Lots of people think llamas are dumb. My friend Lex calls the llamas 'the spitting velco beasts' (lovingly). We have found llamas are Terribly protective and loving, smart and they won't spit if taught not to (at least at humans, hint here... They think OUR spit is terrible so they avoid it!hahaha).
We began here thinking horses would be great... we live just off 15,000 acres of state owned land, so wandering sounded like fun... OOPS, two brain injuries later (head butted, not bucked) for me, said 'no more riding' fromt he doctors... big question? How to not have to let pasture we cleared regrow tons of blackberries? I am allergic to sheep, and didn't think goats would be what I wanted... so we checked into llamas--we have mid-sized llamas -- they are WONDERFUL packers and hikers. Our love of the land behind us remains and we enjoy hiking up there as often as we can. Llamas can carry one half of their weight in packs.
We had our first birth here at Glory Ridge Farm in 2008--Glory Maye is a darlin'. Our dear LuLu also had a baby who had 'camelid downs' and died 4 days after birth--Trouper has become part of a study as to the causes of this muscle killing ailment at Oregon State University... He was a sweet boy and we learned a lot from him. Patience and a mother's love -- LuLu was as any mother would be, losing her wee-one. It was rough...
So that tells ya a bit about llamas. They are wonderful brush eaters (blackberries and pine trees as favorites). They are also wonderful guard animals, protecting both people and animals. They are easier on the earth than horses, and their--um...poo is a natural time released fertilizer! (grin).
The above photo is of Onyx and Glory Maye in July of 2008. Mama and daughter (2.5 months old)
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