Setting up RiverStone farm has provided us with a peaceful, rewarding and rural lifestyle. The alpaca a member of the camelid family are certainly a pleasure to work with. They are a calm, intelligent animal and are still seen as an exotic species here in France.
We handle our alpacas using the Camelidynamics (www.camelidynamics.com) training program which has proven invaluable to working even closer with the alpacas and achieving a level of skills to manage their welfare in a calm and safe environment for both handler and alpaca.
Our herd to date consists of 18 white Huacaya. Their fiber is hand spun, dyed with natural dye (plants, roots etc) and the finished product either woven or hand knitted here on the farm.
Telephone: +33 (0)562969779
Alpaca Facts
- Alpacas are: Camelids, the family includes Camel, Llama, Guanaco,Vicuna
- Origin: Peru,Chile and Bolivia
- Life span: 15 to 20 years
- Size: Adult alpaca weighs 60 to 80 kg (132lbs to 198lbs)
- Types of Alpacas: Huacaya and Suri
- Colours:There are 22 recognized shades
- Gestation Period:11 to 12 months with single birth (cria). Healthy females can be remated 14 days after giving birth to their cria
- Feeding / Shelter / Fencing:Grass with up to six alpacas per acre. Hay is provided all year round and supplements can be given during pregnancy and lactation. Fresh water should always be made available. Shelters: should be provided in each field for protection from sun and winter weather. Fencing: Ordinary stock fencing is adequate (four feet), barbed wire should not be used.
- Husbandry: Toes: need to be trimmed depending on growth of individual alpacas, normally every 6 weeks. Shearing: Huacaya alpacas are sheared once a year, in France we normally do this at the end of April. Teeth: can be filed (when needed) when shearing is taking place. The fighting teeth of the male which are fully grown at about three years old must have their tips removed otherwise damage may be caused to one another during play fighting. Vaccinations: are given once a year, and worming two to three times a year depending on the product used. Natural worming products should be given every month.
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