http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html The Alpaca Blog will keep you up-to-date with additions and changes to the owning-alpaca.com website. en-us Alpaca Sat, 12 May 2012 03:58:31 GMT Sat, 12 May 2012 03:58:31 GMT owning-alpaca.com http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-fiber.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-fiber.html Describes alpaca fiber characteristics and types of felting with alpaca fiber. Sat, 12 May 2012 03:58:30 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-information.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-information.html Interesting alpaca information including history, types, risks, diseases, and behavior. Fri, 11 May 2012 20:43:46 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-behavior-spitting.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-behavior-spitting.html Describes the alpaca behavior of spitting and why they hawk loogies. Fri, 11 May 2012 20:17:17 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/felting-wool.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/felting-wool.html Describes wet felting wool using alpaca fleece. Tue, 08 May 2012 15:05:47 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/raising-alpacas.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/raising-alpacas.html Describes an owners experience raising alpacas from birth to adulthood. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:13:06 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-farm.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-farm.html Alpaca farm basic start-up equipment and planning. Sun, 06 May 2012 18:59:33 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/fantasy-fairy.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/fantasy-fairy.html Seeking suggestions and comments to creating a fantasy fairy using wool. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:33:14 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/cobweb-felting.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/cobweb-felting.html Cobweb felting using alpaca fiber. Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:24:17 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/baby-alpaca-yarn.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/baby-alpaca-yarn.html Baby alpaca yarn term explained. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:29:40 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-hat.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-hat.html Making and alpaca hat with a hat shaper. Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:35:00 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-business-holiday-cards.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-business-holiday-cards.html Alpaca business holiday cards are for keeping in touch with clients and potential clients. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:10:02 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/needle-felting-a-dragon.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/needle-felting-a-dragon.html Needle felting a dragon DVD that teaches you how to needle felt Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:08:55 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/buying-alpacas.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/buying-alpacas.html Buying alpacas and how to avoid scam farms. Sun, 28 Aug 2011 13:30:24 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/natural-pest-control.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/natural-pest-control.html Natural pest control for keeping alpacas out of your garden. Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:23:17 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/training-alpacas.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/training-alpacas.html Training Alpacas to lead in 10 steps. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:31:51 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-heat-stress.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-heat-stress.html Describes alpaca heat stress. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:24:32 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Extreme-weather-and-alpacas http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#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. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:39:03 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-fly-control-tip http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#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. Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:42:16 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/felted-flower.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/felted-flower.html Felted flower tutorial using wet felting and needle felting techniques. Sat, 22 May 2010 20:41:11 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/needle-felting-a-dragon.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/needle-felting-a-dragon.html 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. Wed, 12 May 2010 15:07:46 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Baby-alpaca-tortured-and-killed http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#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. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:57:46 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/dog-obedience-tip.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/dog-obedience-tip.html Dog obedience tip for Great Pyrenees. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:38:48 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/vinegar-uses.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/vinegar-uses.html Vinegar uses on an alpaca farm. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:48:09 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-fiber-skirting.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-fiber-skirting.html Alpaca fiber skirting information. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:14:26 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/fiber-processing.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/fiber-processing.html Alpaca fiber processing. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:03:50 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/information-on-alpacas.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/information-on-alpacas.html Get great information on alpacas from others tips and stories. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:29:48 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-behavior.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-behavior.html Describes normal alpaca behavior. Their body language, sounds, and herd responses. Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:05:41 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/breeding-alpacas.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/breeding-alpacas.html Breeding alpacas and problems that can occur in the dam and stud. Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:23:37 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-hair-loss.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-hair-loss.html Describes alpaca hair loss and some simple remedies. Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:08:34 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/rattlesnake-bite.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/rattlesnake-bite.html What to do if your alpaca or dog gets a rattlesnake bite. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:25:42 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Death-of-an-alpaca http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#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. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:31:22 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Not-So-Happy-Alpaca-Ending http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#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. Wed, 27 May 2009 13:31:12 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Happy-alpaca-ending http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Happy-alpaca-ending Martin was a neglected alpaca. Read about his happy ending. Tue, 19 May 2009 00:40:35 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#7-Reasons-to-Buy-Alpacas-in-Todays-Economy http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#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. Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:29:02 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/sculpting-noses.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/sculpting-noses.html Tutorial on sculpting noses with wool. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:23:19 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-novelty-products http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#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. Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:57:12 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/geriatric-alpacas.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/geriatric-alpacas.html Learn what it takes to keep geriatric alpacas healthy and happy. Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:42:25 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/celtic-knot-bracelet.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/celtic-knot-bracelet.html Instructions for creating a celtic knot bracelet with felted craft wire. Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:08:21 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/craft-wires.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/craft-wires.html how to felt craft wires to use in making bracelets or other jewelry. Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:46:55 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-fiber-painting http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-fiber-painting Fiber artist Pat Sparks does a really fabulous job of making watercolor looking type wool pictures. If you don't want to make 3D characters with needle felting, you can combine wet felting and needle felting your alpaca fiber to create watercolor wool pictures. You wet felt a blurry background using a photo for inspiration, and then needle felt shapes on the blurred background to define the objects. Works really well with flowers. If you click on the link, you will see what we are talking about. We are going to venture into this type of painting with wool soon and hope to provide a tutorial of the process. Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:13:55 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-fiber-use http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-fiber-use Do You have alpaca fiber that you are storing at your home. Here is a possible use for all that fiber. Elderberry Creek Alpacas are working with Pendleton Woolen Mill to create 100% alpaca fiber woolen blankets. Right now you must donate the fiber for which you will be able to buy a blanket at cost + 3% that you should be able to sell for a profit, but they will eventually be able to pay you for your fleece in subsequent runs. Click on the link to read about the Alpaca Blanket Project and see if this might be a good idea for your alpaca fiber business. Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:01:02 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Free-alpaca-patterns http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Free-alpaca-patterns Recently someone requested more patterns on our website. We'd love to do that, but time has really been a factor lately for us. We are just plain busy and have not had time to develop any. So, we are providing this link. You can check out the free patterns and see if you want to try any. You can spin up your own alpaca yarn or purchase alpaca yarn. Hope this at least gets you some ideas. Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:26:52 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-goes-to-the-pub http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpaca-goes-to-the-pub Short video of prize winning alpaca going to a pub. Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:56:13 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Year-of-the-Alpaca-Fiber http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Year-of-the-Alpaca-Fiber Did you know that this is "International Year of natural Fiber"? Well, it is. Because synthetic fibers have caused a drop in consumers using natural fibers, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is organizing the promotion of natural fibers this year. To keep informed of the activities you can get added to their email list. Read the article by clicking on the link provided. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:14:12 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-behavior.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-behavior.html Knowing normal alpaca behavior can help you spot when one of your alpacas is ill. When you know what is normal for an alpaca, then it's easy to spot abnormal behavior and investigate to determine if there is a problem. Follow the link to read about normal alpaca behavior. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:31:51 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Hilarious-Alpaca-Farming http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Hilarious-Alpaca-Farming Mike Rowe of discovery channel helps on an alpaca farm. This is a funny look at alpaca husbandry. The video is hilarious. Follow the link to see this outsiders look at alpaca farming. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:03:11 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpacas-mauled-by-dogs http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Alpacas-mauled-by-dogs Please, remember that dogs are the most common predator to Alpacas. Be sure and build good fences and keep your alpacas from being attacked by neighborhood dogs like what happened to these Alpacas in the following article. Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:23:22 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/livestock-guardian-dog.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/livestock-guardian-dog.html Choosing a livestock guardian dog for your Alpaca farm. Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:02:35 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-photo.html http://www.owning-alpaca.com/alpaca-photo.html Did you get a new camera for Christmas? Take some photos of alpacas whether you own them or can visit a farm that raises alpacas. They are excellent subjects. They appear to have a smile on their face and those big beautiful eyes make great pictures. Read our tips for photographing alpacas by following the link. Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:00:27 GMT http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Home-business-with-Alpacas http://www.owning-alpaca.com/Alpaca-blog.html#Home-business-with-Alpacas The driving force of a home-based business is passion. Doesn't matter if you've chosen Alpacas or something else. If you don't have a passion for what you are doing, your home business will likely fail. We have a passion for our Alpacas and working with their fleece. We hope that You have happy holidays and the new year will bring you opportunities to start your own business or continue with one you already have chosen even in this bad economy. The following link will take you to an article about home businesses that have succeeded because of their passion. It may help you to decide if a home business will work for you whether it's raising Alpacas or some other venture. Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:42:54 GMT