CHEROKEE ALPACAS
of Cornwall

DIARY

May 23

A lady has brought 3 dartmoor foals that were to be shot onto my livery yard. Poor things only 7 months old very skinny and shy.  Hopefully they will settle down.

Also went to pick up my new sheep.  Wiltshire horn they are the sheep that shed their own fleece no need to shear them. I should have guessed what they would look like by the name. So why was I surprised when the ram I have also bought has huge curly horns, I am a bit scared of him.  I hope to breed these sheep next year.

May 21

Up at 3.30am to let the chickens out before loading Alpacas for the Devon County. What a hot day my lot arrived looking very damp we moved the pens outside to dry them out.  This was my first time at a big show, first in was Pretty Roisin my Rose Grey girl. She is so laid back no problem and to my surprise got a 1st and reserve champion. Next in was Cherokee my rose male who was hellish dont know why, at home he is so easy to handle, anyway he cane 2nd. As for sandstorm he hates being away from Cherokee and broke loose. I thought we would end up on spotlight with run away Alpaca at the Devon County. But thankfully he ran straight back to the pen just to be with his friend.

May 11

Yet another very early wake up call, due to the mad blackbird. It has spent weeks attacking my car at his own reflection. He has now started on the bedroom window, he throws himself at it none stop from silly o'clock time.

All silkies have stopped laying, they are broody and sitting on no eggs.  My cockerels definitely have their favorites, the most pretty girl I have no one fancies he likes the grubby ones. 

May

After all the hard work of halter training my show lot, all perfect at home. Attended our Cornwall Alpaca show  and all 5 played up.  Cherokee my stud who is so placid I can do anything with him was the worst, he was a monster still got a 1st though.  It is hard work on your own as my rose girl and rose boy were in the same class. Thankfully Julie Taylor Browne was on hand and lent me one of her helpers to take my girl in for me she came 2nd. Because I took Cherokee out, my little boy who was left in his pen on his own got all worried and tried to escape. So had to get Gary from Pophams to put him in with the girls.  All in all it was dry and sunny day. I took 5 Alpacas and all won something two 1sts, two 2nds, one 3rd.  Next is the Devon county my first go at the big shows. 

April

At last great weather, fields all harrowed and fertilized, grass growing, birds singing. The paddocks are full of rabbit holes which I am about to go out again and fill in.  Alpacas booked in for the shows which I hate doing. I get so nervous I think this will be the last year I show I don't need the stress.  I don't like to leave Dash behind all day or the chickens.  Just been on a trailer pulling course organized by our local group.  It would have been great if the instructor hadn't decided I have the wrong car automatic, and small trailer.  Ok for the experts but not me, I can pull it no problem as long as I never have to reverse I will be ok.  I am to old to try the helpless girl act to get someone to help me.

March

What a month.  Looked out the window to notice my rose grey girl had somehow got tangled in the hay net, then a day later my boy did the same thing. I have re done them now and hopefully they wont get stuck again.  As for the the chicks, I have had such a problem with the hatch rate either to dry and chicks cant hatch or to wet and they drown in the shell.  I have now bought a humidity pump fantastic keeps humidity at 65c 99% hatch rate now. For some reason out of about 60 chicks a month, maybe 10 are female.  Breeding silkies can be such a pain. The girls are going broody sat on nothing as the rest just aren't laying. The ones that were sat on eggs decided to get up and leave them the day before hatch due.  Must find out how long they take to start laying again after being broody.

March 2

At last, good weather, busy day harrowed the paddocks, incubators all full, chicks hatching, life is good.

January 24

Rhianna still no better, called the vet she was to come out at 11.30 but by 9.30 she took a turn for the worse and died in my arms.  My friend Teresa and Paul helped load her into my jeep and drove to the lab.  Postmortem showed she had cancer, a tumor had ruptured around her heart.  The cria was a female grey such a shame it would have been her first female.

February 23

Sad horrific day, my grey 7 month pregnant lady went down in the paddock this morning. I called in the vet we couldn't get her up. She gave her painkillers, ADE,  poor girl was cold and shaking. I had to put my long waterproof coat on her and surrounded her in bales. I sat with her all day out in the cold. By 4pm and the painkillers kicked in and she managed to walk into  the shelter still wearing my coat. If she is no better tomorrow she may have to be put to sleep.

January  12

The ducks head has reappeared again, Dasha thinks its a great find, this time it is in the bin. I hope my neighbours don't read this, I don't want to upset their kids about their missing pet duck. 

I have some men who come out with their ferrets to keep my rabbit population down. One of the men was on the hedge which is about 12 foot higher than the road. From what his friend told me he had caught his foot in a rabbit hole then fell down onto the road breaking his leg. Is that rabbits revenge?

January 10

While out fencing Dasha was very proud of herself with what I thought was an old bone, on closer examination it was a ducks head.  Must of been what the fox killed last week.  Following morning, what a stink I searched about only to find the ducks head had stayed in here all night.

January 2

Heard a racket last night outside, this morning found white feathers outside the door. Mr Fox has used my garden as a short cut to my neighours birds.

January

Haven't put anything down for ages,  my n on the keyboard keeps stickig as you can see, must get it fixed.  After hard frost then rain, my track has become impassable, I have towed out so many people.  Then builders suppliers came bragging they wouldn't have a problem, I had last laugh as he was sinking no way could I pull a 6 wheeler wagon out. 

December

Disaster,  had 3 power cuts and lost all my eggs in the incubator over a hundred. They were just pipping, due Christmas day.

took this photo of my rose boy Cherokee, lovely frosty morning.

December 14

My black silkies are still laying, so I am still  putting eggs in the incubator. I had  a   chick hatch today black but has white tips on the wings very cute.  Sold out now until Feb.  I am trying to find someone to come and kill the cocks as I have far to many.  I tried last week to shoot one. I stood right behind it while it was eating, with the gun right behind its head and missed 3 times.  I cant bring myself to pull its neck, is there an injection to give them I wonder.

December 12

I went off to our local alpaca AGM and Christmas do last night,  I am hopeless at night driving, I creep about at 5 miles an hour and almost stop if a car comes towards me.  My friend Teresa thankfully gave me a lift, we had such a good time and laugh.  We were on the no alcohol lager and for some reason it always makes me giddy. Worse than I am on a couple of Vodka's

Decmber 2

I am feeling very stupid, one of my young black silkies was making a very odd noise for about 3 weeks. I thought he has gape worm as it sounded the same. He has been on his wormer to get rid of the worm.  Today my black cock was crowing and the gape worm one was answering. I have decided he didnt have gape worm but was trying to crow.

Guinea fowl are the most stupid birds I have ever had, they have no sense of direction. They run into the fencing bashing their heads in. Fly into the alpaca paddock and cant find their way back.  They have their own coop and run yet get into the other runs then panic.

December

Still living in a tiny caravan cold wet and damp, waiting  for planning to build a small cabin, not looking forward to christmas. Looks like a fish finger sandwich for christmas dinner for me.  The so called garden is a bog, Dasha is only happy when she is filthy. She could run about in the paddocks, but no she wants the manure heap to play in and eat.  Her diet is now chicken pellets, alpacas pellets, chopped maze, and poo.  But her coat is lovely and glossy.  Spot Dasha in the trench.

November

My new range of chicken coops have arrived, all made from recycled plastic. I am chuffed to bits with them. Easy to to put up, easy to clean, and cheaper than the wooden ones I have. The wooden ones have now swollen with damp and the doors wont shut. I think they will sell well.  Will order more before the VAT to goes up.         

Set off to pick up a lovely rose grey stud last week very nice calm lad.  He is called Horizon Cherokee, whats the chance's of that. Took him into his paddock and my other grey male followed him in (sorted). Now best buddies.  On going to get the trailer  we noticed the fencer had fenced it into the paddock. I think he did it on purpose to test my observation skills.  Had to take down the fencing to get it out. 

 What a great few days we have had, no rain.  It makes all the difference to be out working in the sunshine.  While lying down in the paddock as you do, watching the alpacas, I noticed one of my youngsters limping. Thought he must have twisted his leg while playing about. Just to be on the safe side, I called out the vet, he had pulled his shoulder, looking a bit better today. 

August

Its happened at last, sold the house and moved to 8 acre fields at Tideford Cross.  Still no where to live but busy fencing, making huge chicken runs. I can now have a run for each colour of silkie. Huge run for the POL chickens which are giving me double yolkers. Just built the hatchery for all my incubators.  Just had 22 silkies hatch.  The incubators all full with about 100 silkie eggs.

As for the alpacas, they love it, makes a change from vertical paddocks, they can now pronk away which I never get tired of watching.  

July

I am getting really fed up with the rain, and so are the animals. I moved to cornwall for the weather and the beautiful landscape.  I have all incubators full, don't know how I am to move house with my eggs disconnected and rolling about in the incubators.  Still no exchange, every day I am told today is the day.  All very stressful, haven't even started to pack up. Its a logistic nightmare to move animals and house and outbuilding contents.  The land I am buying hasn't been fenced and cant do that until exchange. Therefor cant take the animals until then.

8th June

Not a lot to report, still spending far to much time sitting on a bucket staring at Suki, is she or isn't she pregnant.  The most exciting news in my life is I had 7 silkie chicks hatch, all so very cute, another 12 due next weekend.  Still waiting for exchange of contracts on my house, how can it take so long?  I dare not pack anything as it all collapsed day before exchange last year. After I had given away loads of stuff, including all my chickens and incubators.  So if and when it happens I will be in such a panic, I will have to beg help from some strong people to give me a hand. Any offers gratefully received.  I will have to throw a party when I have moved.

I went to the VLA talk last night hosted by Di Summers, very informative.  It was great to meet up with other Alpaca folk that I haven't seen in ages.  Its a shame we don't see more of each other for a catch up on news.

21st June

Another hot day, went over to Kerthua to help out with the bailing, had a laugh, I did a lovely backward summersault over a bale that I didn't know was there.

20th June

Took Dasha to the RSPCA open day, lovely hot day, and she came first for the waggiest tail.

Still having problems with Rhianna, on the birth of her cria, he was was very greedy, loads of milk. Then to discover he was going to another mum for a drink.  She is up at Kerthua and John checked her udder she does have some milk.  She also has a very swollen left side, making her look like she is still pregnant. She is eating well. The vet will come out to day to check her over, I cant keep up with the vet bills over the last 2 months.

Had to take one of my silkie chickens to the vet, as she had 2 back toes hanging off. She had to have an amputation. She now looks like she has a pair of slippers on, with the dressing.

June

At last my house has sold again, 3rd time lucky I hope. Last time it was a couple of days before exchange the chain collapsed. Now searching for land, drove around most of cornwall armed with a car load of details. Estate agents hardly ever put up for sale boards, and one field looks much like another.  So a wasted days journey.  I had the alpacas sheared on Saturday, poor things are shivering.   Dasha came running into the lounge last night with a piece of plaster board, not only did it make a mess all over the carpet. But where did it come from, searched every room looking for a hole in a wall, didnt find one.

June

Dasha doing so well at puppy class I decided to let her of the lead through our local woods. Test her recall with bikes, joggers and other dogs. She was brilliant I am a very proud mum.

Dasha 8 months old

At last Rhianna gave birth to a chocolate boy with a white chin, a bit of a surprise as dad is white mum grey. Both mum and baby well after rhianna's bad fall.  She picked such a fantastic week to have her baby and just in time for saturdays shearing.

one hour old                                         Group hug

May 19

This years cornwall alpaca show had to be cancelled due to the wet weather, huge shame after all the hard work the organizers did.  I was so looking forward to showing my two 9 month old rose greys. 

I am still waiting for the birth of Rhianna's cria, hope it arrives before shearing on the 6th June.

Just done all my hanging baskets, to cover the black plastic linners. I used my alpaca fleece from last year looks quite good. 

May 4

I have moved Rhianna back up to Kerthua for a rest, as their land is a lot flatter than mine. I want no more falls, she appears fine now thank god.  I went to lock up the chucks last night, did a head count and one of the black baby silkies is missing. No idea how or where it has gone, it would have to be my favorite one.  At last I have finished pulling ivy, thats about half an acre by hand on a sleep slope.  The grass seed is growing at last.  Its just the rabbits to contend with, as they eat it as soon as the grass pops up. I am having a bit of a mite problem.  My black boy has a bit of hair loss on his nose, nowhere else.  Why is it always the nose? and always on the blacks.   He has had a fecal count done, all ok, he has had dectomax, and treating is nose with camarosa.  Its a lot better now, but then I have been treating it for 3 weeks.

April 23

Up with the birds to see Rhianna, lying like a stuck pig legs out stretched but baby moving about, she wouldn't get up. I took her food but wont eat or drink.  Phoned my vet again, they are busy but can come out lunchtime.  She got up for a poo all ok, but she is tensing, is this the baby coming 3 weeks early or pain. It will be a long wait for the vet.  I cancelled the vet as she got up and had a drink looked a lot better. By 3.30 down again, breathing very badly, she allowed me to touch her feet, which she would never allow. Another call to the vet, another long wait, while waiting she got up tottered to the poo heap and lay in it with the others pooing round her.  At 4.30 out he came, typical she got up looked ok, baby moving, so all he could do was give her another painkiller.  Meanwhile my chickens are now fighting over chicks, so I have taken out the white silkie into another coop with her 6. Left my black with 4 and 4 eggs in the other coop.  What a day need a stiff drink tonight.

April  22

Panic day,  At 6pm I decided to light my bonfire, on the way up the hill I noticed Rhianna who is due to give birth in 3 weeks, lying flat out half way up the steep hill, only held in place by a tree trunk.  I walked over to her, touched her face. Normally she would have jumped up, but she just lay there.  I phoned my vet who was busy, but came an hour later. By then she got up but was very stiff on the back legs. We assume she fell, temp ok, baby ok. The vet gave her painkiller, but she looks shocked and depressed. She went back down again but couldn't get comfortable or eat. In for a long night of worry.

April 20

White silkie has left her eggs 2 of which were hatching but stone cold.  I took the risk of putting them under the black silkie.  Couldn't believe it, they have hatched, total white has 6 black has 4.

Took my mad pup over to Kerthua to play with their pup, Dash hasn't worked out what is solid. She took a leap at the cattle grid and landed in the middle legs dangling between the bars.  She was ok as minutes later she jumped into their pond.

April

I am still computer illiterate and struggling with it.  I have a problem up loading photos; God knows where they go. Hence why I haven't written for ages.

From buying 8 point-of-lay silkie bantams last summer, I am now down to 4. Three turned out to be cockerels and my favorite partridge silkie was killed by Mr fox.  I kept one very handsome cockerel, but he has driven me mad crowing at 4am, and then goes on all day.  So he has`now gone onto a new home.  I had a silkie sitting on about 13 eggs in her nest box, she has now been joined by another broody. Don't ,know why she insists on squeezing herself into the same box.  Hopefully first batch are due to hatch next week.  I am not sure how all this works out. As there are about 19 eggs all laid on different days, do they sit until all are hatched?

Took Dasha my working cocker puppy for a long walk through our local woods, all was fine until she jumped into a stinking bog.  She was covered head to toe in black gunge. No way was I taking her into my car like that. Nor was I picking her up. Only one thing for it, I threw a stick into the river, she chased it, came out a very wet but clean puppy.  She isn't at all sure of water, no doubt she will get used to it.

She has now passed her first puppy test at training, although you would never know it she even goes to class as she is a typical naughty puppy.  She has a thing for zips, none of my coates now do up as she takes them to her bed along with my boots and eats the zips and boot laces.  My fault for leaving things within her reach.

With help I have just made feeding pens for my Alpaca girls.   I have a very greedy pregnant girl, who not only does she want all her own food but everyone else's as well.  She never even gets to finish all of her's as she is so worried she might miss anything.  She grumbles from one bowl to the next trying to hog the lot.  She is now due to give birth in five weeks and is huge.  Thankfully they all now have their own pens and can eat in peace. 

We have our own cornwall Alpaca show coming up at Camborne in May.  I have started training Felepe.  The first time on a halter he threw himself to the ground playing dead and would'nt get up, he then knocked over the water bucket and sat in all the water.   Once up, he did a couple of jumps in the air.  As all this wasnt working he decided to walk perfectly.  My other baby Roisin on the other hand has brakes, she walks a couple of feet then puts the brakes on unless I have food in my hand.

new puppy Dasha using yogi as a climbing frame.

January

I have acquired a puppy Cocker Spaniel very cute.  My old Leonburger is so old now I cant take him out for a walk.  Just need to stop puppy from eating Alpaca poo.  Mr Fox is still about so chucks are in a pen, which is a shame. I like to see them out in the paddock.  Still clearing land.  I have had massive bonfires. Hopfully get it grassed shortly.  The house is still for sale but nothing happening and I need land.  My lot are on holiday up at Kerthua as I have run out of grass, had mine scanned last week.  Cant wait to see my Black stud stormchasers crias, his first. 

December

A warning to everyone out there. Just before Christmas I found out someone has emptied my bank account. The bank wont repay the money as it was my fault.  A week or so before I had a very authentic looking email from the Bank saying that they just wanted to make sure I was safe and wanted to verify my details. I stupidly did, someone  was checking my account from another PC and emptied it.  If that wasn't enough my hover packed in.  So a very broke start to the New year. Lesson learnt. 

OCTOBER

My house sale has fallen through yet again, twice this year.  The bottom of the chain pulled out. Back to plan B, fell more scrub land and grass.  So far cleared about half an acre of blackthorn and bramble. The problem is the burning of the massive bonfires, as every time we light it, it rains.

My black stud had small lumps on his nose, my vet thought they were warts. But it turns out he had an allergic reaction to midge bites.  I have bought neem oil, fantastic smelly stuff.  But works a treat, all lumps gone and it keeps all biting insects off.

As I was driving up my drive, Mr fox was sat under my apple tree. Now I know who is responsible for nicking of with my silkie bantams.  Why cant he take my noisy cockerel and leave my girls alone. 

SEPT 2008

were do I start,  The rain all summer has been a pain.  I have grass seeded the back of my house, which is vertical. It is growing great with the rain.  My boys are back here again.  I went up to wales and have bought another grey female, suki.  I now have 2 grey females. I had the micron results back on my 4 year old grey female very good at 21 micron.  I went to St mawes to see the tall ships, fantastic day, hot sunny, had a picnic, walked about 5 miles.  The best day in ages.  I went to Llama land on sunday to meet up with our cornwall alpaca group, another lovely day.  Had a viewing todayon my house, on one hand cant wait to sell and move on with my life. On the other hand scared stiff of starting over on my own.  I went to a poultry auction at the wade bridge showground last week.  Bought 8 different coloured silkie bantams.  Very sad day, as in a corner was a lone young male alpaca.  Not the place to sell an alpaca, no paperwork with him, no history.  The lady who bought him, I gave her as much advice as I could and put her in touch with popham alpacas as she lives not far from them.  She has now bought a friend from them to keep the young lad company. 

JULY 2008

I havent written for ages. The alpacas I am keeping have now gone around the corner to Kethua park on livery. My black boy Stormchaser has just started work.  Very funny watching him loose his virginity.  Over excited like a teenager,  frothing at the mouth and making a silly ogle sound. His voice hasnt broken yet bless him.  First maiden went down easy, second one wouldnt go down, he was on tip toes, couldnt manage it.  Brought in an expereinced stud he couldnt get her down either.  The blue tongue vacine has come in, typical it chucking it down so will wait a few days, as we have 22 to do.