It happens in Three's

Busy, busy, busy.

Firstly the pheasant eggs hatched and off went mum with her chicks (Sorry no pics)

Then the blue tit eggs hatched.

Not the best of pictures but this is when the eggs started to hatch, in the end six of the seven eggs hatched and both parents are looking after them well.

Unlike our next birth,

This is our first cria of 2011 - a very, healthy and strong male from Toad Hall Ice Gem.

Gem had looked uncomfortable for days and when checking at 5am on Friday morning it was obvious she was in labour but having problems.  The weather was atrocious but there was no choice but to intervene.

With much assistance from Sid she gave birth to this lovely, very big cria.  He weighed in at 10.4kg.  Luckily he was fit and healthy and Gem soon seemed to recover from her ordeal and before too long he was able to have that first vital feed of colostrum.

However, that is where Gem's participation ended.  She has totally rejected him.  We have put them in a small pen of their own by the other animals in the hope that she would accept him.  Unfortunately every time he goes for a feed she goes down.  We have tried encouraging her, lifting her (which is exhuasting) but there is no way she will  let him at the valuable milk supply.  Luckily he is a superb bottle feeder, so Sid and I are bleary eyed as we take it in turns to feed him round the clock.

So much for day time births in fine weather - it seems many breeders have had early and late births this year, just goes to show there is no text book birth!!!

Springwatch

At last we have had some rain - nice steady rain that will soak in.  Hopefully it will be kind and not go on for days (Never satisfied!)

All the alpacas are well and  looking forward to being sheared at the end of the month I suspect.  No cria yet, hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

Nature is wonderful and there is an array of wildlife here, for the last six years we have had a bird box with camera in it.  Blue tits and great tits have overwintered in it but there has never been a summer nest - until now that is.
One week the box still had the winter nest in it, the following week nothing -

then

for the first time we have a blue tit and her eggs.  Hopefully all will turn out well and I will post some pictures of the chicks in a couple of weeks.

The monitor has three cameras attached, security camera, the nest box camera and the cria care camera.  Hopefully we won't need to use the cria care this time and they will arrive in good weather and fit and healthy!

Others have been making the most of the wonderful weather.

This was the view from our window and we thought the balloon was going to land in one of the paddocks however he must have spotted the electric wires and gained a few feet to go over the trees and land in the adjoining field.

Behind the Times

Well once again it is nearly a month since I did a blog, but lots is happening albeit mainly routine.

I attended the first meeting of the new Central region this week which was held at Wychbold.  The meeting was well attended and it looks hopeful for an exciting future.  It was great to meet other breeders and then find out that they are in fact quite close.  Well done to those who initiated the group and put in all the hard work.

The weather is glorious, however (there is always a 'but' so I will use a different word!!!)  we missed all the rain recently.  It seemed to circle around us.  At the time we thought great, now everything and everyone is desperate for some rain - hopefully it won't all come at once and will wait until after the Bank Holiday weekend and before the Royal Wedding.
There is blossom everywhere and last night we were treated to Cuckoo song.

The Alpacas are well - I think the girls in particular are looking forward to being shorn at the end of May.  Our first cria is due at the end of this month.  That will be from 'Toad Hall Ice Gem' who was our first born here at Toad Hall.  She produced a lovely male by EP Cambridge Samson last time, Gem is by Cambridge Ice Cool Lad and has wonderful dense fleece.

We have decided to add Gem's offspring, Toad Hall Storm to our sales list together with Toad Hall Sunrise as we have 'Wellground Scriptwriter'  as our stud male and 'Toad Hall King of Diamonds' will be working soon.
Toad Hall Storm, Toad Hall Sunrise and Toad Hall Cool Troy are all from excellent blood lines and will be an asset to any herd.

Toad Hall Storm enjoying the grass before it gets too hot

Toad Hall Cool Troy just has to see whats going on

Toad Hall King of Diamonds takes a cursory look

Thankful

Thankful for a lot of things but especially for the part of the world we live in.  The disater in Japan, fighting in Libya and general shortcomings around the world make us realise how lucky we are.  Indeed we are very fortunate in this part of the country as we seem to have been very fortunate with the weather whereas other parts of the country have snow, wind or rain.  This week has been beautiful, those of you who have watched the horse racing from Cheltenham on the television will be aware that the weather in this area has been gorgeous.  A time when you look across the paddocks and wonder is that alpaca alright - of course it is - just sunbathing. 

We have been making the most of it and hoping it is not the calm before the storm.

When the paddock duties were finished for today it was time to have a go at the flower border followed by a well earned cup of tea. 



Phew!!

Another busy few days.  The week was mainly overcast and cold but we have had a lovely weekend - cold nights and a glorious couple of days.  The alpacas certainly look content.

This weekend we had a visit from Helen & Dave who brought a lovely young female to visit 'Wellground Scriptwriter'.  They were very quick to take advantage of our special 'Mad March offer' of reduced priced mating.  Scriptwriter looked very pleased with himself today.

Wellground Scriptwriter - he is scheduled for a bonnet trim this week.

Helen & Dave also took away their new purchase - 'Toad Hall Britannia' is joining their growing herd.  Despite Britannia's difficult start in life she looks well and has a lovely fleece, I know she will be well looked after.

Unfortunately I didn't have the camera to hand when Britannia left but here is our gorgeous Toad Hall Jolly Ruffo who is a superb youngster.

All is well with the world

Well for the moment that is.The sun is shinning, the grass is growing, the snowdrops and crocus are out but most important of all - the animals are all well.

This is 'Toad Hall King of Diamonds',

Known as Barnaby at home, he will be coming in to work this year and I think he will produce some stunning offspring.

This is 'Toad Hall Cool Troy'

Troy is on our 'for sale' list.  He is the same age as Barnaby and is therefore also ready to start work this year so unfortunately we could not keep both.  Troy is by Ice Cool Lad and has a lovely bright fleece.

Today is special as we have a family get together and the children are coming to lunch.  Last week I had an unexpected stay in the cardiology ward at Worcester Royal Hospital and following an angiogram was given the all clear to go home last weekend.  So an easy week and a catch up with everyone today - Antony has just rung to say he has made a chocolate cake filled with cream - all that cholesterol!!!  Never Mind.

Shame

It's a shame but the weather forecast was right - today heavy rain and winds.  I had hoped that after the glorious weather we had for the last few days it might continue for 1 more day.

It has been great for all those outdoor jobs and I had hoped to take the camera out today and capture some nice clean alpacas - but we don't have any clean ones now!!!

Sid has done more chain harrowing and put the road brush on the back of the tractor to clean the lane which had suffered recently due it flooding a few weeks ago leaving mud and debris on the road.

We had help on Friday to feed the animals - not sure Sid thought it was help though.  Holly and Jessica were here for the day while Mum had to go on a course for her work.

Pete came back in the week and loaded up his trailer with Ambrose, Prince & Ben who have now gone to their new home in Milton Keynes.