Lauren the Llama - Follow Along with First Time Llama Owners

Friday April 11, 2008
Lauren arrived at 11:30am. Her wool is filthy, her teeth and hooves are far too long and need serious attention. She's nervous but seems friendly, whether she trusts me or not will take time to tell.

Saturday April 12, 2008
Dad talked with the vet and set up a farm visit for Tuesday. Lauren will get a physical, shots, and hooves trimmed. He also stopped by a local Alpaca farm and talked ot the owner. She told him what type of de-wormer she needs and how to trim her teeth.

The barn stall is now complete so she is the barn and out of the livestock trailer (now we can give it back to my uncle). Trimming her teeth was a partial success, understandably it scared her and so we were only able to cut them back a little bit, we'll get them the rest of the way Tuesday with the vet's help. It's already helped her though, her lip isn't pushed up to the point where it's blocking off her left nostril anymore and she seems to be able to eat better.

Sunday April 13, 2008
Took a trip early this morning to the farm supply store, got Lauren proper llama feed, mineral supplement, a feed dish, and tried to get her a new halter but the one we picked out was too small. Guess she needs the next size up. I also got a book on llama care and training which should be a help.

Stopped in on the way home to a small farm with 3 llamas (and a whole lot of dwarf goats) to talk with them. Learned some new things, like that Lauren will need a specific injectable dewormer every 2 months to protect against a worm carried by white tailed deer that can be fatal to llamas. I really don't look forward to learning how to give her injections.

Monday April 14, 2008
Worked with Lauren trying to get to to accept her coat being clipped.

Tuesday April 15, 2008
The vet came to check out the animals today and we got a surprise. Lauren is not female! Lauren is a neutered male llama. We were told he was female and with his woll the way it is we couldn't see (but of course the vet has to check that area).

Lauren now has all his shots but his teeth and hooves will have to wait until the pasture is dry because there wasn't room enough in the barn to work on him sedated.

Sunday April 27, 2008
11:30 am: Llama breeder is visiting today, Lauren may have been born at her farm. I really hope he was, we'll be able to know more about his age and his parents health background.

6:30 pm So the breeder came over and Lauren is one of the llamas raised on her farm. Her name is Hilary and she was so helpful. Found out lots of info about him, first of all he's 13 years old, born October 5, 1994. His original name was Liszt after the composer Franz Liszt. She said she can't believe how affectionate and trusting he is after all the neglect he's gone through and that she thinks he's found a great home.

She also partially sheared him, I'll be getting photos in a few days when it's not rainy.

June 21, 2008
Finally got the vets out here to trim him up. His teeth, hooves, and wool are all nicely trimmed. He's also put on a little weight. Here's what he looks like now!

The llama is a South American camelid, widely used as a pack animal by the Incas and other natives of the Andes mountains. In South America llamas are still used as beasts of burden, as well as for the production of fiber and meat.

The height of a full-grown, full-size llama is between 5.5 feet (1.6 meters) to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall at the top of the head. They can weigh between approximately 280 pounds (127 kilograms) and 450 pounds (204 kilograms). At birth, a baby llama (called a cria) can weigh between 20 pounds (9 kilograms) to 30 pounds (14 kilograms). Llamas are very social animals and like to live with other llamas as a herd. Overall, the fiber produced by a llama is very soft and is naturally lanolin free. Very intelligent, llamas learn simple tasks after a few repetitions. When using a pack, llamas can carry about 25% - 30% of their body weight for several miles.

More on Wikipedia

Llamas are funny animals, there's just no denying it. So lets have fun with our camelid friends.

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