Field-of-Dreams
Well-Known Member
It's a LLAMA!! Please welcome- Gizmo! Here he is checking out my ratty barn coat....
I found mama this morning lying down away from the herd and when I went up to see why, she was in labor! Normally llamas have their babies in the afternoon, so this we a surprise! Bandi is NOT people friendly, she isn't mean, just was never handled when we got her, so we were a bit nervous but she did just fine. And what we found were TWINS. One was stillborn, we were afraid we'd lose both. We grabbed some towels and began drying the lil guy right out in the field. Bandi was concerned, but did not interfer. She's a first time mom, so we didn't know what to expect. We got some feed and got her and her girlfriend into the barn away from all the commotion. The mares were super curious but gentle. We nestled him in some hay and got some colostrum to jump-start him. He seemed weak and honestly, I'm still not sure he'll make it. He took over an ounce of the milk quite well, so we decided to leave and let mama bond with him. When Jane went back at 1:30 to see if he wanted more, he was UP AND NURSING!!! YEAH!!! So keep your fingers crossed. We could just be paranoid- normally we came home from work and bingo- a new llama baby! We've never been present for a llama birth, except Gumbee's and he was stuck when we found him. We're too used to foals who are quite active right away! It took this guy an hour to sit unassisted.
We did check the stillborn twin, it looked like he was premature. He wasn't quite finished, his feet and legs seemed too soft. We don't know if she was bred, then a while later was bred again. Llamas are induced ovulators, they don't come in heat but will ovulate once bred. If they are pregnant they won't let the male mate with them.
(Edited for bigger pics)
Lucy
I found mama this morning lying down away from the herd and when I went up to see why, she was in labor! Normally llamas have their babies in the afternoon, so this we a surprise! Bandi is NOT people friendly, she isn't mean, just was never handled when we got her, so we were a bit nervous but she did just fine. And what we found were TWINS. One was stillborn, we were afraid we'd lose both. We grabbed some towels and began drying the lil guy right out in the field. Bandi was concerned, but did not interfer. She's a first time mom, so we didn't know what to expect. We got some feed and got her and her girlfriend into the barn away from all the commotion. The mares were super curious but gentle. We nestled him in some hay and got some colostrum to jump-start him. He seemed weak and honestly, I'm still not sure he'll make it. He took over an ounce of the milk quite well, so we decided to leave and let mama bond with him. When Jane went back at 1:30 to see if he wanted more, he was UP AND NURSING!!! YEAH!!! So keep your fingers crossed. We could just be paranoid- normally we came home from work and bingo- a new llama baby! We've never been present for a llama birth, except Gumbee's and he was stuck when we found him. We're too used to foals who are quite active right away! It took this guy an hour to sit unassisted.
We did check the stillborn twin, it looked like he was premature. He wasn't quite finished, his feet and legs seemed too soft. We don't know if she was bred, then a while later was bred again. Llamas are induced ovulators, they don't come in heat but will ovulate once bred. If they are pregnant they won't let the male mate with them.
(Edited for bigger pics)
Lucy
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