The alpacas are in a strict hierarchy within the herd, Amber is at the top and Eva, the youngest is at the bottom. It’s roughly in order by age, though Amethyst who’s our oldest girl has lost out over time to Amber who’s her daughter.
This hierarchy is no more apparent than when you put out two hay-nets and there is a choice.
Once the nets are up, everyone goes and starts eating, usually from the nearest. Amber meantime, eats from one and then wanders over to eat from the other. she decides which one is ‘hers’. It then becomes the ‘management-team’ hay-net and any youngsters eating from it are shooed away to be replaced by their elders. Now it’s settled, everyone can get on with the job of eating.
Of course, if you are a clever alpaca like Dee here, you’re much more interested in why I’m standing in the pen waving a phone about than eating hay. It’s always worth keeping an eye on people in case there might be a spare bit of apple or a carrot!
