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Blogs by Rosetta McHugh
Baby Watch
6/25/2012 1:02:31 PM
Alpaca crias (babies) have their own timing.
Since my last blog entry I have been on baby watch. This is the term we use here at Heidelberr farm when we are waiting for a baby alpaca to be born. Juliet, a first time alpaca mama, is due any day. Juliet was the first alpaca born here on our farm. It was a beautiful fall day and the weather was perfect. Her mama was usually right on schedule to her due dates. Juliet would be no exception as to the day of her birth. The time however, is another story. Since the alpacas belong to my daughter and I help take care of them, I am always cautious with them while she is at work. Sapphire, Juliet's mama, began the morning acting differently than other days. So I put all my other work aside and went into baby watch mode. Actually I was in baby watch mode two weeks prior in case she delivered early. I sat at the dining room table with binoculars watching every breath she took so I could be ready for the birth. I was not only annoying my family, but it seemed that every time I looked at Sapphire through the binoculars, she would stare back at me. It was like she had a spy camera watching me watch her. But on that particular fall day three years ago, I knew she was ready. I got out my comfy lawn chair, something to drink and a snack and my camera and waited for this beautiful cria to be born. Usually, typically, most of the time, the average cria is born in the morning. I figured I could wait til about 10:30 or so, the cria would be born, I could grab a few pictures, check it over and call my daughter to let her know if it was a boy or girl and then get on with the rest of my chores. I was very, very, wrong. The target time I had in mind came and went. I waited another hour or two thinking I could see signs that it would be born any minute. Finally, about 3:30 in the afternoon, I decided I needed to get some lunch and stretch my legs. I came into the house for fifteen minutes, made a sandwich, grabbed a coke and went strait outside. As I closed the gate to the pasture behind me and turned around, I was greeted by the other alpacas who had come to see the new baby that was born. Fifteen minutes! A lousy fifteen minutes! I missed the whole thing! Can you feel my anguish as you read this? My beautiful plans fell apart. But wait! The other mama is due tomorrow. I can still see one of the babies being born. Tomorrow came, and along with it came a cold front with storms that lasted about three weeks. I was told that alpacas can hold on to their babies when they feel the storms coming. So, three weeks later baby Burton was born. Missed that one too! So now Juliet is due and the weather is suppose to be nice all week. I have my chair ready and batteries in the camera. I am waiting! I will let you know as soon as Juliets baby hits the ground. Unless I miss it.
Rosetta McHugh author baby watcher
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More Blogs by Rosetta McHugh
• I have the MUNCHIES! - Wednesday, March 06, 2013
• There is a time thief on the loose! - Monday, February 25, 2013
• Peace and Quiet? - Monday, February 18, 2013
• A funny thing happened.... - Sunday, February 17, 2013
• Love and The Newfoundland dog - Sunday, February 03, 2013
• The loss of a four legged friend. - Friday, October 19, 2012
• Baby Watch - Monday, June 25, 2012
• The world with Newfoundlands! - Sunday, June 10, 2012
• Alpacas 101 - Wednesday, September 14, 2011
• The meaning of "Hobby" Farms - Thursday, September 08, 2011
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