We had our first ever cria born on our farm today. The full story is here:
http://chooksiniowa.blogspot.com/2010/01/stormy-surprise.html
His name is Stormy (due to the weather) and he is doing really well and bonded with mom (Dolly Llama).
Cria (baby llama) born this morning!
Here I am blow-drying him. (see the full story on my blog for why that was necessary)
He was initially very wobbly but he's much stronger now. Here he was standing up for the first time.
Wonderful pictures Claire: What an adorable face. Your animale are very lucky to belong to you and your hubby. I always love the pic's and your willingness to share them with us. Two thumbs up!!!.
Great
What a great story. I enjoyed reading all about Stormy's birth. I'm glad mom and baby are doing well now.
Dolly now has him nestled up against her and she's keeping him warm. It's just so cute. I'm glad we have the space inside the barn because it's still raining off and on here and pretty chilly out. I'm sure he'd rather be with Wren in Florida!
There is much to be said for a man who will blow dry a cria....
Great pics, CMoxon - He's adorable. By the time spring comes, and you can let him out of the building, he'll be bounding and bouncing!
So very very cute - I love the first pic of you drying him, he looks like he's In Bliss. What a sweetie!
I named my Stormy for the exact reason, and for the song "Stormy Monday" ("but Tuesday's just as bad..." and Tuesday it was!)
Pagancat - your Stormy is gorgeous! I can't wait to see mine able to romp around in the grass. We'll keep him in the barn until this ice has melted. It's no good for man nor beast at this rate! Most things were closed/cancelled around here today. The ice is thick on everything. Lots of tree limbs down.
Catscan - a man who will blow dry a llama is a good catch! A man who will go into the barn, find a baby llama, bring it indoors to you (while you are in the shower) and alert you to its conundrum, then run it a warm bath while you are still trying to get conditioner out of your hair, and have it pretty much bathed by the time you get there, is priceless! Now, if I could just get him to be a little more organized....
Wow! I'm so thrilled to be online and get to read this! Congratulations!!! Dear Stormy is darling.. Just darling! Thank you so much for posting this!!! LOVE IT!!
You might send Kelly here, Moxon, to see where The Path of Disorganization leads when not properly checked.
I have, in the past, opened my home for the instruction of men who do not properly appreciate the effort their wives put into housework.
It is quite salutary for them to see what might have been, had they not chosen wisely.
This message was edited Jan 20, 2010 9:36 PM
I'm sorry, CMoxon - I wasn't trying to steal your Stormy's thunder (pun fully intended!) , but thank you. You should see the big furry brat now.
That is, indeed, a husband worth holding on to! I'm sure you make it worth his while.
Hope you will post more pics soon, I've never really seen a baby llama before.
I'm confused: how was it that the baby was in the barn yet his mother had to be retrieved from the pasture?
Congrats! I take it this was a surprise baby then? You have the best luck with those! :-)
Porkpal - the baby was in the small, home constructed 8 x 10 "barn" in the pasture, which is not a full size barn with space for stalls, etc. It's a shelter more than a barn. We just call it a barn because it does have 4 walls and a roof! In that pasture, we have 4 llamas, 2 mini donkeys, 1 goat, and 7 sheep. They all go into that "barn" when it rains, etc. So they were all in there due to the ice storm and that's where Stormy was born. However, being 8x10, it's not big enough to separate Dolly and Stormy from everyone, so we had to get her and move her into the proper barn (30 x 60 Wick building) which has lambing pens set up. That is where she and Stormy are now.
Gallesfarm - yes, it was a surprise. We got Dolly with Kahlua in March of last year but they'd been together since July of the year before. We figured if she was pregnant, she would have the baby in the summer. Not so much!!
Ah, more than one "barn", now I get it.
Stormy is well today. He has developed this expression that says something, I'm not sure what. Perhaps "Why do you keep looking at me?!"
Do you mind?
I think he looks inquisitive.
Yes, what a great gift a great husband is. Mine holds Claire every morning, talking to her, and petting her, and even kissing her, lol, while I'm changing her bandage.
Your baby lama is adorable. Stormy is a great name. My neighbors used to have a baby goat, who I loved.
MY Dh says no crias! I can, however, have a Chia pet. He is so funny.....
When are the next Llama babies due?
Stormy has been doing very well and is definitely steady on his feet and very inquisitive. Dolly has definitely grown into her role as a mother and is protective of Stormy, placing herself between him and anyone who approaches her pen. When she sees that it's us, she relaxes.
We have 2 other female llamas who were running with Kahlua (the dad) so it is possible that either or both of them could be bred. We got Dolly and Kahlua in March of last year, although they had been together since July of the year before, so we though if any baby was going to come, it would be in late summer. When nothing happened, we figured maybe Kahlua was not fertile. Anyway, clearly he is. So, we could have up to 2 more llama babies in development, but in either case, neither one would be due until at least March, likely later.
Llamas do not "cycle" like other animals. They are induced ovulators, so they ovulate during "the act" with the male. Therefore, it's hard for us to know if/when they have been bred. Also, their gestation can vary widely, from 340 to 370 days.
We are now separating Kahlua from the ladies to prevent further dalliances!!
Well, you had photographic evidence of one breeding.(Censored by the administration). Who and when was that?
Oh yes, that's right! I can't find the thread now without the search engine working for the forums. Another problem with llamas is that they have a habit of spontaneously aborting, often with no sign of it. So evidence of a breeding is not actually very good evidence of a cria - it just is a potential....