Wife and youngest are still keen on getting something in our 3 acre field. They've been told by an alpaca keeper that they are ideal; no need for supplementary feeds, no feet trimming, no dagging.
Is this true? If so, how many would a 3 acre field support?
sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42219 Location: North Devon
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 16 7:05 pm Post subject:
I refer you to every other thread on here ever about alpacas. People who own the ruddy things and want to sell them will say anything.
There's only really one thread that I can find with the wonderful DS search button that actually discusses much about keeping them. Hopefully someone (where are you Alison) can fill me in.
As you say people with livestock to offload can talk through therir backsides to get you to buy
You still need to shear them,one type yearly the other type every other year,
My new /last year neighbours have a dozen of them,and 4 youngsters this year,i will inquire with them next time I see them regarding foot trimming etc.
sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42219 Location: North Devon
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 16 9:11 pm Post subject:
How about a free range guinea pig colony? Or capybaras.
How about a free range guinea pig colony? Or capybaras.
Or tapirs?
wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 15051 Location: East Midlands
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 16 9:13 pm Post subject:
They do need shearing, foot trimming, vaccinating and something doing to their teeth. They also need some concentrate. Many people are quite scathing about them being expensive and useless. I personally think they would be cheaper than the lawnmower I bought (by several thousand pounds, actually!) and that there are a great deal more useless pets out there, and no reason why there shouldn't be.
I fancy a couple to keep the grass down, fertilise the vegetable beds and protect the chickens from my fox plague. I love the fibre as well. I just need to sort out some fencing and a field shelter, I think. It's either that or I'm going to plant flax and grow my own bedsheets.
sean Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 42219 Location: North Devon
it would take a lot of guineapigs to mow 3 acres and capybara like a nice warm swamp, tapirs are forest beasts and not well designed for grazing grass.
alison's alpacas were charming at a safe distance.
i get the impression they need about as much care as sheep but with a bit less stroppyness, escaping and seeking unusual ways to die.
however these folk seem to know a lot about alpacas linky and it seems they also seek unusual ways to die and although not as stroppy as sheep can still be a bit difficult.
I too have fleetingly toyed with the idea of having Alpacas but I've never got past the hellish prices that are still being asked for them.
There isn't any profit in it for me, other than our land not turning into jungle but two weeks ago I arranged for a local farmer to drop three cows and their calves off at our place. They're only lodgers but I can pretend that they're mine.
I find them marvellously therapeutic, no worries and no risk of any financial loss. I quite literally spend hours staring at them Over the Gate but I do have one problem. I keep on losing the piece of straw that I put in my mouth.
Try the pub for the farmers and for goodness sake don't for a minute consider letting any hormonally charged horsey or pony ladies on to your land with their Knaggs. I speak from experience. Don't trust anything with two sets of teeth, I'm speaking of the horses of course.
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