I happen to love winter and the first big snow storm of the season. This one came the first week of December 2009, and the juvies' were exposed to their first big change in the seasons. Snow Dancer Ranch went into full winter operations that day, but the preparations had already been made. Heat lamps were rigged in the barn and put on timers to operate at night, heated water buckets were in place, and extra bedding was already in their stalls. Living north of the 45th parallel adds some additional challenges to raising alpacas. To keep them from becoming barn potatoes, their hay feeding tables are placed about 400 ft from the barn. The morning hay is placed on the tables, usually second cutting to entice them to stay outside. Once they are grained, they are in the habit of heading out to the tables for the day, coming back to the barn every once in awhile for water. First cutting and a second round of grain is usually placed in the barn for the evening. 
On some of the colder days, coats are employed to help the older animals cope. Tendu, pictured here with her very fashionable orange coat, is 17 years old (and bred!) and appreciates the extra warmth. Usually it's just the older animals and the very young animals that need some extra attention.
The great warmth in winter comes from spending time with the weanlings, as they are learning to be separated from mom, forming personalities and bonds amonst themselves; they are young and curious and getting handled alot by the humans and being introduced to the halter and lead.
Winter is to be endured for sure, but it has it's place here in the cycle of the seasons. I go into winter with the idea of keeping a closer eye on the bred females to make sure they remain bred, make sure the weanlings thrive and gain weight, and the yearling and adult males don't gain too much weight!
New Alpacas added to the sales list
Toga Party, a Huacaya male, and Easy to Love, a fancy rose grey female, have just been added to the sales list! Toga Party is being offered as a fiber male (or pet). Easy to Love has a show career ahead of her and then a big future in a grey breeding program.
