Spring is arriving slow but sure . More sun means more grass and firm ground – the alpacas are becoming fluffy and are enjoying grazing the grass.

Waiting during lockdown and remembering the BAS national Show

Take care of yourself so you can take care of others including your alpacas.

Twelve years is a long time that has flown by. It is great having alpacas in my life.

Alpaca dentist Allison Quagliani provides dental services to alpacas in Victoria State in Australia.

Birthing time is eciting but has its moments

My reflection this morning as I carried out my daily chores was that I was missing an opportunity. If I became more intentional, could I build something positive with this repetition? Regular small steps to make progress.

Steve is interviewed by freelance environmental educator Tania Marien for her podcast Talaterra.

An interview with Duncan Pullar the CEO of the British Alpaca Society – breed society for alpaca owners in the UK

Setting up an alpaca business needs planning and preparation. Diversification helps generate more income but it may take time to build. Selling your first alpacas is always a challenge.

When did you meet your first alpaca? It is probably memorable and certainly significant. Listen to some different guests express how it happened and how it made them feel.

The year has been full and interesting and next year looks set to be the same. A brief review and reflection on a year with alpacas.

How do you spend Christmas with your alpacas? Here are some of our podcast guests from the year with their ideas.

Moving house and farm with alpacas is quite a challenge. Alpaca people want to help so do ask.

Radio show guest and discussions down-under. A full week.

An alpaca with a limp may need time or major intervention. How do you decide which? What practical approach can you take to assess the needs of your injured alpaca? Here I give a worked example of what I did with the hope it may be useful for you too.

Do alpacas get on well with other animals such as sheep, horses and cows? Generally they do and can even learn to tolerate cats and dogs, though it does take some adjustment. Here are some of my experiences.

We first heard from Jeremiah Owen of Hiraeth Ranch, in Episode 12 of the podcast back in March 2019. Since then there have been some good learning opportunitties and a few surprises along the way.

Watching alpacas is a great pastime but there is a serious side to it too. How to judge the quality of an alpaca is not complicated but neither is it easy. Here are some tips on what to be looking for in a good alpaca.

Everyone should have alpacas in their life. And it is good to share. Large scale business may not be for you but there are ways of recouping some of the expenses of keeping alpacas. Here are a few simple ideas. Let me know what you do.

The clocks go back, the leaves fall, the nights draw in and there is mud everywhere. Looking at the alpacas you can tell it is autumn. Four Season Change Tips for alpaca owners

Wouldn’t it be nice if it was possible to combine keeping our alpacas and running a business, or even running a business keeping alpacas? The good news is that it can be done with thought, planning and application. In this episode, we hear more from Joe Phelan of K2 Alpacas

Many people want to build a business with their alpacas. Joe Phelan of K2 alpacas near Dublin has grown significantly over the last 5 years and shares some of his wisdom, business philosophy and plain common sense with us. Learn from his journey.

If it feels like a fight and a struggle every day with your alpacas, there may be a different way. A different way of thinking, being and doing to bring you alpaca success.

Alpacas have amazing eyesight that they put to good use in protecting themselves from predators. They can also take on the role of fashion-police and are fascinated by reflections, and cows, and cats, and foxes, and most things actually.

Alpacas are herd animals and herd animals thrive best in a herd.
What makes a herd? Not one; and in my view not two either. A minimum viable herd would be three, though there are always exceptions.

We need to recognise three things about expected alpaca behaviour. 1. There is a normal – for alpacas in general and each alpaca individually. 2. Expected behaviour has a cause as does unexpected behaviour. 3. You can help or hinder developing good expected behaviour.

In this podcast episode, Bridget Tibbs-Hamilton of Cotswold tells her story of how for her it came to be all about the fibre. Beautiful alpaca fibre.

Having started with alpacas in 2001 in Washington State, Brian Schieber of Purely Alpaca is now based in California just outside San Diego and though he no longer keeps his own alpacas, he is heavily involved in supplying merchandise for alpaca farms to promote alpacas.

Alpacas have a way of watching you – almost a rude stare, certainly a critical gaze. If you let them they will teach you by their look and their behaviour. Spend time with them in alpaca school.

Running a Farm Open Day can be a great opportunity to share your alpacas with a wider audience. There are plenty of things to plan and prepare. Here Steve shares some of his thoughts on what to think about.

Barn envy is understandable but to be avoided. Though seeing other people’s facilities can help you to identify what is both desirable and essential in your own barn, stable or field shelters.

What do you see when you look at an alpaca? You may see a pet, a fibre producer, an experience, a future champion or a friend. All are equally valid. Give them your attention and really look at them and you will be rewarded.

The aim of the Alpaca Tribe is confident and fulfilled owners of happy and healthy alpacas. In this episode, we consider what makes for a confident and fulfilled owner including 5 confidence builders.

The overall aim of the Alpaca Tribe is confident and fulfilled owners of happy and healthy alpacas. In this episode, we look at what happy and healthy alpacas might mean.

We started with 5 pregnant females and this is how we got there – choosing our alpacas

A shorter summer episode with cria birth stories. Waiting for the expected is a delight, though not without its surprises

A summer light-read for you. Here are my musings on some things alpacas have taught me over the last 12 years.

Part 2 of a review of episodes from the last 6 mths. Includes what you can do with the fleece and the most important equipment on your farm.

25 Episodes seem to require marking by a review of some of the best bits from our guests sharing about being captivated by alpacas and growing in confidence.

Continuing the discussion with Jenny MacHarg we talk about learning with and from your alpacas and the most important piece of equipment on your farm.

Jenny MacHarg and her husband Graham met their first alpaca 17yrs ago and since then have developed an award winning herd of alpacas. They are always ready to learn from others and pass on their knowledge to other owners and breeders. Join us as we learn about their journey.

By definition, the unexpected is just that. However, Steve Heatherington suggests we can both expect and prepare for it as we care for our alpacas. Expect the unexpected.

In conversation with Julia Berry of Apple Cross Alpacas who has a passion for alpaca fibre and a mission to share the delight of top quality fleece with everyone.

Join Steve & Sue Heatherington as they talk through five questions to help you prepare for shearing.

Victoria Barrett has over 10 yrs of alpaca experience. Here we talk about what new and prospective owners need to know; her alpaca fibre workshops and handling courses, including animal-assisted interventions.

Taking alpaca fibre to the craft market. A great day out at Wonderwool Wales with alpaca owners and their gorgeous products. With Sue Heatherington

Marta Kwasniewicz designs and produces beautiful jewellery with alpaca fibre using a range of techniques including Kumihimo the Japanese braiding technique.

Ted & Bessie is the great trading name for Catherine Price who designs and produces sustainable and ethical knitwear from alpaca fibre. Hear her talk about the journey and the challenges overcome to achieve this.

With 20 years of alpaca and llama experience, Julie Taylor-Browne is a champion of sensible and sensitive handling of alpacas to get the best from them and care for them well. Well qualified and experienced Julie is a great source of alpaca common sense

An eclectic and personal reflection on the BAS National Show 2019. Great experience; great opportunity. Visit a show soon.

A small selection of topical tips for alpacas as we enter the Spring. From mating, to shearing, to birthing there are things to be thinking about and preparing for. As a bonus there are some equipment suggestions too. Have a spring clean sort out and get ready for the new season.

Jermiah Owen might have some Welsh roots if you go back far enough but he and his family are well established in Southern Califonia with the recent additions to the ranch – 7 suri alpacas. Hear about his journey so far, what he is learning along the way and how much he is enjoying it.

A conversation with Mike Griffiths of Greenside Alpacas in Cumbria, Northwest England. He and his wife have kept alpacas since 2001 and his herd is currently around 100. We explore when he first met alpacas and how he came to be keeping them.

Alpaca Tribe podcast of conversation with Steve Cooper of Tynewydd Alpacas, Carmarthenshire South Wales producing and selling alpacas and fleece products.

Thoughts and experiences on moving alpacas from one place to another.

Caring well for your alpacas is helped immensely by knowing what is normal for alpacas in general and what is normal for your alpaca in particular. Join us as we look at ways you can answer these questions and enjoy the process of knowing your alpacas

Learn from an experienced and successful breeder of alpacas based on the beautiful Gower Peninsula in South Wales. Her journey will inspire and encourage people thinking of keeping alpacas, or those who already have some. Possibilities with fleece and learning to be confident and fulfilled owners with happy and healthy alpacas.

Ask the right questions to get started keeping alpacas. Planning and preparation for getting alpacas is vital. How to buy alpacas.

Alpacas can add to what you are already doing and make great holiday attractions. Time and effort working with alpacas produces benefits.

In this episode, I am in conversation with Tanya Russell. She and her fiance Charles, have taken on a ready-made herd of 17. We chat through a number of the challenges and delights Tanya has experienced and hopefully, you can gain insight and learn from her journey. How would you feel suddenly being responsible for 17 alpacas for the first time?

Fleece is the primary product from alpacas. If you only have a few it can be difficult to know how to make good use of it. There are ways of getting started and having a go that can be both enjoyable and profitable. To make a living with it you will have to be able to scale but you can certainly discover what you like doing and find suitable outlets even at a smaller size.

A good introduction to some of the issues around keeping alpacas and things that will make your life simpler as you learn about these fascinating animals. Steve Heatherington interviews Rowan Flindall-Shayle about her experience of discovering how to best care for these fascinating animals and the satisfaction and enjoyment this can bring.

This episode will provide you with an introduction to me, Steve Heatherington, as your host and share a collection of my firsts with alpacas

A trailer introducing the Alpaca Tribe podcast for all things alpaca. Discussion with guests on a wide range of topics relating to keeping alpacas, working with their fleece and providing alpaca services. If you have the alpaca gene you need to be part of the alpaca tribe. Need help or want to know more? This is your place for wisdom guidance and great stories on all things alpaca.