Re: [AlpacaTalk] Training questions and Hello

 

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@yahoo.com> 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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Re: [AlpacaTalk] Training questions and Hello

 

Your best bet is to visit www.camelidynamics.com.  Marty McGee Bennett is the foremost expert in the alpaca/llama industries for information about handling techniques.  There are lots of tips on her website, and she has written a number of books that most of us consider "must haves" for information on camelid behavior and management.  Yes, a smaller catch pen would be best to train or retrain them for haltering and leading.  Many of us use small catch pens to feed supplement because then they associate the pen with good things (as well as "bad" things like injections, etc.).

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

--

Judith Korff
LadySong Farm and The Pastel Paca
Randolph,  New York
(716) 499-0383
Suri: Silk Without the Worm
www.alpacanation.com/ladysong.asp

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[AlpacaTalk] Training questions and Hello

 

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.

__._,_.___

Reply via web post

Reply to sender

Reply to group

Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

• New Members 2

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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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