"Self-sufficiency does not mean 'going back' to the acceptance of a lower standard of living. On the contrary, it is the striving for a higher standard of living, for food that is organically grown and good, for the good life in pleasant surroundings... and for the satisfaction that comes from doing difficult and intricate jobs well and successfully." John Seymour ~ Self Sufficiency 2003

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Minky in all his glory

We have shortened Foothills Michael's name to Minky - it so aptly describes the colour of his fleece.  He has the cutest little white spot just above his right eye - a remnant of his father's white fleece genes.

Here are some updated pics of his progress:
Can you see the white patch of fleece above his
right eye (look at the corner where his forehead

meets the shadecloth tree protection structure)?
 And just look at those eye lashes LOL
Any which way you look at Minky, he is a
very handsome fellow :)
Can't you just eat him up!
Too adorable.
I just want to hug him, but
those eyes have 180°
vision, and he expertly, and
playfully, skips sideways
to avoid the hug most times.
Minky is coming along in leaps and bounds  Here he is at just half an hour old...
From this...
And here he is at 14 days old.  My - how he has grown!!  Miranda is proving to be an excellent mother to her precious little cria.  She has visibly settled down since Minky was born, and now, finally, spends most of the day grazing in the paddock, and lying under the Black Wattle trees when she needs shade. What a turnaround from hiding in her stable most of the time.
...to this in 14 short days.  Don't grow up
too quickly, Minky.
Minky and RMan have a definite "thing" going.  RMan spends a very healthy portion of his day just sitting in the paddock, and Minky can't resist having a regular sniff of RMan.  Alpacas are incredibly inquisitive creatures.
There is nothing Minky enjoys more that a good race around the paddock, and RMan is more than happy to oblige.  Anywhere that he runs, Minky has to beat him there... :)

We have opted to lock them into the stable (with the top half of the door left open) at nighttime, in preparation for the cold, wet winter nights which lie ahead.  If we can achieve a routine now, then it won't be so difficult to achieve then - we hope... LOL

23 comments:

  1. What an adorable face. I'd spend half my days smooching that!!

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    1. Sue - If I could (get that close to her), I would... LOL

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  2. Minky is absolutely adorable! And my, how quickly he has grown. He looks so strong and healthy. I'm so happy for you.

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    1. Vicki - Miranda is 100% responsible for his amazing condition. And his looks LOL

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  3. Wow, he has grown so much already, he looks happy and healthy. Will you be keeping the three together once Minky is older?
    Love the name by the way :)

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    1. dreamer - No, adult males only get to spend time with females once a year - for 30 - 45 minutes (or until they are finished LOL) Otherwise spitting (and attempted mounting) takes place. If Kris is successful, and Miranda is pregnant, then Minky will have to leave his mum and join Kris when he is roughly 6 months old, so that she has as much nourishment as she possibly can have to give to her next cria. But he will be in the next paddock.

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    2. Didn't know that, the ones I look after are three boys and they are fine together. It would be nice if the next cria was a female then everyone would have a paddock pal. How many are you planning to breed?

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    3. dreamer - We're thinking of gettibg Miranda a six month old female for company when it's time to wean Minky and move him to Kris' paddock.

      Are the three voys acting as herd guards? Or does the owner have them for their fleece / cuteness?

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    4. They are mainly her pets as she and her husband are at the end of a long lifetime in farming and winding down on stock - they do act as guards to the paddock full of chickens which live along side them though - no foxes dare go near :)

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  4. Minky is one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

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  5. My he has grown. He's a handsome fellow indeed.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  6. What an adorable little guy. But my he sure is growing fast!

    Good call in getting them used to a routine so it wont be so hard on them later.

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    1. MsBelinda - He's growing too quickly for me - so incredibly adorable :)

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  7. A cria is a special kind of adorable, no doubt about it! And what a perfect name :)

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    1. Quinn - Minky for his colour and M(onkey) for his behaviour ;)

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  8. Oh my gosh, that closeup is the cutest thing ever. Minky is a-dor-a-ble! And he looks so soft I just wanna reach through the screen and touch him. :-)

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    1. 1st Man - Wish you could feel his fleece - is is super soft...!

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  9. Dani, What a gorgeous cria he is ! It makes me wish I were breeding my alpacas now. I don't plan to breed anymore. Minky is a beautiful boy !

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    1. Jane - Why did you stop breeding? Cria are precious - and Minky is special :)

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    2. Virginia is extremely hot and humid whereas these animals do best in colder weather. I used to sell the fleece but if you allow them to swim, it does destroy the fleece for sale, and around here, they must swim to keep cool, or provide air conditioning in their barn, which I cannot regularly do, and I don't think is terribly healthy. Additionally, in Virginia, meningeal worm is rampant in the white tailed deer, and alpacas must have an injection of dectomax every four to six weeks to prevent what is normally a fatal infection. When a cria is born and is healthy, it's joyous, but we have also had them born and require special veterinary care which cost thousands of dollars. We began breeding in 1999, and now our core herd is approaching twenty years old, which is a good five years past the life expectancy we were told they had in 1999. Despite the fact that they can still breed right up to their own passings, we feel that ours have earned a peaceful retirement. We supplement their selenium, vitamin A and D, and B-12 in old age so that they feel their best and continue to enjoy their lives. Best wishes with yours !

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    3. Jane - We have heard that alpaca's like water, but, given our clay dam floor, we have not been tempted to allow them to cool off in it LOL Just a sprinkler which cools their (radiator) tummies has to suffice. Not so humid here, just hot - some of the time. But they seem to be coping well.

      How many do you still have? Do you sell their fleece still?

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Thank you for taking the time to comment - it makes my day and removes the "loneliness' of sitting at my screen blogging supposedly to myself ;) I try and reply as quickly as possible so please forgive me if sometimes my response is delayed.