Alpacas make great mothers and can usually be left to get on with it on their own. In 95% of cases, all you need to do is watch. One of the hardest lessons we learnt was not to go rushing in to ‘help’ them. However, Frodo’s birth was one of the occasions when that rule didn’t apply!
Amethyst was due today and I went to see them mid-morning which is prime birthing time. After feeding everyone I stayed to watch her and she was behaving in the right way: having moved away from the herd and put her tail up she seemed ready to go. Usually it’s over pretty quickly, with the cria almost diving out, but this time nothing. After an hour of her trying, sitting and trying something was evidently wrong and I got the vet out. Rowe Vets have always given us excellent service and it wasn’t long before Chris arrived.
By then things had moved on, Amethyst had got a head out and a bit of a neck but only one foot. She seemed very confused to have a cria hanging half out and was easy to catch. Chris soon sorted out the other leg and got the cria out whilst I held on to mum. Despite his rough ride, he seemed none the worse for his experience and was soon sitting up while his mother hummed over him. So, welcome Frodo!
A couple of hours later we went back to check on them and take some photos. By then, Frodo was standing up and suckling so a happy ending should be in order.