Today I shot Frogz. Didn't want her to linger like Elli did. Looking out of the bedroom window this morning, I couldn't see her. Fed the dogs, cats, gave Liqourice a handful of grain and topped up her water, fed the boarded chicks and gave them fresh water. Fed the ducks, geese, guinea fowl and chickens, took hay out to the sheep. Then took the buggy out to fill the buckets of water for the beasties in the veggie garden. After delivering the first load I went looking for Frogz. Didn't find her in the back pasture, but on my way back saw a lump higher in the veggie garden, maybe her. It snowed last night, so a white alpaca is harder to spot than if the grass was green.
Yep, it was her, her back legs paralysed. Damn menengial parasite. Finished watering and then Angie and John arrived to pick up some more milk. I took a sled out and we tucked her feet under her then rolled her onto her breast bone, pulled the sled next to her and rolled her onto it. Towed her but she was too big for it and fell off. John helped me pick her up and put her in the back of the buggy. I can't pick her up by myself, so have devised ways to move my beasties when I need to as I have to usually do it by myself. Backed the buggy to the shed door and offloaded her next to Liqourice. John and Angie were expecting some customers at their place, but said they'd be back later to help skin her.
I was folding laundry when they came back and we looked at Frogz, and I went and fetched the gun. Shot her in the head and waited a while, then moved her to under the pulley and John started skinning her. He works so quickly, but he's been doing this all his life. First time doing an alpaca though. He's going to process the skin with fibre attached for me (he's a taxidermist) wwhile Angie took her head as she wants to do an art piece with her skull. Will use those flesh-eating beetles first.
We are going to process her tomorrow or Monday. As I hadn't medicated her before she died, I feel OK processing her for meat. Herbie said he's not going to eat her but Angie is keen to try.
We've had alpacas for 4 years, but not anymore. Sad as they are beautiful, gentle creatures. Frogz used to come up to me for kisses and scratches. She was a first, surprise, birth on the farm, Elli the
We've had our 3rd death and life carries on on the farm.
It's raining here how, the snow is slushy and will probably freeze overnight. Tomorrow is going to be awfully slippery.