Waylon

When I quit my corporate day job, I figured I'd have plenty of time to keep up with the farm, the dogs, housecleaning, cooking, dog training business, spinning and the blog.   Hasn't quite worked out as I thought and I feel like I'm not giving any one thing the attention it needs.  I've got to get better organized.  Not sure how I did ANY of these things while I worked full time. 

There's not been too much new going on at the FFF farm recently, other than the hens are laying eggs like crazy now.  We've got plenty of baby chicks available for sale, too.  Email us if you're interested in either. 

Shearing day has come and gone.  I wasn't entirely happy with the process, but it's done and our boys are pretty cool now without the excess fleece.  If you want details on who we used and why we will be looking for someone else next year, email me.

Chet scans the web for potential alpacas in need of re-homing and found a single boy south of Dallas last week.  We made arrangements to pick up him today.  I was worried about getting him loaded in the trailer since Chet is recovering from hand surgery.  He's still all bandaged up and is not supposed to be doing anything like lifting an alpaca.  The folks had the animal in a barn - thankfully we didn't have to chase him around a field.  We haltered him without any fuss and he walked willingly into the trailer where he was treated to some alfalfa (like sweets to a kid). 

His name is Waylon.  His buddy, Willie, died last year and he's been lonely since then.  Alpacas are herd animals and they do much better when they live with their own kind.  We'll keep him separated from the rest of our herd for a while until they get to know each other.  Waylon is on the left.

He's a beautiful dark fawn with a coppery hue to his fleece.  He rolled in the hay in the trailer on his way home so he arrived quite messy.  His main issues we can see right away are his feet and teeth.  His back nails were overgrown and curled over so he's not able to walk properly on his back legs.  He's also got some badly overgrown front teeth.

Alpacas generally need a pedicure at least twice a year.  For most animals, it's not a problem once you get them secured, but it does take 2 people to get it done.  Some alpacas never need their teeth trimmed, but those with a serious underbite will need trimmed down.  This usually gets done at shearing time.

We were able to take care of the back feet right away.  The teeth will have to wait until Chet's hand heals up some more and his stitches come out.

Welcome to the farm, Waylon!