Saturday 5 June 2010

Shearing day

Friday was shearing day here at Beck Brow. Ben, our shearer arrived at 8 am prompt and was finished and away by 11.30 am (we even had time for a chocolate cake break...thanks Mum). It was all very slick and pretty stress free for all. Thanks team for all the help.

Galaxy is pictured on the shearing table with Ben watching as his assistant trims the toe nails.

It was an obvious relief for all the alpacas to get rid of their heavy fleeces, on what turned out to be a scorcher of a day. We choose to be fairly severe with our hair cuts. No leg fleece left other than ankle socks and tail fleece off as well. Much easier to see what is going on skin wise. It also gives us a much better view of what is happening at the birthing end!

It always very amusing to see how they don't recognise each other initially. Even we have to double take sometimes as they look so different shorn:

Willow...looking very pretty.

Almo...more like Ugg boots than ankle socks!

Hollywood (left)....hardly recognisable

Explorer continues to do well thankfully. He has continued to gain weight and is much more active then he has been on previous days. Pictured below with Camilla, he really is in need of a good shampoo (no we won't be going there!) with his dirty face and ears. He was very sticky when born and the only clean bits (bright white) are where his coat has been, but hey we are just glad he is doing well.

5 comments:

  1. What a difference a week can make, great to see young Explorer enjoying the sunshine.

    You did promise us all an "ankle sock" photo!

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  2. Amanda, I think Ben would actually have been agreeable to posing, but I couldn't risk the censorship issues!

    Hope your boys have got used to their nakedness!

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  3. Nice set of pics Barbara, and isn't it great to be able to have a new set of pets every twelve months?!

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  4. Hi Barbara, Great photos. Isn't it funny how those great big beasties are really slim-line with their coats off? They should be nice and cool now. Shirley & Robbie

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  5. Glad to hear Explorer is doing well.
    Can't wait to see the 'Shear' transformation down here!

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