Category: Alpaca

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Adding Zinc to Your Alpaca’s Diet:

There are several articles out there about zinc deficiencies in alpacas.  Some make a big deal out of it while others say that hardly any alpacas have an issue with low zinc levels.   Some say some skin problems or the lack of hair on the nose of a black alpaca can be attributed to a zinc deficiency while others state it’s itching and flies or mites.

I’m not here to give medical advice but would like to let you know what method I use to make sure my alpacas have a low dose of zinc in their diets.  Better yet, it’s probably the cheapest supplement program you’ll hear of I’m sure.

What’s my solution? I use Galvanized Carriage Bolts.  A Galvanized bolt has a zinc coating and when submerged, the zinc slowly dilutes into the water.    I like this method because all alpacas will drink water so you’re sure they are getting a low zinc dose with it. 

I use (2) ½” carriage bolts per 5 gallons.  Depending on how often you have to fill/change your water, the bolts should last 6 months to a year.  You’ll know when it’s time to change out your bolts because the zinc coating on them will no longer be visible.

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Poor Man’s Skirting Table

***NEW-Click Here for recent post for PVC Skirting Table with Supply List***

I spent Sunday afternoon skirting alpaca fiber.  Like the majority of new alpaca owners I’m broke after purchasing my foundation herd.  I feel like the blue collar redneck alpaca owner sometimes but honestly, I wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything.  It is hard work but very satisfying.

So what is skirting fiber you ask? Once the animal is sheared and the prime, 2nd and 3rd cuts are sorted in their baggies the hard work actually begins.  Each fleece has to be laid out and picked through to remove any short cuts and vegetation before it’s ready to send to the mill for processing.  A skirting table is what you lay the fiber out on.  This special table has holes in it so when you shake the fiber dirt, debris, and short cuts fall through while the fleece rests on top.  They even make fiber tumbling drums which rotate and toss the fiber around and let the crud fall through to the floor.  Tables or tumbles usually cost between $2-400.  That’s $ I don’t have laying around at the moment.

I’ve got 36 lbs of fiber to skirt and no table which is a problem.  So I started digging around the barn trying to think of what I could do to put together something at 0 cost to me. 

The solution?

–          (2) 4×4 approx 5 feet long

–          Chicken wire 24” x 5’

–          Some staples 

Tada, I give you poor man’s skirting table!  I was afraid the chicken wire would catch the fiber but it didn’t, the fiber rested on tope nicely.  The hole size in the wire was good too an anything shorter than 1.5 inches fell through.  I was surprised to see the amount of dirt and dust that fell out of the fiber. 

I’m happy with my little skirting table until I can afford to build a better one. So far I’ve managed to skirt all the prime fiber and will start on the 2nds next weekend.

Here’s a photo of my “table.”  I apologize for the photo quality, it was taken with my cell phone.

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Dog Collar – Braided Alpaca

Meet Twila.  She’s the first dog to have a hand braided collar made out of alpaca! 

I have gotten quite a bit of feedback from alpaca owners wanting to learn how to make cord and braid their alpaca.  Please stay tuned for information about a braiding class. 

Don’t forget to visit Alpaca Farm Girl to see other Fiber Arts Friday posts!

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1/22/10
I am awaiting the arrival of my new cord making machine so I can make the following without taking hours and hours to make just one!
– alpaca mecatet
-alpaca reins
– alpaca leashes
– alpaca show lead ropes for both horses and alpacas
– alpaca dog collars and more
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