Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Equipment

 

Thanks so much for sharing these, Heather - great stuff!
 
Susan Olson
Alpaca Loco
Riverside, CA
 
In a message dated 1/12/2013 8:32:27 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, alpacatalk@gmail.com writes:
 

We make our hay boxes out of 2x4s, 2x2s, and plywood. They used to hold a 100 lb 2 tie bale, well, I guess they still do, but all of the hay growers changed to a 120 lb 3 tie bale. We made them 2" wider and longer than the dimensions of the bale. Put a bale in, remove the ties, and you're all set. Many of our feeders have grates made from lumber and portions of cattle panels. Here's a web page describing how we make them, and some pics.




Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece


On Jan 12, 2013, at 7:40 AM, maria b wrote:

 

Can I aks where you got your hay racks/feeders ect. Which things you like and dislike. I need to place orders now.

Thank you,
Maria


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posted by Chaddo at 11:13 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

That's a pretty awesome tale. Good dogs!



Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece


On Jan 12, 2013, at 6:30 PM, Laura Roberts wrote:

 

You are right about that!  We had a hunting dog running our fenceline, and they were all alarming.  Our male Pyr ran to the fenceline and threatened the dog, our female Pyr chased the alpacas to the barn!  


I love watching them work together and even though this wasn't a huge threat (this time) they knew what to do.

Laura

On Sat, Jan 12, 2013 at 9:06 PM, Tina Travis <traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

I have noticed that the alpacas always run to the danger.They are just so curious they run right over to whatever the dogs are after at the fence line.I wish they would be more aware of what the dangers are and run the other.Silly alpacas!!

Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share

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posted by Chaddo at 7:42 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

You are right about that!  We had a hunting dog running our fenceline, and they were all alarming.  Our male Pyr ran to the fenceline and threatened the dog, our female Pyr chased the alpacas to the barn!  


I love watching them work together and even though this wasn't a huge threat (this time) they knew what to do.

Laura

On Sat, Jan 12, 2013 at 9:06 PM, Tina Travis <traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com> wrote:
 

I have noticed that the alpacas always run to the danger.They are just so curious they run right over to whatever the dogs are after at the fence line.I wish they would be more aware of what the dangers are and run the other.Silly alpacas!!

Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share
From: Heather Zeleny
Sent: 1/12/2013 7:20 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

I just remembered another farm in our area. She lost her best herdsire to a cougar. She did have 5' fences, and only one LGD. However, I doubt if anything can keep out a determined cougar. Maybe 6 or 8' chain link, but even then I'm not so sure, They're cats and they can jump. And they can surely climb wooden fenceposts. And I guess you all don't have to worry about cougars at all, back east, anymore. I'd worry more about roaming dogs.


Another friend of ours lost a female to neighborhood dogs. She had 4' sheep or cattle field fence, and the alpaca either put her head over the top to check out the dogs, or else through the openings, and the dogs got her. 

I even worry about some areas on our fences. There are a few low spots in the ground where animals could easily get under. We really need to get some good sized rocks in those spots and block them. And we do see roaming dogs on the road every now and then. We we also have been lucky so far.


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR


Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece


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posted by Chaddo at 6:30 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

RE: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

I have noticed that the alpacas always run to the danger.They are just so curious they run right over to whatever the dogs are after at the fence line.I wish they would be more aware of what the dangers are and run the other.Silly alpacas!!

Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share
From: Heather Zeleny
Sent: ‎1/‎12/‎2013 7:20 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

I just remembered another farm in our area. She lost her best herdsire to a cougar. She did have 5' fences, and only one LGD. However, I doubt if anything can keep out a determined cougar. Maybe 6 or 8' chain link, but even then I'm not so sure, They're cats and they can jump. And they can surely climb wooden fenceposts. And I guess you all don't have to worry about cougars at all, back east, anymore. I'd worry more about roaming dogs.


Another friend of ours lost a female to neighborhood dogs. She had 4' sheep or cattle field fence, and the alpaca either put her head over the top to check out the dogs, or else through the openings, and the dogs got her. 

I even worry about some areas on our fences. There are a few low spots in the ground where animals could easily get under. We really need to get some good sized rocks in those spots and block them. And we do see roaming dogs on the road every now and then. We we also have been lucky so far.


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece

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posted by Chaddo at 6:06 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

RE: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

I was told by a lady that runs sheep in cat country,that it takes 6 pyrs to stand against a cougar without the dogs getting hurt.We have cougar in Missouri but none  real close to me so far.We have bear too,but none directly around the farm.I worry most about dogs.I have seen people post about chainlink 8ft to protect against cougars.I trust my pyrs much more then fences.
Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share
From: Heather Zeleny
Sent: ‎1/‎12/‎2013 7:20 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

I just remembered another farm in our area. She lost her best herdsire to a cougar. She did have 5' fences, and only one LGD. However, I doubt if anything can keep out a determined cougar. Maybe 6 or 8' chain link, but even then I'm not so sure, They're cats and they can jump. And they can surely climb wooden fenceposts. And I guess you all don't have to worry about cougars at all, back east, anymore. I'd worry more about roaming dogs.


Another friend of ours lost a female to neighborhood dogs. She had 4' sheep or cattle field fence, and the alpaca either put her head over the top to check out the dogs, or else through the openings, and the dogs got her. 

I even worry about some areas on our fences. There are a few low spots in the ground where animals could easily get under. We really need to get some good sized rocks in those spots and block them. And we do see roaming dogs on the road every now and then. We we also have been lucky so far.


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece

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posted by Chaddo at 5:59 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

I just remembered another farm in our area. She lost her best herdsire to a cougar. She did have 5' fences, and only one LGD. However, I doubt if anything can keep out a determined cougar. Maybe 6 or 8' chain link, but even then I'm not so sure, They're cats and they can jump. And they can surely climb wooden fenceposts. And I guess you all don't have to worry about cougars at all, back east, anymore. I'd worry more about roaming dogs.


Another friend of ours lost a female to neighborhood dogs. She had 4' sheep or cattle field fence, and the alpaca either put her head over the top to check out the dogs, or else through the openings, and the dogs got her. 

I even worry about some areas on our fences. There are a few low spots in the ground where animals could easily get under. We really need to get some good sized rocks in those spots and block them. And we do see roaming dogs on the road every now and then. We we also have been lucky so far.


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece

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posted by Chaddo at 5:20 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

RE: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

I didn't know that about OpenHerd.I am happy we don't have many large predators

Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share
From: Heather Zeleny
Sent: ‎1/‎12/‎2013 6:18 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

Openherd's search feature lets you specify # of miles from your ZIP code, as well as other parameters.


I definitely agree about neighborhood dogs, in fact I have heard more stories about herds being wiped out due to neighbor dogs than to coyotes or cougars. Although I do know of two farms in my area that had their herds killed by cougars. One farm, it was the entire herd in one night, and she did have LGDs. The other farm, the cougar came and picked them off one by one over a few weeks. In that area, the cougar/s were even attacking horses. And this one was not in a heavily forested area, but mostly ag lands. 

In wild areas, a 4' fence will not do, and open panel gates are no better than having no fences at all. They certainly won't keep any kind of predator out. Cougars are solitary hunters, but coyotes and dogs are not. Even 6 LGDs in one pasture will be hard pressed to prevent an entire pack of coyotes from taking alpacas. Welded wire will pop, it's only about 14 gauge if that. No climb is much stronger, with wire wraps at each cross of the wire. I like diamond weave fencing even better, but it can be harder to find. 

Thanks for your nice words, Tina, I'm just doing what I can. :)


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece


On Jan 12, 2013, at 3:30 PM, Tina Travis wrote:

 

Amy some of my reg tube gates I just put metal fence on them or plastic lattice to make them predator proof.Neighborhood dogs kill more livestock then any other predator in most areas.Only a dog can fight off a dog.LGDs are worth their weight in gold.We have 3 but have had as many as 6.You don't even have to train them they mostly come preprogrammed,in my experience at least.Heather you're so smart to think about searching her area on AlpacaNation!!Very nice of you to look.I have never liked pushy sales people either.I am always less likely to buy from people like that.I don't like to be pushed...

Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share

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posted by Chaddo at 5:00 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

Openherd's search feature lets you specify # of miles from your ZIP code, as well as other parameters.


I definitely agree about neighborhood dogs, in fact I have heard more stories about herds being wiped out due to neighbor dogs than to coyotes or cougars. Although I do know of two farms in my area that had their herds killed by cougars. One farm, it was the entire herd in one night, and she did have LGDs. The other farm, the cougar came and picked them off one by one over a few weeks. In that area, the cougar/s were even attacking horses. And this one was not in a heavily forested area, but mostly ag lands. 

In wild areas, a 4' fence will not do, and open panel gates are no better than having no fences at all. They certainly won't keep any kind of predator out. Cougars are solitary hunters, but coyotes and dogs are not. Even 6 LGDs in one pasture will be hard pressed to prevent an entire pack of coyotes from taking alpacas. Welded wire will pop, it's only about 14 gauge if that. No climb is much stronger, with wire wraps at each cross of the wire. I like diamond weave fencing even better, but it can be harder to find. 

Thanks for your nice words, Tina, I'm just doing what I can. :)


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece


On Jan 12, 2013, at 3:30 PM, Tina Travis wrote:

 

Amy some of my reg tube gates I just put metal fence on them or plastic lattice to make them predator proof.Neighborhood dogs kill more livestock then any other predator in most areas.Only a dog can fight off a dog.LGDs are worth their weight in gold.We have 3 but have had as many as 6.You don't even have to train them they mostly come preprogrammed,in my experience at least.Heather you're so smart to think about searching her area on AlpacaNation!!Very nice of you to look.I have never liked pushy sales people either.I am always less likely to buy from people like that.I don't like to be pushed...

Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share

__._,_.___
Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (6)
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

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posted by Chaddo at 4:17 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

RE: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

Amy some of my reg tube gates I just put metal fence on them or plastic lattice to make them predator proof.Neighborhood dogs kill more livestock then any other predator in most areas.Only a dog can fight off a dog.LGDs are worth their weight in gold.We have 3 but have had as many as 6.You don't even have to train them they mostly come preprogrammed,in my experience at least.Heather you're so smart to think about searching her area on AlpacaNation!!Very nice of you to look.I have never liked pushy sales people either.I am always less likely to buy from people like that.I don't like to be pushed...

Tina Travis
ElkHorn Alpacas
31655 ElkHorn Glen
Warrenton,MO.63383
636-456-4838
636-459-8930
traviselkhornalpacas@yahoo.com
Alpacas are a rare treasure to share
From: AmyJoLabbe@aol.com
Sent: ‎1/‎12/‎2013 4:36 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 

We have 3 board oak fences with welded wire in between. They are 4' fences. We have regular tube gates without the mesh. So far, knock on wood, we have not had an issue. I have seen others with better fence still have a predator get in. I think no matter the fence if the beast wants in, it will find a way. I feel safer now with a livestock dog and a llama. Might want to consider those additions too. 

AmyJo Labbe
www.Libellulesoaps.com
Your choice for quality livestock since 1997!


-----Original Message-----
From: Heather Zeleny <alpacatalk@gmail.com>
To: AlpacaTalk <AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, Jan 12, 2013 4:01 pm
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Is there a guideline for pricing/choosing?

 
I am also put off by hard sell sales tactics. I'd keep looking. And, get all of your fencing and shelters done before making any commitments. Oh, speaking of fencing, it is highly recommended to have 5' no-climb fences on the perimeter, and either chain link gates (also 5' high) or the tube type gates with the wire mesh, so that predators can't get into your pastures. Secure fencing is a must. 

But, here's a search I did at AlpacaNation, I see quite a lot of boys to choose from in your area.
This link may not work properly, yahoo really sucks that way. :)


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Creswell, OR

541.895.0964

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece


On Jan 12, 2013, at 12:22 PM, maria b wrote:

 
We live in northern VA where, unfortunately things seem to cost a bit more then in more, remote areas. (its stupid but it does) I have 3 options at this point.....

1- The two alpacas I s aw yesterday and wrote about. One 7-8 yr old boy who suffers the after effects of meningeal worm that he had contracted 4 yrs ago. Saw him and he came to the fence when I pulled up and then when I got out he stepped away and watched me from afar. (precious guy who obviously is in need of a family who can love him and cater to his needs)Also, the 4 r old girl who is with him who is missing her "female reproductive parts". She was very curious and each time I put my nose to the fence she put hers up against mine to smell me. (I loved her curiosity!) Obviously she was very handled by humans. I would like to adopt them but wonder what would be a fair cost for them. We have not yet spoke money. I hear the owners of them is a money hungry guy who really doesn't care about the alpacas. My friend is the care taker of them.

2- Heading to a big farm north of here with 150 alpacas. They have young ones, ages 1-2 yrs old. (un-neutered boys)They want us to try and interact with them and see if we feellike we would like to persue adopting any of them. (this will of course take a few visits) They told me thier pet quality alpacas don't get handled as much as the show ones. $600 each. (this is at Sugarloaf Alpacas in Adamstown MD)

3- Visiting a gentleman 20 minutes south of here who has 16 alpacas total. Most are of breed/show quality. He has 2 boys (un-neutered) that are ages 4-5 yrs and he said they have been handled constantly by his family (wife and daughters) I'm meeting him tomorrow and he seems educated and nice but definately has the business side of him come out. (which is a turn off to me) Telling me there is other folks who want them and would pay a higher price but he rather give them to me as I am a nice person. (that kind of talk turns me off becasue he doesn't even know me!) BUT I will visit them anyway so I can compare the personalities of alpacas who are raised on small family farms to those of large business farms. Cost ea ch $600 maybe more???

Are there guidelines for pricing??? What should I look for when choosing??I loved the first set (special needs set becasue I could see them being here and happy but its not my choice if this owner wants the highest bidder I will lose) ANy insight on what to consider? My step now is to visit them all.

I'm sorry to bug you all with these questions but I need to learn.

Thank you for all your awesome info these past weeks and I look forward to hearing more! I value your opinions!

Maria (Virginia)


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posted by Chaddo at 3:30 PM 0 comments