I know what alpaca owners are thinking, why in the world would you start your blog with the ugliest alpaca you have?!?!? Well, I know alpaca breeders think that Marcellus is ugly! But, I probably love him best out of all of my alpacas! His personality, his color, and even his rougher textured fiber intrigue me. No, he is not my best quality alpaca. He is a gelded, fiber male that doesn't even have the greatest fiber, but I do love him best! Believe it or not, Marcellus is usually the alpaca most people think is the prettiest when they come to our farm, and I think his personality is beautiful! Alpaca breeders see only a face a mother could love, but I see a doll baby that eats from my hand and gives me sweet alpaca kisses.
For those that are not familiar with the alpaca world, alpacas are beautiful creatures that originated from South America. They are a camelid and related to both llamas and camels. They were imported to the US until the 1980's. The US has now stopped further importation, so people like myself and my family fall in love with these sweet and beautiful creatures and raise them in the US now. Alpacas are mostly used for the fiber coats they possess and for breeding to increase the amount of animals here in the US. Heaven's Nook Farm is involved in both of these processes. We sell fiber arts items and are trying to start a breeding program to produce better quality alpacas. Things such as yarn, felt, materials, pocketbooks, sweaters, hats, etc. can be made from their uber-soft fiber. The alpacas fiber is a hollow fiber much like my or your hair and tends to keep you warmer than other wools or synthetics so it is definitely sought after by designers.
They look very cute and cuddly, some even refer to them as much like big dogs, but, boy, that couldn't be further from the truth. They typically are not mean animals, very docile actually and tend to be more scared of you than you could possibly be of them, but truly they are not interested in your company as a dog would be. They are herd animals, but if you are not part of their herd, they would much rather be a way from you than with you. That doesn't mean you won't have the lovey-dovey alpaca who likes to have his back scratched and eat from your hand like Marcellus does, above, it can happen. But, realistically you are more likely to have an alpaca that is truly uninterested in you touching them and would prefer you just feed them and go away.
I know the next big question, "Do they spit?" YES, they spit! But, not usually at me or you. Don't get me wrong I have defintiely been caught in the crossfire of two alpacas fighting over the same food bowl and have even been sprayed directly in the face with that wonderful regurgitated grass mixture that stinks to high heavens during a shearing of another farms animals, but it was never really meant for me. I just didn't duck or move fast enough! So, yes, they spit and it has definitely been proven to me by being sprayed, but unless you really are doing something repeatedly to annoy them or caught in a crossfire of two alpacas you will not be spit upon.
Anyways, my point was to atleast let you know a little about alpacas, and to let you know the prettiest alpaca isn't always the best! It depends on what you are looking for in an alpaca. If you want a loving sweet animal that you can use for fiber projects whether that be spinning, felting, or one of many other projects. Just remember that "ugly", gelded fiber male may be the best of the lot if you want an animal to be a bit of a companion! But, also remember that, the beautiful male or female with the gorgeous crimpy coat that would be super for a breeding program may just wish that you would go away. So keep your heart open for all alpacas even the "ugly" ones!
