Hershey and Patches in their new digs. When we had grass.
For reasons that have been previously mentioned we purchased two male llamas from a lady in the College Station area. As you may already know we had a miniature gelding who was in a pasture all by himself and very lonely. His actual owner was my granddaughter who was not happy that her gelding was unhappy. I generally have the presence of mind to be unaffected by people telling me how unhappy they are. However, the donkey was unusually vocal about his unhappiness, and the volume knob on my granddaughter seemed to be highly attuned to his. I relented. Two male Llamas with no love interest. What could possibly go wrong?
Two anonymous llamas from Google showing bad behavior.
I was absolutely certain that I was not going to introduce any lady llamas to this pair. They were fairly evenly matched and I knew with certainty that there would be a competition (similar to this and continuous) for the attention of said lady llama. I further knew that the strife would far exceed the competition for a cup of chicken scratch (feed). I had been assured that these llamas got along well and even had to promise I would keep them together before the lady would sell them to me. I can say in her defense that the llamas were some distance from the house so I think that she believed what she told me. Those llamas turned out to miss each other like you would miss a migraine.
When they arrived at our little farm we had the driver back up to the gate to Feather’s (the gelding) pasture. Feathers joined us obviously interested in his new pasture mates. There were things about his welcoming that I knew it was safe to take for granted.
Donkeys evolved to be quieter and more thoughtful than horses. They are well known for thinking out a situation before responding. Also, since they were designed for the mountains and deserts they depend more on camouflage than speed. I had spent considerable time developing this expertise on donkey behavior. Never in a million years would Feathers depart from these time honored patterns of behavior.
When they arrived at our little farm we had the driver back up to the gate to Feather’s (the gelding) pasture. Feathers joined us obviously interested in his new pasture mates. There were things about his welcoming that I knew it was safe to take for granted.
Donkeys evolved to be quieter and more thoughtful than horses. They are well known for thinking out a situation before responding. Also, since they were designed for the mountains and deserts they depend more on camouflage than speed. I had spent considerable time developing this expertise on donkey behavior. Never in a million years would Feathers depart from these time honored patterns of behavior.
Curious Hershey. Always a ready audience.
Did you know that Donkeys can scream?
Technically I suppose it was a bray but it was as close to a scream as you are going to hear come from a donkey. I had never seen Feathers move that quickly even when Eeyore was after him. He made Man of War look like an exercise pony! I was uncertain what Feathers thought the Llamas were, but I was certain that he did not consider them to be of this planet.
This was not the last time we would see the llamas have that effect on an equine. It certainly is nothing the llamas said or did. I felt they were looking at Feathers and his deviant and anti-social behavior with some degree of surprise. Of course, I had little experience with llamas so I might have been wrong.
Technically I suppose it was a bray but it was as close to a scream as you are going to hear come from a donkey. I had never seen Feathers move that quickly even when Eeyore was after him. He made Man of War look like an exercise pony! I was uncertain what Feathers thought the Llamas were, but I was certain that he did not consider them to be of this planet.
This was not the last time we would see the llamas have that effect on an equine. It certainly is nothing the llamas said or did. I felt they were looking at Feathers and his deviant and anti-social behavior with some degree of surprise. Of course, I had little experience with llamas so I might have been wrong.
Pending llama lawn maintenance.
The llamas strolled out of the trailer. They just looked at us and walked over to start munching on weeds. Feathers stayed in his corner and if the llamas moved towards him he would eagerly seek out a safe path to a different corner. The little donkey with the large voice and quarterhorse sprinting capabilities stayed constantly on the move. He announced it to the world when he was moving.
Being an "expert" on donkey behavior I knew that he would tire of this nonsense very soon. One effect was immediate and positive. The braying diminished in a week or so. I think Feathers may have feared drawing attention from the llamas. However, except for that, Feathers showed no respect for my acclaim as a prognosticator.
He did not get over this behavior soon. For two weeks he wore a path back and forth beside the fence row between him and the back pasture. If the Llamas came close, he would bolt for the other end of the pasture. I swear he looked like a small race horse not a donkey. After two weeks he would warily eat from the same bale of hay. I felt sorry for him. Companionship in the back pasture but a jack who could, and had proven he would, remove chunks of skin if Feathers came near. With him in the front pasture were two oversized rats that were fearful in appearance and didn't seem to know that Feathers existed.
Being an "expert" on donkey behavior I knew that he would tire of this nonsense very soon. One effect was immediate and positive. The braying diminished in a week or so. I think Feathers may have feared drawing attention from the llamas. However, except for that, Feathers showed no respect for my acclaim as a prognosticator.
He did not get over this behavior soon. For two weeks he wore a path back and forth beside the fence row between him and the back pasture. If the Llamas came close, he would bolt for the other end of the pasture. I swear he looked like a small race horse not a donkey. After two weeks he would warily eat from the same bale of hay. I felt sorry for him. Companionship in the back pasture but a jack who could, and had proven he would, remove chunks of skin if Feathers came near. With him in the front pasture were two oversized rats that were fearful in appearance and didn't seem to know that Feathers existed.
My favorite Llama who sometimes tolerates me. (with food)
These Llamas were the strangest creatures one could hope to see. Obviously an opinion shared by Feathers. They are one of the Camelid strains from South America. They once lived, I am told, in North America. They have big beautiful eyes and the rest of them looks a little like a super-sized rat. They have the dietary leanings of a goat.
The woods in the picture above had not yet been subjected to the dietary ministrations of our llamas. They made very short work of the weeds in the front pasture. They also made short work of my belief that they would respect a four-foot fence. The first day we had them they decided to show me who was boss. I had to string a strand of barbed wire on the top of their fence. Even so, they seemed to be able to escape at will. I have discovered since that it is not wise to let their food supply run down. Once settled in, the size of their food hoard is some indicator of their willingness to wander.
The woods in the picture above had not yet been subjected to the dietary ministrations of our llamas. They made very short work of the weeds in the front pasture. They also made short work of my belief that they would respect a four-foot fence. The first day we had them they decided to show me who was boss. I had to string a strand of barbed wire on the top of their fence. Even so, they seemed to be able to escape at will. I have discovered since that it is not wise to let their food supply run down. Once settled in, the size of their food hoard is some indicator of their willingness to wander.
Post llama woods. Youpon, weeds, and all greenery cleared within llama reach.
You can see how high a llama can reach by looking at these woods. I have seen Hershey stand there looking at the fence and just jump it. When he runs he lopes looking like a large wolfhound. He covers the ground very quickly and the best stimulus to make him run is the dinner bell.
There are two rather large horses across and down the street. For all the world they look suited to the job of a warhorse but, in fact, they are sissies. They are large and appear to be quite fit. However, their limbs seemed to turn to water when they came face to face with our escaped llamas.
Their owner seemed to think that I was allowing our two pets to fly the coop just to aggravate (and frighten) her steeds. Her comments were most unneighborly. I think we might never have survived the ordeal if Eeyore had not chosen then to desert his family.
There are two rather large horses across and down the street. For all the world they look suited to the job of a warhorse but, in fact, they are sissies. They are large and appear to be quite fit. However, their limbs seemed to turn to water when they came face to face with our escaped llamas.
Their owner seemed to think that I was allowing our two pets to fly the coop just to aggravate (and frighten) her steeds. Her comments were most unneighborly. I think we might never have survived the ordeal if Eeyore had not chosen then to desert his family.
Untended growth compared to Llama maintained manicured lawn.
With him gone, I just opened the gate to the back pasture. I felt Feathers might act more bravely in the presence of the jennies. I knew that always worked with sailors and students.
I wondered if the jennies would be intimidated by the llamas.I can tell you they were not. The two jennies ruled the roost. I thought there was a lot more to eat in that oversized back pasture. However, two llamas and 6 donkeys can seriously stress the grass. This picture is of the boundary between one neighbor and I but it could serve as a before and after picture of my back pasture.
I wondered if the jennies would be intimidated by the llamas.I can tell you they were not. The two jennies ruled the roost. I thought there was a lot more to eat in that oversized back pasture. However, two llamas and 6 donkeys can seriously stress the grass. This picture is of the boundary between one neighbor and I but it could serve as a before and after picture of my back pasture.
Eeyore and homewrecking mare.
Llamas, like goats, would rather browse than graze. My neighbor has no livestock so he is forced to rely on my crew for yard maintenance. As I have grown older I am less willing to tether them out due to their reluctance to return home. They now make winning a tug of war very difficult and I have chosen not to play. The picture just above is Eeyore with the paint that he was sneaking off to visit. He now is not tempted by Jennies and has become docile again.
Now working on a friend's pasture
We can discuss more about Hershey and Patches at another time (and I intend to). The two of them would fight in the same manner as the two ill mannered google llamas in the second picture. At one point I was struck (totally by accident) on the back of my neck by their weapon of choice. I decided then that one of them had to go. I simply chose the one who was generally more aggressive. I sold him to Noah and Kem down at the feed store. They needed someone to clear the fence line and he is earning his keep. I also sent these three fine workers to a friend who needs some temporary lawn maintenance.
Hershey, Feathers, and Cruz all get along splendidly now. I had no idea whatsoever that Hershey had bonded with Feathers and Cruz. However, when I separated them Hershey jumped the fences. I put them back together and intend to leave them this way until the three brown donkeys return. This picture is actually on my other neighbors property. She has fewer trees but appreciates what the animals did to my woods. I fenced off about two of her acres. She provides the woods and grass and I provide the lawn maintenance workers. No more tug of war.
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