The when and
how "science" of starting
alpaca and llama babies has
been as nearly exact as predictions
of those clear sunny days in
Seattle. Numerous articles have
been written over the years
sharing experiences, cautions,
the "do's" and the "never
do's". It appears I am
about to embark on a very similar
path!
What
We Learned In The Early Years
During the early
1980's, it was widespread "knowledge" that
one should never really handle
a baby camelid much - particularly
a male - at least until the
universally accepted average
weaning age of six months. Do
what you must initially to insure
the health of the cria. You
should retrieve the baby from
the birthing spot and place
along with mom in a separate
stall so they can bond. You
could towel or use a hair dryer
to blow dry the baby, hold in
your arms or place in a sling
to record the weight, check
the teeth, toes and discover
whether it was a girl or a boy.
You should check the umbilical
cord, cut it if it were too
long, dip the cord for sterilization
and perhaps clamp. You should
administer the camelid "baby" shot
series as recommended for your
area by your veterinarian. You
might check the IgG level giving
a plasma transfusion if it appeared
too low. It was also acceptable
and widely practiced that you
might help this newborn cria
learn to stand and clear moms
teats of the waxy plugs. You
could additionally "help" by
placing the newborn under mom
and guiding its little mouth
to a teat hoping to "help" insure
that nursing would begin. If
the baby would not seem to suckle
right away, additional "help" might
include extracting a bit of
colostrum from mom's teat, rubbing
it about her udder area, as
well as smearing some on the
baby's mouth and lips. It was
always important to retrieve
the newborn from any dark corners
and position back under mom.
One should always have some
colostrum on hand. If the baby
was not seen nursing within
a few hours, consider dispensing
the colostrum preferably through
tubing - if tubing was not possible
then bottle feed. Portions of
feminine products cut to shape
could be taped to the ears should
they appear weak or floppy.
Be sure to watch for the meconium
to pass or give an enema just
to be sure. If the weather were
inclement, be sure to dress
the newborn in a cria coat.
Above all - you were just not
to handle the baby much!
Believe me, we
did that... all of that! Before
we knew it, that newborn was
suddenly six months old and "ready" to
be handled. To this point, their
only direct interaction with
us had been holding them up
on not ready to support legs,
grabbing them for restraint
and confinement of various sorts,
inserting needles and other
direct intrusions upon their
body.
The
Trauma Llama Ranch
Beginning our "formal
training" was a frightening
experience for both lama and
human. We had always held concern
about doing the "wrong" thing
- and to put words to their
behavior - they seemed to express
serious concern that our "formal
training" interaction was
once again a drama about trauma
which was flowing on both sides.
We jokingly considered renaming
our farm "The Trauma Llama
Ranch". So many "do's" and "don't
do's" and it was clear
the young lama was telling me "don't
do"! There seemed never
a smooth transition for either
of us from the stance of "don't
handle the baby much" into
our "formal training sessions".
I searched to discover what
was so "magical" about
them reaching the age of 6 months?
They were much larger and stronger
than when we had toweled them
dry and "helped" them
to stand and nurse. Additionally,
they seemed certain to have
now formed many more definite
opinions about humans.
A
Simple Yet Important Realization
Fortunately, everything
began to change when we were
struck by this simple realization:
Every time we are with our alpacas
and llamas, we are training.
I certainly understood the concept
of a "formal training session" versus
the day-to-day routines and
thought I could easily justify
the difference. I came to realize,
however, the lamas did not compartmentalize
my various behaviors into "casual" and "formal".
They based their beliefs and
interactions with me on the
whole of their experience. I
could not behave one way during
our "free time" and
another way during "formal
training". It became obvious
that I must be consistent in
all my interactions... all the
time.
Great... now what?
It seemed clear the lamas were
going to remain themselves.
No matter how I chose to explain
the foregoing, their notions
about me and all two-legged's
would continue to be based on
the whole of their experience
with us. If there was to be
change, it was up to us. Okay,
we had to change... but what?
As we began a review of our
behavior from the moments of
an impending birth forward,
we found everything we did was
interconnected with something
else we were doing. And, it
seemed few of our actions and
interactions were truly consistent
with one another let alone with
our goal of building an interactive
and trusting relationship. We
would "help" during
the birth of the baby... warranted
or not. We would carry the baby
with mom humming frantically
behind to a stall so they could
bond. Obviously, we had understood
this arrangement to be for the
purpose of eliminating the confusion
as to who was mom. Upon reflection,
perhaps the baby may experience
some initial confusion but what
mother had ever been so confused?
In closely watching our herd
behavior, it was a marvel to
note the only verbal expressions
uttered after a baby "hits
the ground" were those
expressed by the new mom and
her baby. The rest of the herd
would normally remain silent.
After securing them alone together
in a stall, we'd "help" the
baby stand, try to "help" it
begin nursing... and to keep
everyone from moving about.
It was suggested to halter up
mom and even tie her so as to
make this all a bit easier.
For who?
Completely changing
how we handled our lamas took
a good bit of discipline on
our part and quite some time
for the lamas to really trust
we had actually changed. We
set up catch pens and stopped
grabbing them around the neck.
I thought maybe this "arms
length distance thing" they
had always maintained in our
presence was genetic. Nope.
They had consciously kept that
distance when a human was near
just in case one of those human
arms might suddenly act out.
We began letting them birth
their own babies intervening "only
if assistance was warranted".
We discovered if our help was
NOT really needed, they were
NOT happy about our trying to
help, often moving away, wheeling
about or spitting. Amazingly,
if they were truly in distress
and in need of assistance, they
held still and appeared most
willing to accept our advances.
Just just paying attention eliminated
our bonding concerns. Though
a number of lamas would rush
in to welcome and inspect the
new baby, none of them uttered
a sound. The only voices to
be heard were that of mom and
baby. We realized they usually
knew who was who without our
telling them! We now leave them
together with their herd mates.
In inclement weather, we do
herd them under shelter, but
allow access to other lamas
as well. We have yet to witness
an occasion wherein they do
not really know who is who.
Respecting
The Natural Process
With Thoughful Intervention
We feel a serious responsibility
to provide the best care possible
for baby and mom while equally
trying to maintain a respectful
balance. We give the initial
recommended shots, inspect and
sterilize the umbilical and
watch for the passing of the
meconium. Beyond that, we try
our best to contain our deep
desire to be "helpful" unless
we truly suspect a problem.
This
newborn alpaca cria at Thompson
Hollow Alpacas is learning
about balance and stand for
the first time. Notice how
attentive and excited Mom
is.
As with all newborns
of any species, nature has provided
a series of developmental stages
which are best suited for them.
The lungs and other organs begin
their work on cue. The various
muscles realize their function
in a progressive "programmed" order.
The baby learns to right itself,
the long neck learns to lift
the head and previously flattened
ears begin to unfold. The legs
then try to get organized to
eventually lift this here-to-fore
recumbent body while discovering
balance to be a tricky thing.
One rear leg pushes just a tad
too much and over we go. While
baby is busy with all these
miracles, mom is also undergoing
her own nature's way of doing
things. Her uterus is contracting
to expel the placenta. Her milk
begins to let down. Various
hormones are flowing in preparation
for care of this newborn on
the outside as opposed to the
inside of her body. We discovered
the timetable for this scenario
is specific to each new pair.
Our "help" in getting
the baby to stand or nurse or
clearing mom's teats and rubbing
milk on them simply did not
significantly speed up the natural
timing of the process. If fact,
we may have indeed slowed it
down. Nature appears to have
its own timetable. By the time
the baby has collected itself
and is ready to try to nurse,
mom as well has usually reorganized
her body and is ready with her
milk. Try as we might, we cannot
make this happen much sooner
than nature has allowed. The
length of time for this to all
come together can easily vary
with the same mom from one birth
to another. Again, we have a
fiduciary responsibility for
the welfare of our animals and
there are clearly times when
an intervention is necessary.
On average, however, we realize
our past interventions could
be best termed as interference.
Consistency
Is Key
From these few initial changes
in our behavior, our moms began
to feel more relaxed around
us often remaining kushed as
we walked past. Eventually,
we were able to give a mom a
respectful scratch on her rear
or neck holding steadfast in
keeping the trust of our promise
to never grab them. They have
passed this new view of us onto
their babies. They, too, are
usually unafraid in our presence.
However, I made the personal
mistake (having lost my mind
once... or twice) of grabbing
a three-week-old baby to show
to a friend. From the results,
I can assure you it takes some
time to rebuild that trust and
but a nanosecond to destroy
it! Consistency is key.
Lessons
Learned, Lessons Applied
With our moms rather unconcerned
in our presence, working with
the babies is much easier. We
have found the best time for "working" with
them is during feeding times
and chores. The moms are eating,
the babies are often nursing
or kushed nearby and we are
walking about doing the chores.
The "lessons" are
simple and very short. While
walking past a nursing or kushed
baby in our normal manner and
pace, we give a little scratch
on their rear. The initial reaction
is to abruptly pull their little
head out from underneath mom
or make a jittery attempt to
jump up from their kushed position.
Before they have an opportunity
to complete any reaction, we
are past them and on to something
else. They will look at mom,
look around and seem to wonder "What
the heck?", but Mom is
calm and eating. The entire
herd is calm and quietly eating
or chewing cud. Seeing nothing
to get all worked up about nor
anyone else showing any concern,
the baby resumes nursing or
settles back in their kush position.
Passing by again, another little
contact is made. This time,
the baby may or may not startle
and look about. It has been
our experience that by about
the third or fourth pass baby
has become fairly unconcerned
with our touch on the rear.
This entire interaction has
taken but a few seconds and
the results are life long.
Three
month old cria
and Will Spalding. Learning
and growing together.
Our next "lesson" canvary.
It might be running our hand
down a rear leg eventually including
the addition of picking up a
foot. We do not hold their leg
or foot. We softly pick it up
and give it immediately back
- not in a quick or slow manner
but in the same manner and pace
as we would normally behave.
It is important to be most mindful
of their balance. Always lift
a leg along natural lines and
do not attempt to pick up the
foot upon which they are weighted.
As nursing takes
place over a number of months,
with a little focused effort
there is ample time without
any "formal training" sessions
to establish a relationship
with these babies. As they begin
to eat at the feed bin with
their moms, they feel the same
scratch on the back as the rest
of the group. The "lessons" are
quiet, matter of fact and very
short. The babies are doing
what baby alpacas and llamas
do with their moms amongst the
herd. By being mindful of their
balance, overall personality
and what they are doing at the
time, you can decide how and
where to touch. An important
note: Initially, many of our
moms were extremely afraid of
human contact. It has taken
time for them to "trust" in
the consistency of our behavior
and we were careful not to press
them beyond their capabilities
as we passed by. To do so could
cause a sudden panic at the
feed bin and concern in the
babies. Babies of these moms
are just as easy to touch if
you are mindful of the present
capabilities of each mom.
We don't necessarily touch
the same baby every day or even
any of them every day. As the "lessons" progress,
we move on to rub the neck initially
using the back of our hand as
we pass. The result may be an
initial startle but rarely enough
to get up. The touch has happened,
we are gone and the only remaining
challenge is in trying to figure
out what just happened! This
touch can soon progress to the
head and ears. No grabbing or
holding, just a stroke or two.
The results have been wonderful.
These babies are relaxed and
approachable, but not at all "in
your face". The moms express
very little concern over our
interaction with their baby.
We have kept babies whom we
have raised in this way and
they are now grown having their
own babies. These moms are as
easy to handle as when they
were babies. Using little effort
and only a few extra moments
while out there doing the chores,
we are experiencing yet another
generation of relaxed and approachable
lamas.
In most cases, this groundwork
has made haltering just as matter
of fact as the touching. We
rarely get around to haltering
until about 6 or 8 months unless
there is a specific need. That
is not to say it cannot be done
earlier or later. Privately,
I have been known to let haltering
slip until well over a year.
By the time we introduce the
halter, we have already had
a number of interactions. We've
gone by and scratched a neck,
brushed over the ears and often
worked a mouth. We've touched
the back, the legs and have
lifted the feet. They have become
comfortable in close quarters
with a human and overall touching
is no cause for panic.
It truly came as a great -
and pleasant - surprise to find
haltering had become often simply
a matter of placing the halter
on their face. The more "formal
lessons" for us now begin
with the attachment of a lead
- with the experience in feeling
pressure/movement that the halter
would perhaps mean something
more than another touch. Though
leading is another subject altogether,
it has been our experience that
those lamas who are comfortable
both in close proximity of two-leggeds
and with human touch, are usually
far more confident in learning
new skills than those who are
not.
Choosing
Your Path
Much has been discussed and
written around the subject of
the initial handling and training
of alpaca and llama babies.
There are numerous approaches
all with the sincere intent
of providing the best care,
handling and training possibilities
for our animals and us. In choosing
the approach, which might work
best for you, it is important
to first revisit your goals.
What sort of relationship do
you, personally, desire with
your lamas? How might a particular
approach fit into your personal
life philosophy? If you are
breeding lamas, you are likely
creating a "product".
Consider the end use or uses
for which you are breeding and
how the success of suitability
for that end use can be directly
related to their training and
handling. It would seem we are
all "cursed" to live
in a world of little time for
anything. We readily embrace
a number of things from drive-through
banking and food service to
drive-through liquor stores
and weddings. Unfortunately,
whether it be with our children,
our friends or our lamas, there
are no true short cuts to building
a relationship or a solid training
base. It takes time and consistency.
Whichever path you choose,
be sure it is one in which you
can be comfortable, firmly support
and remain consistent. When
discovering a new idea or method,
measure it against your chosen
way of doing things. If it seems
to fit, if you can get behind
it and can continue to remain
consistent in your behavior,
try it. An approachable and
easy to handle lama is one which
is desired and valued. And,
one thing is for sure, it most
certainly enhances our "work" and
life with lamas.
