into the air so I took her for a walk. The group was grateful. :)
After the trauma, we loaded our girls and the bags of fiber into the van. I cannot wait to get this fiber to the mill and then make it into super soft hats, etc. :)
Here are a few before and after photos.
Taken on March 10th.
Taken on March 13th.
Taken on March 27th.
These next two were taken today after we got home from shearing.
Delight
Destiny
Different eh? :)
6 comments:
Destiny looks so much smaller with all of her fluffiness gone!
That is a lot of wool!!!!
How long does it take before it's ready to knit with??
I'm not sure how long it takes once it goes to the mill. Becky, from the other farm, is going to look into which mill will give us the best deal and we'll go from there. :) I am excited about it though. They will spin it into yarn and I will learn to make things with the nifty knitters. :)
Is it legal to post pictures of naked Alpacas? ;)
LOL Debbie! I'm guessing it's legal. :P After all some moms post pics of their kiddos in the bathtub or on the toilet. :) Since they are not showering or relieving themselves, I'm going to assume it's OK.
ok...you get the "who can make Jane laugh the hardest today" award! you'll have to ask Husband how hard i laughed. even had tears from laughing so hard.
Husband says it is only legal over there in your state...i think he is picking on you guys over there! heehee
your baby girl looks, ummmm, interesting with that little poofy hair do. :) don't hate me...just saying!
i still want them around our land...might use my cosmetology school training and not ship them off to get their yearly hair cuts. :)))
and...interestingly enough, we were headed home from town today and saw some sheep that had just received their hair cuts...and i thought of you and wondered when you were gonna get em trimmed.
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