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Alpaca Blog

The Alpaca Blog will keep you up-to-date with changes to this website.

  • Lets you know when new information has been added
  • When we have posted a new project for you to try
  • Lets you know about any new alpaca adventures we encounter on our farm
  • And passes on news on alpacas, alpaca fibers, felting, and other crafts.

To subscribe to my Alpaca Blog, simply right-click on the orange RSS button (see bottom buttons on the left) and then paste the URL into your RSS reader. Or click on the My Yahoo! button or My MSN or Add To Google button if you keep a personalized home page there.



Felting an alpaca hat

Making and alpaca hat with a hat shaper.

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Alpaca Business Holiday Cards

Alpaca business holiday cards are for keeping in touch with clients and potential clients.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Alpaca Business Holiday Cards"


Needle felting a dragon DVD

Needle felting a dragon DVD that teaches you how to needle felt

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Buying alpacas: How to avoid scam farms

Buying alpacas and how to avoid scam farms.

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Natural Pest Control

Natural pest control for keeping alpacas out of your garden.

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Training Alpacas

Training Alpacas to lead in 10 steps.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Training Alpacas"


Cobweb Felting

Cobweb felting using alpaca fiber.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cobweb Felting"


Alpaca heat stress

Describes alpaca heat stress.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Alpaca heat stress"


Extreme weather and alpacas

Here, in our local area, we are suffering 100 degree weather for days. We must protect our alpacas from the heat. In the Andes Mountains they are suffering -11 degree weather that has decimated alpaca herds.

Alpacas are very hardy animals and do well in most climates, but extreme weather either way means taking extra precautions to help your animals survive. Because alpacas are so adaptable, some owners forget that when temperatures soar or dip into the extreme, we need to watch our alpacas very closely.

In extreme cold, give them someplace to get out of the wind. In extreme heat provide them with shade. Monitor them at least twice a day to be sure they're doing ok and catch any problems early. Be prepared to take appropriate corrective action if your animal is heat stressed or hypothermic.

You can read about the extreme cold in Peru by following the link.

Click for more info


Alpaca fly control tip

Are you having fly issues? Try buying garlic powder, flakes, or granules and top dressing your alpacas hay or grain with the garlic. Just sprinkle some over your hay and the alpacas will eat it. The odor emitted from their body will repel flies.

We top dress their hay with minerals this way, too. They actually dig down and eat it all out of the feeder.


Felted Flower

Felted flower tutorial using wet felting and needle felting techniques.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Felted Flower"


Needle Felting A Dragon DVD is here

Our Needle Felting A Dragon is now available. With our DVD you follow along as Debby makes a needle felted dragon. You will be able to see her techniques and when you are done you will have a very cute dragon and the skills to create your own characters.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Needle Felting A Dragon DVD is here"


Baby alpaca tortured and killed

We feel physically ill when we read about animal cruelty of any kind. Owning alpacas, we know how gentle these creatures are and torture of these wonderful critters is just beyond our understanding. How sick can a person be? A 3 month old alpaca was beaten to death by a couple of 17 year olds in Ohio. Our hearts go out to the owners who are trying to do something about seeing to it that this horrible crime won't happen again by getting laws changed. Follow the link to read an article about it.

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Dog obedience tip

Dog obedience tip for Great Pyrenees.

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Vinegar uses

Vinegar uses on an alpaca farm.

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Alpaca Fiber Skirting

Alpaca fiber skirting information.

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Alpaca Fiber Processing

Alpaca fiber processing.

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Information on Alpacas

Get great information on alpacas from others tips and stories.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Information on Alpacas"


Normal Alpaca Behavior

Describes normal alpaca behavior. Their body language, sounds, and herd responses.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Normal Alpaca Behavior"


Breeding Alpacas

Breeding alpacas and problems that can occur in the dam and stud.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Breeding Alpacas"


Alpaca hair loss

Describes alpaca hair loss and some simple remedies.

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Rattlesnake bite

What to do if your alpaca or dog gets a rattlesnake bite.

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Death of an alpaca

While we were away on an extended vacation our eldest alpaca Windsilk passed away. She will be missed by us and the herd as she was the lookout for danger. Someone else will assume the role now but we're not sure who will take the job, yet. Rest in peace Windsilk.


Not So Happy Alpaca Ending

If only we could reach everyone buying alpacas and convince them that the one most important thing you can do for your animals is to protect them from dog attacks with proper fencing, there would be a lot less alpaca deaths. It's such a shame to have this type of death continue to happen when alpacas can be protected.

We hope everyone considering buying alpacas will remember that one of the most important things to do is allow enough money in your budget to build a proper fence before you bring them home. If you can only afford the alpacas and not the fencing, either don't buy, yet, or leave them where they are until you can afford a proper fence to keep them safe. Dog attacks happen and alpacas always loose.

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Happy alpaca ending

Martin was a neglected alpaca. Read about his happy ending.

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7 Reasons to Buy Alpacas in Todays Economy

Nobodys buying much these days. Everyone is being affected by the economic downturn. One Alpaca farm came up with seven reasons why purchasing Alpacas is actually a good thing to do during a slow economy.

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Sculpting noses with wool

Tutorial on sculpting noses with wool.

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Alpaca novelty products

We have a new online store in which you can order notecards and other items. The items are made with our own alpaca photos. We will be adding more items, so check back often. You can see the items that are available now by following the link.

Click for more info


Geriatric Alpacas

Learn what it takes to keep geriatric alpacas healthy and happy.

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Felt celtic knot bracelet instructions

Instructions for creating a celtic knot bracelet with felted craft wire.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Felt celtic knot bracelet instructions"