Alpacas Are Fun
Aren't they so cute? The first time I saw an alpaca, I was riding through a coastal Maine town and saw some black animals I wasn't sure of what they were. They looked like sheep with long giraffe type necks. I had to back up and say, whoa, what are those? Aren't they unusual looking? I since have taken the kids to an alpaca event where we saw and learned about dozens of them and I now get the bi-monthly NEAOBA (a publication of the New England Alpaca Owner & Breeders Association). You can get your copy from their website at NEAOBA. Come with me and learn a little more about these cute creatures.
Learn More About Those Lovable Alpacas
Alpacas have lovable dispositions and are easily trained to lead. They are gentle enough to be handled by children.They make excellent companion animals and are also show animals.Alpacas are very closely related to llamas. They are both from a group of four species known as South American Camelids. The llama is approximately twice the size of an alpaca with banana shaped ears and is principally used as a pack animal. Alpacas are exclusively bred as fleece animals.
Most alpacas make very good pets.Like any livestock, the more handling they receive as youngsters, the quieter they are as adults. Given time, most alpacas will eat out of your hand and training them to lead by a halter is a straightforward process.Alpacas generally don't like being held and are particularly sensitive to being touched on the head. They are naturally curious and intelligent and if you let them approach you, rather than rush at them and expect an affectionate response, the interactions can be very rewarding.
"Did you know that alpacas hum? It's true! Who knew?"
An Alpaca Farm
Visit an Alpaca Farm
We visited an Alpaca Farm in Hampton CT, which is in the northwest corner of Connecticut. The farm is also a Bed and Breakfast, and has a great gift shop full of soft Alpaca items. I wish I would have thought to make a video at the time, but alas, I did not. Hope you enjoy the pictures
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Learn About Alpaca Yarn
Alpaca Husbandry
Amazing Alpacas
Shearing an Alpaca
Alpaca Shearing
This is a shearing that took place at Millennial Way Farm on March 22, 2008.
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Baby Alpaca & Silk Pacmina - Light Pink
SEE MORE COLORS AVAILABLE BELOW
Alpaca Pashmina. Rare Baby Alpaca & Silk Pacmina - Light Pink
Amazon Price: $88.00 (as of 12/01/2008)
* Baby Alpaca And Silk
* Light Weight
* Super Soft
* Made In Peru
Product Description
The lightest softest and most sensual pashmina shawl that you will ever own. Made from a blend of Baby Alpaca and Silk in 11 solid colors and 5 designs. The Pacmina is our name for this Alpaca & Silk pashmina shawl.
More Colors For Alpaca Shawl Above
Lots More Colors Here For The Shawl Above. Alpaca Socks on Amazon
Alpaca [MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION]
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
Publisher: British Alpaca Society
Alpaca
Amazon Price: $49.26 (as of 12/01/2008)
Product Description
Alpacas magazine is the official journal of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association. Alpacas covers the gamut of alpaca-related topics: from animal husbandry to the latest on alpaca research; human-interest stories and marketing suggestions.
The Wonderful World of Alpacas
The Wonderful World of Alpacas
Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2008)
Beginning with the concept of children bonding with alpacas, adults sharing good times with an alpaca, and moving through all the many warm-fuzzy feelings one can get from just being around these small camelids. THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ALPACAS also takes stops along the alpaca tour which describe and define their characteristics and their habits. -- Francie Greth-Peto
Llamas and Alpacas: Small-scale Herding for Pleasure and Profit
Llamas and Alpacas: Small-scale Herding for Pleasure and Profit (Hobby Farms)
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/01/2008)
Paperback: 160 pages
Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas: Care/Showing/Breeding/Packing/Profiting
Storey's Guide to Raising Llamas: Care/Showing/Breeding/Packing/Profiting
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 12/01/2008)
Everything readers need to know about behavior, facilities, first aid, breeding, birthing, fleece harvesting, and marketing.
Buying, Selling and Breeding Alpacas
Prices for alpacas are directly related to the individual breeding potential and the potential quality of the offspring.For example, a gelding (castrated male) has no breeding potential and is therefore the cheapest alpaca to buy (around $500 to $1,000). On the other hand, a high quality male with many good progeny on the ground has a very high breeding potential and can be worth many thousands of dollars. He can also command a high income from the stud services he provides.
Female prices are a reflection of quality, age, breeding history and to which stud male she is mated. Females can be worth anything from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.Income from females is derived from selling the offspring.
Alpacas also provide an excellent investment opportunity and are the source of luxurious fiber. The fleece, comparable to cashmere, is known for its fineness, light weight, and luster. Alpaca textile products are recognized world-wide. Everyone should own a soft, warm alpaca sweater.
Llamas and Alpacas as a Metaphor for Life
Llamas and Alpacas as a Metaphor for Life
Amazon Price: $27.93 (as of 12/01/2008)
For anyone who is fascinated by llamas and alpacas, this is the coffee table book for you! Charming stories throughout, accompanied by beautiful, color photographs. Read this book and you'll be instantly hooked on llamas and alpacas! A great gift for the camelid enthusiast in your life. Photography by Sandy Flanagan.
Fences for Pasture & Garden
Fences for Pasture & Garden
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/01/2008)
Product Description
The complete guide to choosing, planning, and building today's best fences: wire, rail, electric, high-tension, temporary, woven, and snow.
Alpacas Need Company
Alpacas are herd animals and are instinctively gregarious, as are other domestic livestock. They obtain security and contentment from having at least one other alpaca for company.
For this reason, it is usually recommended that two alpacas is the desirable minimum.
Hooded Alpaca Cape
ON SALE! $148.00
* First selection Baby Alpaca Wool
* Imported by Reyes Avila, LLC
* Crocheted rim and attached hood
* Hypoallergenic, no itch, soft, warm
* 40"L x 60"W
Luxurious Alpaca Hooded Cape, Chocolate Color (D - 5)
Amazon Price: $200.00 (as of 12/01/2008)
Product Description
Chocolate color cloak, made of baby alpaca yarn, one of the finest yarns in the world. It is very soft, warm and won't itch. Its color is a beautiful shade of Brown. It features a button-front and the hood is lined. 40"L x 60"W
Gorgeous Alpaca Fiber Fashions
Click on a banner below.
Luxurious Alpaca Fashions
Alpaca Poll
Watch Alpacas
Bowdoin Cable News: Alpaca Farm Day in Maine
BCNews takes a trip to Freeport's Tripping Gnome Farm to meet some adorable alpacas. Reporter: Dana Borowitz
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Here's my favorite link:
Flickr Photos of Alpacas
Alpacas
Columbia Heights Day...
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Mmmm. Boobs.
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My little Pony!
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Hello, how are you?
Giraffe @ Hedriks!
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Baby Camel
Cute!
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the proud ownder of...
alpacas
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------Baby Alpacas------
A baby is known as a cria. Weaned crias are known as weanlings or tuis.
A Baby Cria
Shaggy Guy
Beautiful Alpaca
Smiley
Alpaca Apparel
Alpaca Apparel
I LOVE MY ALPACAS Bumper Sticker
I LOVE MY ALPACAS Bumper Sticker
Amazon Price: $2.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
'I LOVE MY ALPACAS' Bumper Sticker. Width: 10.5 inches, Height: 1.5 inches. Stickers are printed on high quality Starliner Premier Polypro water proof paper and adhere with adhesive to your car, truck, van, motorhome, motorcycle, notebook, cubicle, or office.
ALPACA LOVER PARKING llama pet farm sign
ALPACA LOVER PARKING llama pet farm sign
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
# MADE IN USA
# Long Lasting
# GREAT Gift idea
# Easy to install
ALPACA by Safari, Ltd.
ALPACA by Safari, Ltd.
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
* Hand-painted, phthalate free and safety tested.
* Model Size: 3.75" L x 3.75" H (9.5 x 9.5 cm)
* Data hang tag.
* Age 3+
* Model Size: 4.75 in. L x 2 in. H (12 x 5 cm).
Teddy Bear Made of Alpaca Fiber
Alpaca Bear. Genuine Multi Colored Alpaca Teddy Bear With Pink Roses Collar. 14 Inches high.
Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
* Genuine Natural Alpaca
* Alpaca Bear
* Pink Rose Collar
* Pin & Registration Certificate
* Made In Peru
Soft Cuddly Alpaca Stuffed Animal Hand Made Pet Dog Teddy Bear
Soft Cuddly Alpaca Stuffed Animal Hand Made Pet Dog Teddy Bear APD_WHITEBROWN10_074
Amazon Price: $42.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
These are super soft fluffy natural un-dyed luxurious baby alpaca fur long hair shaggy pet dogs. They are made of 100% alpaca. They are as huggable and cuddly as you will ever find. This model is made of white and brown furs and is approximately 10 inches tall and 14 inches wide with the ears extended and over 9 inches deep. The ears flop and are approximately 5 inches long and 4 inches wide.
Paddy O'llama 11"
Plush Paddy O'llama 11"
Amazon Price: $9.25 (as of 12/01/2008)
11" tall (28 cm)Douglas Toys makes many beautiful, soft, cuddly Farm and Barnyard animals with distinctive expressions and gestures that speak quality and value unlike any other plush.
Steiff Alpaca Donkey
Steiff Alpaca Donkey, EAN 052866
Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
A is for Alpaca! The Alpaca-tude Series
# Paperback: 20 pages
Annabelle Alpaca Travels to Peru
Annabelle Alpaca Travels to Peru
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
Childen and parents alike will delight in Annabelle's newest adventure to Peru. Annabelle and Fluff are just like children as they journey through the countryside in a minivan. Discover the sights along the way including Machu Picu, and the Vicuna round-up. Find out how much mischief Tag the barn cat can get into. This heartwarming story ends with Annabelle Alpaca realizing where home really is.
Annabelle Alpaca Plants a Garden
# Paperback: 32 pages
Annabelle Alpaca Plants a Garden
Amazon Price: $8.49 (as of 12/01/2008)
Annabelle Alpaca Plants a Garden is childrens book about two alpacas, a horse, a chicken and a cat. The story begins in late winter, with the animals bored with the same dull food they have been fed for months. As spring arrives they join efforts in a colorful and magical way to plant, care for and harvest a garden of all their favorite foods. Children learn about farm animals and what they eat while enjoying the antics of all the characters in the book. The story promotes cooperation and teamwork in children. Parents can use the book to intoduce children to creating a family garden.
There is a special intorductory page about alpacas which includes their history, description, use of their fiber, breeds and life cycle.
Links to Alpacas
- Maine Alpaca Association
- Maine Alpaca Association~Learn about Maine alpaca farms here!
- Northwest Alpacas
- Learn the business and about breeding of alpacas.
- Cas-Cad-Nac Farm in Vermont
- Alpaca fiber on a Vermont farm.
- Tripping Gnome Farm in Maine
- Herdsires, alpaca sales, and fiber store here in Maine.
- Chase Tavern Farm
- A Maine alpaca farm.
- New England Coast Alpaca Show
- Giant New England alpaca show at Pineland Center in New Gloucester, Maine. October 18th and 19th-2008.
- New England Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association
- Lots of information on alpacas at the New England Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association.Ask for their free magazine!
- Alpaca Info
- Alpaca farms and events guide.
- Alpaca Rose Parade
- Alpaca parade with float, fashions, magazine and lots of info here on alpacas.
- Alpaca Magazine
- Magazine all about alpacas and alpaca fashion.
- New Zealand Alpacas
- New Zealand Alpaca Association
- Alpaca Canada
- Alpaca Canada represents the interests and evolving needs of Alpaca Canada members and promotes the development of a viable, sustainable and integrated Canadian alpaca industry.
- Alpaca World Links
- Links to Alpaca Info Worldwide.
Alpaca Fleece
100% Alpaca Wool Baby Blanket
100% Alpaca Wool Baby Blanket Soft and Silky Natural Wool Luscious Dark Blue Color Cream Features
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
These baby super soft 100% pure alpaca wool reversible baby blankets are incredibly luxurious to touch. They are top quality and light weight yet very warm blankets that both you and your favorite baby will love. This one is a beautiful shade of woven dark blue and cream that is wonderfully soft and cuddly. It is an approximate 34 inches wide by 49 inches long and the edges are stitched in a matching color thread. This beautiful blanket weighs approximately 8 ounces.
Soft 100% Alpaca Wool Blanket Reversible Throw Blanket
Soft 100% Alpaca Wool Blanket Reversible throw blanket Mellow Peach Color Cream Highlights
Amazon Price: $64.95 (as of 12/01/2008)
These baby soft 100% pure alpaca wool reversible throw blankets are incredibly luxurious to touch. They are top quality and light weight yet very warm blankets that also can be used as throws. This one is a beautiful shade of woven peach and cream that is wonderfully soft and cuddly and will make an elegant finishing touch to any well-appointed bed. It is a large approximate 60 inches wide by 86 inches long, which will cover a double or queen size bed, and weighs approximately 26 ounces. Colors may vary slightly from the pictures shown. It was expertly hand woven in Ecuador and our label is attached.
Canvas Tote Bag Black " Alpaca Lovin " Animals
Canvas Tote Bag Black " Alpaca Lovin " Animals
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
Product Description
This is a great tote bag. Very useful . Ideal for daily use and anytime ! . All TopExpressions products are made under strict quality controls. 100% canvas cotton.
Canvas Tote Bag Black " My Alpaca Ate My Homework
Canvas Tote Bag Black " My Alpaca Ate My Homework " Animals
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/01/2008)
This is a great tote bag. Very useful . Ideal for daily use and anytime ! . All TopExpressions products are made under strict quality controls. 100% canvas cotton.
Leave me your comments about alpacas here.
stargazer00 wrote...
I haven't seen too many alpacas but there are several llama herds around here. They are so cool. I love looking at them when we drive by.
Posted October 01, 2008
Billco wrote...
My wife is crazy about Alpacas. She sould probabaly buy a cople if we had more land.
Nice lens
Posted August 01, 2008
hesika wrote...
You have here an interesting lens about wonderful animals, which give us wonderful warm wool for our clothes. Thank you.
Posted July 22, 2008
EelKat wrote...
If you go to my Mokomoko lens you'll find lots of links to Alpaca farms there, including Tripping Gnome. As soon as I save up enough money, I'm planning to go back to Tripping Gnome to buy a fleece so I can make my Mokomoko. It's 12 feet long though, and I have to make the fabric by hand sewing the fleece one strand at a time to a backing fabric, so it's going take forever to sew. I don't know if one fleece will be enough though. Any idea how much fleece I should buy?
I'm adding this lens as a featured lens on my Mokomoko lens. (The Mokomoko)
Posted July 06, 2008