Alpaca Creep Feeders
My husband and I were just discussing our creep feeder that we set up for our crias. It is about 10' by 8' or so and just not cutting it for the five crias using it. When we first put it together three were considerable smaller than they are now at 7, 8 and 11 months and the other two had not been born. It actually looked big now that I think about it. Soon, Quinn, who is 7 months and 85+ pounds will be moving over to the boys side and that will obviously create more room. The thing is the 8 and 11 month old girls are going to fit in there for a long time to come. They are both on the petite side. I just cannot see making the door any smaller. I am now wondering if it will be something they will outgrow, as in "I'm not a baby anymore" type of growth.
There is an alpaca farm in Georgia that I know of that is actually able to put out tubs of alpaca feed - a continuous supply. I think I heard of an alpaca farm in Pennsylvania or Ohio that does the same. Part of me wants to try that in a big way but I just don't see my alpacas walking way from it until it is empty. Maybe someday I will try it with one of the smaller herds here. I don't want to be known as the Virginia alpaca farm that owns the two ton alpacas!
I was telling Chuck that the way I thought the creep feed would work is that I would put out a big dish of food and they'd go in, one or two at a time and have a bite or two and go back out to mom or to play. I was very insistent that we get the creep feed set up when one of the dams went to board at another farm and her cria was left behind to wean. At the time Princess Lea was 6 months old - she's the 8 month old I mentioned above. {Since then her dam has returned but the nursing connection was broken long enough that she is definitely weaned.} Anyway, I got it in my head that Lea needed a place to go away from the adults where she didn't have to fight for food since she didn't have her dam's help so hence the creep feed. It was never used as I expected to to be. The then three, would just go in and finish the food each time I put it out. Now they also go out and steal food from the adult females dishes when they are fed as well! Looking outside at them as I type I can see that Black Perl has joined them for some hay.
I guess we will extend the feeder space by another five feet and a couple more feeders or maybe a trough... They do seem to appreciate a place away from the adults from time to time. Especially on days like this where they don't really need the fans because it is cool (only 65!).
If I ever try the herd on feed available full time I will be sure to post the results...
Until the next time!
There is an alpaca farm in Georgia that I know of that is actually able to put out tubs of alpaca feed - a continuous supply. I think I heard of an alpaca farm in Pennsylvania or Ohio that does the same. Part of me wants to try that in a big way but I just don't see my alpacas walking way from it until it is empty. Maybe someday I will try it with one of the smaller herds here. I don't want to be known as the Virginia alpaca farm that owns the two ton alpacas!
I was telling Chuck that the way I thought the creep feed would work is that I would put out a big dish of food and they'd go in, one or two at a time and have a bite or two and go back out to mom or to play. I was very insistent that we get the creep feed set up when one of the dams went to board at another farm and her cria was left behind to wean. At the time Princess Lea was 6 months old - she's the 8 month old I mentioned above. {Since then her dam has returned but the nursing connection was broken long enough that she is definitely weaned.} Anyway, I got it in my head that Lea needed a place to go away from the adults where she didn't have to fight for food since she didn't have her dam's help so hence the creep feed. It was never used as I expected to to be. The then three, would just go in and finish the food each time I put it out. Now they also go out and steal food from the adult females dishes when they are fed as well! Looking outside at them as I type I can see that Black Perl has joined them for some hay.
I guess we will extend the feeder space by another five feet and a couple more feeders or maybe a trough... They do seem to appreciate a place away from the adults from time to time. Especially on days like this where they don't really need the fans because it is cool (only 65!).
If I ever try the herd on feed available full time I will be sure to post the results...
Until the next time!
posted by A of NH at 10:01 AM
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