Put Those Boys Away!

The alpaca boys drifted into an enclosure before it was finished.

Although most of our animals are pastured in spots around the greenest, grassiest areas, we do tend to let groups loose to roam--enclosed by the perimeter fence, of course. Generally animals are loosed to roam when we need to move their pasture area, and often while the moving of various tube panels and/or cattle panels is in progress. Sometimes the wanderers are on their best behavior: grazing or browsing intently, without evidence of a need for mischief.

When the horses are loosed to roam, their version of mischief involves standing on the driveway, blocking traffic and leaving presents that simply will not fertilize the pavement. They are known to cluster along the neighbor's fence line when she's out in her yard. (Feed them once, and they will long remember.) Luckily, so far this year their mischief has not spread to the areas where grain is stored. (In years past Millie has been known to pound cans until they open and spill their contents of grain. The cans often don't recover. Given enough grain, the horses could be at risk, too.)

When the goats roam free, they can be perfect darlings--browsing down weeds and poison ivy. Or, they can make a bee-line for our few ornamental plantings. Day lilies, iris, roses (they love roses), forsythia, or other plants can rapidly be mowed down by hungry goats. Plus, Marcie likes to imitate Millie and wrench feed cans open for all to gorge.

When the alpacas roam free, especially the males, they often seek out mischief by chasing other animals. Cats, chickens, goats--it doesn't matter, so long as those being chased have the decency to play along by running or flying. Unlike pursuit by dogs--that may start as a game but evolve into a hunt--pursuit by alpacas seems notably tame; however, those being pursued by the long-legged, long-necked bouncing fuzzballs don't seem inclined to stop and ponder their relative safety. No, they run in terror, while fuzzy alpacas skip and bounce along in their wake.

When they've had enough time to roam, the goats generally flock to the gate leading up to the barn or into a pasture, while the alpacas often drift into their new enclosures. (The horses are content to roam continuously.) The photo, above, illustrates an afternoon when the alpaca boys understood where their pen was headed but the lazy humans had yet to complete the task, and the alpacas--ready to be re-pastured--gathered "inside" their three-sided "enclosure" loudly hinting their desire to be penned back into relative safety. When their intent was so clear, we had no choice but get out there and finish the job.