Goodbye, but not past tense...

Well, by this time tomorrow, I will have no llamas. 

I really love the girls, but have found, I can't care for them well enough.  More accurately, I can't do the maintenance, toes, and shearing, they need on a regular basis.  Husband has pitched in, but doesn't like to. 

I had a gentleman that was just perfect for the job, and was going to call him.

Then he had an accident, and can't shear anymore.

I have been trying to find someone to shear my 2 girls.  Most of the responses are on the order of, ONLY TWO?  With a look that is similar to finding dog excrement on your shoe.  When I do get someone that will, the price is... Well, a lot more than what the gentleman had been asking. A lot more.

And we have to pay insurance, because they are considered livestock.

Then there is the fiber.  I have been unable to get the fiber made into roving.  I have several bags worth (waaaay more than 3 bags full, sir) and when I call, most of the processors say up front, no, we aren't taking any.  Or, if they do, they want to do something other than I want. 

I have one that is so close by, but was told llama fiber is only good for rug yarn, and that's all that company will make out of it.  But, I didn't want yarn, wanted to spin the fiber myself, (sort of the point as a spinner...)  They also said the guard hairs can't be removed.  I am not sure if they meant that company couldn't, or if they meant just generally.  But you can remove them, and the resulting fiber is wonderful, not "scratchy rug yarn" at all.

So, after a great deal of thought, some conversation with Husband, and staring at my heavily in need of shearing girls, I started looking.  I wanted them to go to a home with sheep, or other llamas.  Considering I have been seeing ads where people wanted them for meat, I was a bit picky.* 

I have had people tell me they want a llama to guard their chickens, or ducks.  I try to explain that llamas need other animals like another llama, or a cow or sheep, they don't see birds as fellow "herd animals". 

Zing!  As it goes through one ear and flies supersonic out the other...

So, I found a gent, and he, as it turns out, owns a llama ranch in Washington.  I really don't want to give the girls up, but this guy has raised llamas for years, and they will be with a big herd.  They will be able to be cared for the way they need to be, and have more llamas to interact with...  (I hope that's a good thing, in Dolly's case, she is an Alpha, and does NOT like to be second when there is food around.  Toni, on the other hand is mostly, Yeah, whatever...  So I guess it works out.) 

So, even though I know it's the right thing, (right now we are going into 80 and 90 degree weather, and they are very fuzzy, think of a heavy parka in Phoenix midday), I am feeling... downhearted.  I guess I am trying to look at it, they need someone who can do a good job, and I tried to find that someone.  I guess that is the important thing. 

But I will still miss them. 





*Yes, llamas can be used as a meat product.  I just don't want them to be used as food.