Alpacas!
I was getting curious when a family friend called about visiting an alpaca farm.
So we booked a guided tour with Kickin'back alpaca ranch. Our time slot was at 10 am. Markdale is about 2 hours away from Toronto.
The first thing we saw on the parking lot was their car with this registration!
That vehicle can transport two alpacas together. Their alpacas are trained to get in the van!
Alpacas were walking on the farm. Our guide took us to that area. There we were able to feed them from our hands. They don't have any upper teeth in the front. When they chew, we can see their lower teeth.
Their poop looked like that of goats. But, unlike goats, they go to the washroom in a fixed place. No, they were not trained to do that. It is their natural instinct.
Then we headed to see the pregnant girls and baby alpacas kept in the barn. Baby alpacas are called "cria". It was fun to have them munching treats from our hands. The fur is very soft and warm.
Alpacas are herd animals. We have to buy 3 together if we do not already have an alpaca farm! So, the farm won't sell one as a pet.
These cute animals fight with each other for no particular reason. We saw them spitting on each other. The tour guide explained that they fight by spitting on each other. They have bad aiming, so we're careful to not get spit on. We were told they have 3 chambers in their tummy. When they are outraged, they can spit the half-digested food, which will stain and stink your clothes.
That white mama got a cute black baby! The gestation period is 11 to 12 months. They usually give birth to one offspring. Our guide told us, if there is more than one baby, they will ignore one.
We saw one baby was going to a mama, and the mama was kicking it away. The guide explained that they won't feed babies other than that theirs. That was what happening there.
I can't finish this post without mentioning Marble, the barn cat.
Marble was with us from start to finish of the tour. . She is so cute and cuddly. We pet her as well. Alpacas love Marble, don't you see it?
Bindu
How fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Kathy! It was fun!
DeleteHow neat to take the tour and learn so much about alpacas. Their fur makes wonderful yarn too.
ReplyDeleteYes! I am thinking of buying some yarn and crocheting something for myself.
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ReplyDeleteWhat a fun place to tour. They look so sweet. I loved your additional tour guide kitty!
She is so fluffy and adorable!
DeleteYou had a good education. We see two in a place where we go but that's all and no information.
ReplyDeleteThe young tour guide was very excited to share her knowledge
DeleteThis is so interesting, Bindu. Thank you for sharing what you learned and the great photos. If spitting is the worst thing they do when they fight… I guess maybe that’s good?
ReplyDeleteThat is adorable! Marble!
ReplyDeleteAlpaca are interesting critters. We've quite a few around here in rural SE Ontario.
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ReplyDeleteI now know more then I did before about certain habits of alpacas,Bindu.
ReplyDeleteFYI you might want to delete the previous comment as I believe it is spam. This same person has left comments on many blog posts and always with a link to something and the comment never really applies to the post, but is very general.