National Alpaca Farm Days September 24-25, 2011

Lavender Hill Farm participated in it's second National Alpaca Farm Days in 2011.  It was a perfect weekend for visitors from all over to come learn about the alpacas.  Inside the shop, you could find alpaca apparel and products, information on alpacas, refreshments and a table where children could color alpaca pictures.  It was a great weekend meeting so many people interested in alpacas! 

Champ looks so happy to see another visitor!

Acura's blanket was laid out along with photos of what she looked like before and after shearing.  There's quite a difference! 

Hats, gloves and scarves were available to purchase.

As were comfy alpaca socks, bears and alpaca dolls.

This shelf holds roving and yarn from Lavender Hill Farm's alpacas. 

A loom was set up with a scarf being weaved on it made from alpaca/silk.

The alpacas were tired after a busy weekend with lots of visitors!

Mikey and Mellea enjoying some grass.

Champ is always a favorite of people who visit Lavender Hill Farm.

A Cria Is Born!

On June 22, 2011 Mia gave birth to a male cria.  He is white in color and weighed in at just under 15 pounds.  He has been very energetic and has a presence about him.  This is Mia's first cria. 

His name is Michael The Great, Mikey for short.

Mikey moments after birth.

He's trying to get on his feet already!

Proud Mia and her cria.

Nursing, getting essential colostrum.

Taking a nap.

Two days old and he was out and about, moving great on his new legs.

Here he is at a few days old bucking and bronking.

Mikey meeting Peg.

He's a really curious guy!

Shearing Day May 1, 2011

This is how the alpacas looked before shearing day!

This is Champ and Mateo the day before shearing.

Peg before shearing.

Buddy before shearing.

Buster before shearing.

Jeremiah and Rick from Twist of Fate Spinnery come to our farm and carefully shear all the fiber off our alpacas one by one.  Shearing takes place just once a year.   

Once the alpaca is safely on the ground the blanket is shorn off first.  This is the area of the back and sides of the alpaca.

The alpaca is rolled to the other side to complete shearing the blanket off.

The ropes are being put around the Buddy's leg.

Buddy's blanket.

Smokey's blanket.

Champ, Mateo and Smokey the day after shearing.

Peg after shearing.

Champ after shearing.

Acura after shearing, soaking up the sun.

There is such a difference in how the alpacas look before and after shearing!  Now they're ready to grow their fiber for another year.

Lavender Hill Farm at The North American Alpaca Show

The North American Alpaca Show was held April 1-3 2011 at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts.  The weekend was beautiful and the show had many entries, making for very competitive classes.

We brought two females that were both born at Lavender Hill Farm.  This was Rose Petal's second show and she was shown in the Huacaya, Full Fleece, Yearling, Beige class.  There was 12 alpacas in the class and she did not place. 

This was the first show for Mellea and she was in the Huacaya, Full Fleece, Juvenile, Light Fawn class.  There was 11 in her class and she did not place.  It was a great experience for the alpacas as well as for ourselves!  We had a great time watching classes, meeting new people and seeing old friends.

Protecting Our Alpacas From Meningeal Worm

Meningeal worms are a parasite that can lead to death in alpacas.  White-tailed deer are their natural host.  White-tailed deer are present in eastern Connecticut therefore our alpacas at Lavender Hill Farm are at risk.  In order to protect our alpacas from the meningeal worm we give them a dose of Ivermectin (Ivomec) each month.  Before we give each alpaca their dose we must know how much they weigh in order to give them the appropriate amount.  We have a large scale that the alpacas walk onto and stand for a moment while we record their weight.  Our alpacas are very cooperative for their weighing.  Based on their weight, we calculate how much Ivermectin will be administered.  Another advantage to weighing the alpacas on a monthly basis is to know exactly how much each alpaca is gaining and to see if any alpacas are losing weight.  If weight loss is noticed we can then pinpoint what might be causing it . 

Peg walking calmly onto the scale.

The Gent at 7 months on the scale.

Mellea standing quietly for her dose of Ivomec.