Here are some updated pics of his progress:
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| 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 |
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| Any which way you look at Minky, he is a very handsome fellow :) |
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| 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. |
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| 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.
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| ...to this in 14 short days. Don't grow up too quickly, Minky. |
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
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
What an adorable face. I'd spend half my days smooching that!!
ReplyDeleteSue - If I could (get that close to her), I would... LOL
DeleteMinky is absolutely adorable! And my, how quickly he has grown. He looks so strong and healthy. I'm so happy for you.
ReplyDeleteVicki - Miranda is 100% responsible for his amazing condition. And his looks LOL
DeleteWow, he has grown so much already, he looks happy and healthy. Will you be keeping the three together once Minky is older?
ReplyDeleteLove the name by the way :)
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.
DeleteDidn'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?
Deletedreamer - 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.
DeleteAre the three voys acting as herd guards? Or does the owner have them for their fleece / cuteness?
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 :)
DeleteMinky is one of the cutest things I've ever seen!
ReplyDeleteDFW - even more so in person... LOL
DeleteMy he has grown. He's a handsome fellow indeed.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
Mum - Oh, so very, very handsome ;)
DeleteWhat an adorable little guy. But my he sure is growing fast!
ReplyDeleteGood call in getting them used to a routine so it wont be so hard on them later.
MsBelinda - He's growing too quickly for me - so incredibly adorable :)
DeleteA cria is a special kind of adorable, no doubt about it! And what a perfect name :)
ReplyDeleteQuinn - Minky for his colour and M(onkey) for his behaviour ;)
DeleteOh 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. :-)
ReplyDelete1st Man - Wish you could feel his fleece - is is super soft...!
DeleteDani, 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 !
ReplyDeleteJane - Why did you stop breeding? Cria are precious - and Minky is special :)
DeleteVirginia 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 !
DeleteJane - 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.
DeleteHow many do you still have? Do you sell their fleece still?