Fur 'n Feathers, at the farm... The fluff episode.

We have pictures of the chicks, FINALLY.  They are getting big enough that they don't necessarily want to stay under Mom all the time, so I managed to snap a pic or two when they went "exploring".

I think they are all three girls this round...  At least I hope so.  I need a few new egg layers.  Let's just say I am becoming the local geriatric ward for poultry.  (sigh)

These are two different llamas, but this is a before and after picture, as today was shearing day.

Fuzzy...

And,of course, de-fuzzed.  Dolly, the brown one, was a butt.  We suspect that it might have been her first shearing.  She stomped, she kicked, spat, was just ridiculous. (While llamas have a bad reputation, the spitting part is usually about the most obnoxious, kicking and such is unusual.)  The shearer was on his toes, though, and so was I.  She kicked so hard she knocked a pipe off the chute, I missed getting a klonk to the head!    


But after some re-tying, and creative support, read: I had her in a head lock, while the shearer tied her front feet so she couldn't go far, we got her toenails clipped, too.   What a change from the night before, when I fed Lorenzo, and Husband picked up each foot and clipped.  No ropes, no halter, just food.  


We found that Toni, and Annie were much better.  Toni, however, managed to slip her halter, I usually unbuckle them, and they walk right into the pasture.  Weeeellll, she thought the grass by the road looked more tasty, I guess.  With a little llama round up, we had her back in about a minute, but that was... Um. Interesting.  


Annie is showing her age a bit, sharp, sharp hips.  I was worried that I hadn't fed her enough, until the sheared commented that her ribs weren't showing, and she was clear eyed.  So I felt a bit better.  


No babies tho.  (sigh, again.)  Not ONE of the girls came up preggers, and boy, it wasn't because Lorenzo wasn't trying.  A lot.  Continually...  


Ahem.  


But, that is the way it goes sometimes.  I still have a great group of llamas, and I now have even more fiber to get something done with, so I have decided to try doing cleaning and such with a small batch, and see how it comes out, then decide if it is worth taking to a fiber mill, or just doing it myself.  

Oh, and I was spreading wood chips in the chicken yard, and sat down.  I thought that this lead to a very nice picture of Rudee, who decided he needed to sit, too...  He is keeping an eye out for Lorenzo, as they, uh, don't get along very well.  When the llamas first arrived, Rudee decided Lorenzo was fun to chase and annoy, and Lorenzo decided Rudee was an obnoxious ass.  And responded by spraying him green.  I allowed this, so Rudee would learn his lesson.  As you can see, it took.  Lorenzo does NOT get chased, and Rudee is much better behaved.  


Win win, in my book.