Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: Training questions and Hello

 

Its really too bad about this situation. I have worked with several "beserk" animals and have rehabilitated them - it is completely possible.  As Heather pointed out, "beserk" behavior is not caused by overhandling, it is caused by improper handling.  Its a sad situation regardless when this happens as it can be very dangerous for all, especially for the animals.  We handle all our alpacas as much as we can and they are pretty friendly - people always comment that they didn't know alpacas could be like this - and I find that very, very sad.  Imagine if dogs weren't handled enough because one of them bit someone.  Do you know what that can do to these naturally very friendly animals? 

 

Susan Olson

Alpaca Loco

Riverside, CA 

 

In a message dated 11/1/2013 10:31:49 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, lauraroberts518@gmail.com writes:

 

I urge caution to handling the young males too much.  How much is too much is debatable.  I have personally been the victim of a male alpaca's attack and I mean attack.  Knocked down intentionally and repeated.  This male was handled a lot as a baby and taught to "give kisses".  When he reached sexual maturity and became the big man on campus at our farm, he became impossible to live with and a liability.  Nobody wants a 190 lb animal that bumps you with his chest and front legs and knocks you down. 

 

I thought it was me, having had little experience with alpacas at the time.  He went after my husband, too.  \

 

The vet had to use a blow dart to sedate him and he was euthanized. Keeping him in a pasture by himself wouldn't have been the answer and we couldn't go into the pasture without him running to us. Being able to perform herd health on him was impossible without sedation.  Couldn't  give him away due to the liability and no rescue group wanted him.  The breeder refused to take him back but felt free to call me a murderer when we put him down...........and all of this started only two weeks after we brought him home.

 

Long story short..........overhandled  alpacas can have issues when they grow up and havent developed a healthy respect for us humans that most alpacas have. 

 

I currently have a rejected cria born in June.  Truffle was a bottle baby until he was four months old.  We have discussed the possibility of problems down the road and the vet agrees we should geld him prior to reaching sexual maturity.  I won't sell him because I worry too much about this .(plus he is the baby)

 

Laura

PS..........I have had alpacas since October 2008, so not years of experience like many on this list.  BUT, I know what I experienced and wouldn't wish it on anyone.  It was scary and heartbreaking.

 

 

On Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 5:43 AM, <barngirrl@aol.com> wrote:

 

Ours LOVE being petted and handled.  Spending more time with them and hand-feeding them treats (like baby carrots) helps a ton.  The more friendly your initial alpacas are, the more friendly the whole herd becomes.  The more you work with them, the friendlier and tamer they get.  Ours are just like dogs, that whole "don't handle them too much" advice we got when we first started was nonsense.  Alpacas are just like any other animal, the more time you spend training them properly, the more tame they are.  Ours know their names, come when called and love to be cuddled and follow us around for attention.  We don't allow them to bump into us or run us over but handle them A LOT, you won't be sorry.  The crias from very tame dams sell themselves.

 

Susan Olson

Alpaca Loco

Riverside, CA 

 

In a message dated 10/29/2013 10:47:55 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, alpacatalk@gmail.com writes:

 

We have hay feeders and water inside the stalls, which are also our catch pens. Generally, we allow free access between stalls and pastures, but have gates on the stalls so we can catch them more easily when necessary. Most generally, you won't be able to just go up to an alpaca in an open area like a pasture or even a large paddock and catch them. We do have a few who allow it, but most don't really like handling.

Heather Zeleny

White Lotus Alpacas

Creswell, Oregon

On Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 5:08 AM, <emgould2001@yahoo.com> wrote:

 

thanks for the info.  We plan on setting up a catch pen soon and I have been working on hand feeding, but with out much success as yet. 

Ellen 

---In alpacatalk@yahoogroups.com, <lauraroberts518@...> wrote:

A "catch pen" of 8x8 is ideal for catching them.  You can use two panels in the corner of a barn to create  a catch pen or you can use four panels to make your square catch pen if you don't have a barn corner or paddock corner.

Halter ONLY when handling and working with.  If they slip too low they will impinge on the breathing. (they don't like that one little bit!)

 

Hand feeding will get them up to you and a little friendlier.  Grain and pellets. 

 

Are they intact or gelded.  If not gelding, expect some fighting and stay out of their way when they do.  While alpacas are much lighter than horses and cows, they can still plow over you and knock you down.  It hurts! 

 

My alpacas come into our barn for their grain in the morning and evening.  They are handled on a regular basis and we have a few that are very social and come up to give kisses. (not really kisses.....they SNIFF our faces or hair)  We don't do a lot of petting, since they really don't enjoy it. 

 

I do touch them when I feed them and they have gotten better about standing while I touch them and not running off like my hand was a fireplace poker.  It is all in how much time you can give.  If you only handle them for medicals and shots, they may take longer to friendly up, but hand feeding always helps.

 

Good luck.

Laura

R Half Pint Farm

Spotsylvania, VA 

On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 7:14 AM, <emgould2001@...> wrote:

 

Hello, my daughter and I recently purchased 2 male Alpaca.  they have not been handle much.  They are in a large pen right now and run away from us. 

Should we move them to a smaller area so we can catch them easier?

Should we halter then only when we want to work with them?

Any suggestions on getting them easier to work with.

We are both veteran animal handlers ( horses, goats, sheep, pigs) and want to find out what works best for Alpaca.

Thanks,

Ellen and Liv.

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