Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Fleece and Shearing Question
Hi Jessica,
Unless you plan to breed fiber animals, I would make sure your animals have the breeding qualities you will need in order to build up your herd. The last thing you need in this economy, is lots of animals you can't sell other that "pets".
Good fleece quality is equally as important for fiber production. There are many sources for information out there, enjoy the "learning journey".
I think everyone's advice to get in contact with Steve Hull is spot on!
Dede Crout
Dragonfly Alpacas LLC
Marydel, MD
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Hi Jessica!
Welcome to the world of alpacas! You'll love em! We started in April 2008 and bought ours sight unseen. Yes, that was not a good idea, but we love our girls and all the babies they've given us. We were just so excited about getting alpacas that I let my heart make a site unseen purchase!! You didn't mention whether they are registered with the ARI? If you plan on keeping most of the animals and just doing fiber, then it's not so important. But, if planning on raising to sell someday...most want registerable babies or adults. I see a lot of the mills state that if you send dirty fiber they may send it back if too dirty. They will also charge you more if they have to clean your fiber of VM before processing it. It gets quite expensive if you send dirty fiber. I have all my fiber in my basement waiting to find a mill close by and having the courage to send it in and see what I'll be charged for processing! It can range from $25 to $45 a pound to make it into yarn. I am always afraid there will be hidden fees?? I may try the mill in Michigan...the one that starts with a "Z". The alpacas are a herd animal and feel more comfortable with pen mates. The female is prime breeding age and they can breed any time of the year. If you have them in the same pen....she may already be bred. I would watch this summer and see if you have a FOURTH alpaca!!! LOL! Nature will take it's course! You should read the articles and chats on the alpaca sites. I learned a lot from reading the blogs on "alpacanation" where people chat about all subjects of raising and taking care of alpacas. I also set up an inexpensive website through "intuit" and it's a lot of fun. Down the road you may want to set up a website to share your adventures and alpaca products with the rest of us! Have fun and I guess you had probably be thinking about a "BABY" "CRIA" name!! Take care! Wish we were closer. I have made several friends in the area and we share in the spring shearing chores by helping at each others farms. Oh, and if you are considering trying to shear yourself.....unless you have a lot of money to spend on the proper shears....like I found out were expensive....well, it's worth the $25 to $30 per animal to have a professional do it! Your animals will be much prettier looking for the rest of the summer!! :)
Take Care!
Jody
Jody Ehler
Solon, IA 52333
J & J Alpacas
Check out our adorable alpacas!
www.jandjalpacas.com
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
From: jessica67401@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:38:16 +0000
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Fleece and Shearing Question
I have a 1 girl who is 3 a boy who is seven and a rather elderly gelding who is 14. Right now while I am learning they will be for fiber. I would like to try breeding some day though. Incidently, the people I got them from said they wont just "do it" out in the open. They have a rather large 3 sided enclosure but I have a gate that divides it into 2 sides if I want to. The previous owner said if I wanted to try to mate them I'd need to give them an enclosed private area. Has that been your experience or do you think I need to keep them seperate? Oh and for everyone who asked I am in Central Oklahoma
> Good luck. Sounds like fun. I have only been an alpaca
> owner/breeder since October 2008. We started with five and have grown to 21
> and a llama. We had four for four crias born healthy this year..3 girls and
> a boy. I have two female Suris and two male Suris and the rest Huacaya.
> Love them all!
>
> Laura...still working on our website..a work in progress
>
> www.Rhalfpintfarm.com <http://www.rhalfpintfarm.com/>
>
>
>
>
>
> Laura Roberts
>
> R Half Pint Farm
>
> Spotsylvania, VA
>
>
>
> _____
>
> From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of jessica67401
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 11:42 AM
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Fleece and Shearing Question
>
>
>
>
>
> I am a newbie to Alpacas so bear with me on these questions. I have 3
> Alpacas that I just recently purchased. I have always loved Alpacas and we
> bought them more as pets than anything. I do spin and knit so they will be
> my own personal fiber supply and I hope enough left over to help suppliment
> the cost of thier food and care.
>
> As I'm sure you know, they love to roll around in the dirt and leaves and
> such and they currently have all sorts of VM stuck in their fleece. Do I
> need to be concerned with trying to get it all out before they are sheared
> or do I need to somehow try to prevent them from getting dirty in the first
> place?
>
> Also, I have heard there are places where you can send the fleece to have it
> tested for microns and such. Where can I learn more information about that?
>
> Again, I'm new to all this so pardon my ignorance but apart from the fleece
> I will be processing myself where does one send thier fleece to have it
> processed and how much does something like that cost?
>
posted by Chaddo at 4:14 AM
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