Good Morning!

A llama and the sunrise.

This morning when I looked out the front door, there was a llama standing about ten feet away. And this was no where near the llama pasture! We had an escapee on our hands. It wasn't the first time our little girl Patty has gotten out, but the first time here at this farm, where we have tried to be so diligent about the fencing. No one wants to chase runaway llamas!

What is it about llamas and hills? Patty found the hills of dirt in our yard and proudly climbed to the top, strutting and posturing for the rest of the llama herd, which thankfully, were all still in their pen.

It didn't take much to get the wandering young llama back in with the rest of the clan. She seemed uncomfortable outside of her space, and I think we were all surprised to see her where she didn't belong.

Richard checked the fences, but there was nothing amiss. I remember when Patty girl was a little llama-ling (a half-grown cria), she climbed between the wires of the electric fence. I think she just wanted to snoop on the other side. The grass is always greener....

So, in with the goats the two llama girls went. Now all the females can share a space for a while, and the llamas will protect the goats since the billy is partitioned off.

Did I mention the rain? It has been raining off and on for two days now, and Richard just finished rain shelters for the goats. Now the llama girls are back in the rain, without a barn again, until we finish the goat section of the big barn. Or are they?

Sharing the space.

While Taylor decided to bunk with the goats, our juvenile delinquent sat out in the rain, perhaps pondering a new escape that might get her back into the barn.

Patty, hanging out at the gate.

I don't recommend just using electric fence for llamas. It has just not worked well for us. Maybe we need more strands of wire, closer together. Maybe the llamas have so much fur, they never feel the shock of the wire. I prefer field fence all the way around, but since we are renting, we are hesitant to put more up, as we intend to take it down when we move from here. Plus, it's expensive!

I am so thankful the rest of the llamas stayed where they belonged, and thankful Patty didn't find one of the many holes in the existing perimeter fence that is falling down around the farm. Lucky day indeed!