Padreug 7e5decb5bd Update alpaca names and add livestock guardian dogs

Correct alpaca names: Onyx (Onu), Flocon (Floco), and Sapphire (Sapphi)
with descriptions, ages, and herd roles. Add Anatolian Shepherd LGD
page covering duties, daily care, bloat prevention, and adolescent
play stage. Frame LGDs as gentle and approachable working dogs that
welcome guest socialization. Add prominent rule against uninvited
outside dogs with leash requirement for approved visiting dogs;
mirror in house rules.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

2026-05-08 09:34:43 +02:00

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Alpacas

We have 3 male alpacas:

Name	Nickname	Age	Role	Description
Onyx	Onu	10 yrs	Alpha & guardian of the herd	White fur, no "hat" of hair
Flocon	Floco	4 yrs	Next in line — son of Onyx	White fur, with a "hat" of hair
Sapphire	Sapphi	—	Smallest of the herd	Black fur

[!warning] Alpacas hide illness They're prey animals — they mask symptoms until critical. If something seems even slightly off, monitor it closely. See emergency.

Daily Routine

Cleaning Times: 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM

Twice daily — pen cleaning, water refresh, hay check.

Feeding

Hay (the main food)

Quality: Light greenish hay from inside the bale. Should smell sweet and grassy, never dusty or moldy.
Outer shell of the bale is degraded — safe as bedding but not food.
Moisture: 12-16% for large bales, up to 18% for smaller bales.
Storage: Covered, off the ground (or at least off the grass). Damp = worse than dusty.
Portions: Frequent small bundles from inside the bale. Don't put out too much at once — anything exposed degrades faster than it'll be eaten.
Behavior check: They should be curious and accepting of hay offers, not ravenous or aggressively competitive.

Grain

1 bag should last roughly 6 months (per Jean Louis).
Use sparingly as supplement, not main food.

Water

Always available, fresh. Camelids need unlimited fresh water.
Refresh during cleaning rounds (11 AM, 8 PM) at minimum.

Anyone can feed/water/fluff bedding at any time

The system is flexible. If you notice it, nurture it.

Health Signs

✅ Good signs

Staying with the herd
Cud chewing — rhythmic, relaxed, regurgitating partially digested material
Manure output trending normal (formed pellets)
Grazing fresh grass, drinking water
Smooth skin under fiber

⚠️ Watch closely

Reduced manure output — isolate to monitor if needed
Reduced appetite (>12 hrs)
Crusty / thick / "elephant" skin → likely mange / mite infestation (treatable, ask vet)
Mild lameness

🚨 Emergency — see emergency

Self-isolation from herd (extreme emergency sign for camelids)
Colic signs (see below)
Stargazing, head tilt, neck arch, unsteady gait, leg weakness — neurological emergency
Stops eating
No manure
Tooth grinding (pain, not the same as cud chewing)

Colic warning signs (call vet immediately)

Reduced/stopped eating
Little or no manure output
Repeatedly lying down and getting up
Restlessness, can't get comfortable
Tooth grinding
Stretched-out or hunched posture
Kicking at or looking at belly
Bloated/tight abdomen
No cud chewing
Isolation from herd
Weakness or depression

Annual / Periodic Care

Task	When	Notes
Enterotoxemia preventive	1×/year, beginning of Spring	2cc subcutaneous. Last dose: April 25, 2026
Sel Vitaminé à l'ail	Ongoing	Natural prevention against worms & bacterial overgrowth — see [[natural-care
Shearing (tonte)	End June / early July	Contact: François Meheust — 06 76 63 58 47
Nail trimming	White: every 3-4 months. Black: much less often	Often done at shearing. Visually apparent when needed.
Fecal exam	Every 3-4 months	Targeted deworming based on results, not blanket treatment

Notes from the Herd

Onyx (Onu) is the alpha and guardian — can be reactive at night, has been known to charge things he thinks are predators (e.g. blanket movement at the foot of the bed) and make a loud screech. Stops as soon as you say it's you.
Flocon (Floco) is Onyx's son and second in line.
Sapphire (Sapphi) is the smallest — keep an eye on him in feeding/herd dynamics.
Deer in the area can make alpacas nervous → loud warning sounds.
A camera in the stables is planned for monitoring.
Sapphi's leg wound (~April 26, 2026): was bitten — clean 1-2× per day with vet's protocol for 7-10 days. Watch for flies on fresh wounds.
The herd is patrolled and protected by our two guardian-dogs.

Stables Setup

Idea: attach a hay-feeding bar to a lower spot between boxes.
Idea: build a 3rd wall on the stables so they can sleep inside in less hyper-alert mode.
Electric fence: check status before assuming on/off (was unplugged at one point).

Sleeping in the Stables

If you stay overnight with the herd:

Bring a mosquito net (camping nets work).
Keep a good stick nearby for chasing predators.
Leave the metal gate open or closed depending on situation — coordinate with whoever else is on duty.

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