Featured Alpaca
Liza will be 2 years old this summer and should be ready for breeding this spring. We are so pleased with the way this bay black beauty has grown. Her fleece is very fine and uniform, her conformation is excellent and her personality is delightful. From 2 gray parents, Patagonia's Aysen and Zhivagos Karma she is sure to produce interesting colored crias. She loves the snow and is a ham for the camera.
$7,000 includes a complimentary breeding and your choice of 6 months board or free transportation within the US. Price good til 2-15-2010
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A New Class for a New Year
How would you like to spend the day at Blue Moon Ranch, learn the basics of alpaca care, and how you can be successful in the  alpaca business? If you have ever considered owning alpacas this class will give you a chance to spend time with the animals and learn about their fiber and how to manage an alpaca business. If you already have alpacas but want to learn more about the way we handle the Blue Moon herd, or how we use our fleeces, we'd love to have you join us too.
 Topics will include:*Basic handling, haltering and leading
*Toenail trimming done with no stress
*Giving shots
*Evaluating fleece and conformation
*Parasite issues and worming protocols
*Using your fiber wi$ely
*Getting your business launched
*Question and answer time at the end of the day
We have been raising alpacas since 1998 and have learned lots the hard way! Let us help you learn it more easily!
Date: Saturday, Feb 13, 2010
Time: 10:00 am til 4:00 pm Lunch will be included! cost $150. If you are already a Blue Moon customer please call for a discounted rate. Your class fee can be refunded in full with the purchase of any Blue Moon Alpaca.
Please reserve your spot before Feb 1, 2010 by sending an email to linda@bluemoonranch.net
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Great Guardians
 Alpacas are by nature defenseless and their main defense to escape danger is to run. By fencing them in, we take away this defense and I feel we need to provide them with some protection. Here at Blue Moon Ranch, we have chosen to employ Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) to keep our herd safe. Bears and cougars have been seen in this area, but the main predators we worry about are loose neighborhood dogs. We chose the Great Pyrenees because in studies they have tested to be the least aggressive toward humans and because we had seen them at work in other alpaca herds. They are gentle giants who love having a job and I have no doubt they would give their lives to protect the herd.
When we first thought about adding dogs to the herd, some of  our concerns were: Will they try to hurt our house dogs?
How hard is it train them?
Will they bark all the time - or worse, all night long?
How will we deal with dog poop in the pasture? Will they challenge a ranch sitter? Do we need more than one? Does it matter if they are registered? Should we not handle the pups so they will bond with the herd? To read what we learned and more click here. |
What is deep compost bedding?
Oh dear! They are pooping in the barn!! And the snow is so deep I can't wheel my cart to the compost pile!!! The worse the  weather gets, the more likely you will find your barn used as the main poop area! I like a bean free barn as much as anyone, but in winter we have changed our approach. After the first big snow of the winter, we stop trying to accomplish the impossible and go to a system called deep compost bedding. Last year was the first year we tried it and I am sold! We do have a couple of pretty intense work days in the spring as it all gets cleared out but the winter is great! Each day we spread just a little of the leftover stemmy hay on top of the beans that have been left for us inside the barn. There is NO odor, it does create some heat as it decomposes and after the hay is spread on top, it is a nice warm place for the alpacas to kush for the evening.
 When we clean it out in the spring, it has a great start at decomposing and is a perfect addition to our already 'smokin' pile, which after it is fully composted is spread back on the pasture as a fabulous and 'free' soil amendment. Feel free to ask me if you have any other questions about this winter compost and bedding system. |
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