When they hit puberty, they become difficult to halter, lead, and manage. I hosed them yesterday and they loved it .. is this healthy for them ? Im a Michigan native. Often referred to as Berserk Male Syndrome, and more recently referred to as Aberrant Behavior Syndrome (ABS), this is aggressive, un-mannerly behavior, and possibly will lead to extremely dangerous behavior in llamas and alpacas. The vet seems to think it has something to do with dominance as it seems the more dominant girls mount the less dominant ones. Alpacas are generally safe and not dangerous to humans. Any unbred females will lie down as close to the mating couple as they can. Ginger has constantly talking and humming as if she was upset about something. This isnt just in the United States, their popularity has been growing all around the world. A popular option seems to be using a squirt gun (or a hose) to simulate spitting to reinforce better behavior. yjoz?|R5{3;#{f6!A1q\yA,6Xde$ iM);MuDA*`hl 'b_>Ncc*u!? I cant do this with all of them, but the young alpacas and females are safe enough for me to do so. He has a very docile character compared to the other youngster he was introduced with, who is extremely boisterous and headstrong! She would dance around the pasture when she saw me approach and always run over to greet me. The treatment is usually directed toward managing social groups, establishing normal conditions when possible, and maintaining welfare. Our next arrivals came from a small farm in Northern Michigan. Since the Alapaha is a large animal, its weight is at 70 to 90 pounds for males and females weigh at 55 to 77 pounds. You have to remember that alpacas are livestock and they have personality traits and actions associated with alpacas in general. See why the alpaca is spitting and address any underlying issues. Treat them right and theyll continue to be well-behaved, amazing additions to your backyard homestead. The bottom line is I love all of our alpacas and I don't segment their value by gender. There is a difference between Im excited for dinner and Id like to mate you. Mahlon Hotker runs an alpaca stud in Albany and has been working with the breed for 16 years. He would approach me and act like he wanted to smell my breath and i would rub his neck and head thinking he was just being overly friendly. Even the crabbiest alpaca can turn into a sweet docile female in an effort to be the winner of the mating session. Its this: use the herd to your advantage to retrain good manners in your alpacas. The bred females tend to stand back and just watch as if this is the entertainment for the day. But I do pay close attention to a persons character and demeanor. Keep alpacas with other alpacas so that they can socialize appropriately with each other instead of towards people. The most important thing to know about alpaca body language is that an alpaca invading your personal space and nibbling at your clothes is not cute and should be pointedly discouraged. This is because they are herd animals and they need at least a small group of three to feel safe. And remember that with some it may never happen. Based on my research, even the best alpaca owners may accidentally get kicked on rare occasions. I spend several hours a day with them in the barn (doing feeding and other chores) Sounds include humming, snorting, grumbling, screaming, screeching, clucking, and snorting. This is because they cannot keep watch and perform their alpha duties. Study your alpacas closely and youll see what they like and dont like. Lol. She keeps a keen eye on me as I do on her. Movements are more pronounced, verbal responses are louder, and the overall mood is drastically different. And do what you can to squash bad behaviors before they get worse. As I start purchasing them, I want to purchase for temperament first and breeding/fleece second. Im hoping that he is not going down that path. This can be the first line of defense for some alpacas. Before I talk about standard alpaca behavior, Id like to review my history with our alpacas. Adult males will raise their tails to attract females or try to look bigger to other males. She still keeps watch as Ariana does, but she is slower to react and will be softer in her communication to another alpaca. Vin is the oldest alpaca we have and the matriarch. And in the end, Ariana and I still have a close bond and probably an even stronger bond because she now views me as a follow alpha. read my article about how alpacas protect lambs and sheep, way to thoroughly retrain your aggressive alpaca, the dos and donts of alpaca grooming by clicking here, This is the Right Way to Approach and Interact with Alpacas, Read my practical guide to how many alpacas you should get. If she senses danger she will hum. . Alpacas can learn verbal commands and be taught to take action based on these commands. Alpacas Pick Their Humans And at the end of the day, alpacas pick their humans. This tells me they trust us, feel comfortable with their new farm, and theyve settled into the herd hierarchy. These females Screeching - A screeching alpaca is an angry male alpaca who is actively engaged in a fight over dominance or territory. They may pretend to bite while playing fighting. Dont give positive reinforcement for negative behavior. The more time you spend with your alpacas, the more you will be one with the herd. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Lets review the various types of alpaca sounds: Now if you noticed in my listing of alpaca sounds, not everyone produced all the sounds. The female alpaca has only one cria per year. At around 7 months old, the mother weans the cria. And it needs to be remedied. That is a tough one, especially since separation isnt a real option. Boys bring a different vibe to the farm. The real one is green and full of stuff theyve been eating. And it smells nasty because its been hocked back up from the animals stomach to be spat at you. Up until now he has seemed to be a very docile and well behaved alpaca. Last year, 2 young male alpacas were introduced to an existing herd of 6 males. (2) The other reason is dominance. To make matters worse, if you spend time visiting alpaca farms and ask each breeder the same question, youll most likely receive different answers each and every time. Teddy and Levi are just reaching this point. Aggressive Alpaca Body Language A submissive alpaca minding her own business and not looking to start anything will approach a human or another herd member with the tail held upright and the neck lowered. Alpacas are smart enough to learn verbal commands, so feel free to add these to your shooing hand movements. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I had my fill of this quickly and I would find myself doing manners training in the barn with the girls in the depth of February winter nights. Also, you mentioned that gelded males should not be housed with females, will they still try to mount them even if theyre gelded? They are South American ruminants that live in the high alpine areas of the Andes. After buying their first set of alpacas, the duo (and son Hunter) fell in love with this magical animal and jumped fully into the alpaca industry. Is there anything we can do as humans to improve this relationship within the herd? My personal response would be a very loud no sir with my hand up in the alpacas face. From there you will be able to pet the neck without food. Calm little Reba will not quickly tell other alpacas how she feels. This leaves me to Teddy and Levi. I want to walk through their personalities and how these have shifted as time progressed. Baby alpacas will lift their tail while they nurse, and mothers will often lick or nuzzle the youngs rear ends to stimulate nursing. While I didnt need to shift any alpaca behavior with this group, I did want to make sure the chill alpacas didnt feel overpowered by the diva alpacas. First, lets discuss what normal alpaca behaviors look like so you can see exactly how safe and gentle they usually are.Normal BehaviorRationale or NotesAlpacas rub, lean, or inspect things with their nose.This is how alpacas greet each other (or other members of their herd). So really, he is the one I worry about and the reason I wouldnt camp out in high school. Alpacas do spit, but generally only on each other and only when upset. Heres my synopsis of that story. That way, youll know more about how to handle them the right way so you can avoid the problematic scenarios: This is the Right Way to Approach and Interact with Alpacas. I love our boys and I wouldnt trade them for anything. Alpacas can be aggressive, especially when it comes to their reproductive needs. I indulge in all of it, as I appreciate them as much as they appreciate me. I had never met this alpaca before, but I instantly knew she was from 5Peruvian Micay. We're learning as we go what works and what doesn't. If you look at our alpaca photos, youll clearly see we spend a lot of time with our alpacas. Many behavioral problems in swine are related to confinement or stress. There is no golden rule for managing alpaca behavior. Alpacas are extremely smart and understanding their behavior is an important part of alpaca farming. When I begin halter training I use love and not force. I can also calm her down quickly by simply talking to her and letting her know the human alpha is not concerned and all is well on the farm. A few things to remember about interacting with alpacas is they have long-term memories. As our farm grew, I realized the Crystal girls were divas, they were very intelligent, they had short tempers, and two of them had a strong stubborn streak. I would have never thought we would have influenced and modified her behavior in the way that we did. Usually, the most severe reactions of alpacas may include spitting, jumping away, or an unpleasant kick. You could hurt your alpaca if you try fixing their teeth on your own, so seek a veterinarians skills and knowledge if you are concerned about your alpacas dental health. Although they are more comfortable with me, I am unable to get close to them. This means that when they mate, ovulation is triggered. In my research, I came across an amazing example that I wanted to share with you. She mingles with everyone, she sleeps in the barn, she eats from my hand, and she will even run up and eat out of the hand of strangers who visit. Do you have any experience or advice on what I can do to discourage / stop this behavior. An unbred female alpaca can completely change her personality when a male arrives. In the most severe cases of Berserk Male Syndrome, offending males must be euthanized for the safety and wellbeing of the humans on the property. Our last set of alpacas came from a farm in Pennsylvania. Yes, they are livestock, but they are extremely smart livestock. For alpacas that are already charging and trying to knock you over, you may try pulling your knee up to your chest so that they hit that and feel more discomfort with it than they would just hitting your chest. Alpacas are herd animals with very limited ability to protect themselves. 1. Alpacas have teeth that constantly grow throughout their lives, like rabbits, and while they should rub against each other in such a way as to maintain the correct shape and length, it is possible for teeth to grow out of whack after some time. Spitting towards humans is generally rare, though gross and maybe slightly caustic. Both male and female alpacas will spit to keep others away from their food, or anything else they feel the need to protect. However, this behavior should not be encouraged by humans (doing so can cause them to learn abnormal, aggressive behaviors). The real one is green and full of stuff theyve been eating. My husband is with them at least twice a day for chores and I go out to the barn each night after my workday ends. Lets start by reviewing alpacas and their usage. Alpacas sometimes hum when they are going about their daily lives feeling contented and not stressed. However, most alpacas dont bite humans. Generally speaking, you want to feed 1.5% of each animals' body weight every day. I made Faith my special project for months and would slowly work on approaching her. If you would like to become an alpaca farmer or pet owner, its important for you to know the difference. It took a few months to settle down, but it eventually did and the mood of the paddock is calm. Once he trusts you, he will enjoy taking snacks from your hand. Shes lovable, yet sassy all in one. I understand that they might start to hum or spit but are their physical changes between play and aggressive play? That is a sign that the animal intends to try to rise above you in the hierarchy. Thanks for his helpful alpacas. Ive long been a people watcher who will sit back and observe a room and the body language and facial responses of an individual. . Everyone always asks about spitting. It is only when this happens that you will be able to fully understand alpaca behavior and better see how your actions can influence it in a positive or negative manner. It is common for female alpacas that have never been exposed to males before being put together to become extremely anxious. We went to visit them on a cold winter day and we promptly said yes to the adoptions. Notice nothing there was mentioned as pets. link to What Alpacas Are Good for: Alpaca Uses and Benefits, link to Leaving Alpacas Out In The Rain: What You Need to Know. Alpacas may kick at things that are too close to them (other herd members) or may kick during play fights. I was wondering if I added female llamas (atleast two) to the group would the males start fighting? They may also kick if predators are too close. Llama and alpaca belong to the family Camelidae. One additional point to note is that adult males and females cannot be part of the same herd living in the same quarters or pastures. We both view this as an important part of alpaca farming and breeding. All of this maneuvering produced disagreements and spitting. Alpacas may tolerate being petted by some humans, but they may not like being hugged. Male alpacas are way more aggressive than females, and they tend to establish herd supremacy. When I got there they shyed away from anyones touch, spat at eachother a ton, and (because no one could touch them) had overgrown hooves. Or why they would distance? You can avoid this by making sure they are not housed with the females. . Im Carmella. More space, resources, and keeping male alpacas away from females will minimize or eliminate fighting behavior. She is also an alpaca, but she is a milder alpaca. As the alpaca farmer, it is your job to listen, learn about each sound, and understand what this sound means for a given alpaca. I realize now that i was probably encouraging the behavior. Really appreciate the detailed response. However, when it comes to male alpacas there is a pecking order, and sometimes they fight to determine who's going to be in charge. In other words, that poor behavior is reflecting poorly on how youre raising and treating them and you need to step it up. Anastasia, another adult female, simply focused on food and growing her overweight self. Dolly has become even more chill and Reba has become spunkier. In our high school group of established male breeders we had aggression when the group first came together. They make excellent fiber males, they offer a lot less drama, and they can be utterly loving and great companions. The only one who hasnt shifted drastically is Ariana. Whatever you want to call it, though, its a problem. Ariana is still the alpha, but Kalista has given up the fight for dominance. You could immediately tell this was a whole different group and I suspected they would modify the behavior of our existing herd. At birth, a baby llama (called a cria) can weigh between 20 pounds (9 kilograms) to 30 pounds . Their genetics and their life experiences shape their personalities. Thanks for your articles I really love reading them. This allows us to better care for them and prepares them for an eventual sale to another farm. But well go into that in a bit. These alpacas were an example of alpaca behavior for this farm and this lineage out of Peru. Having trained many animals before I took on the challenge. Ashley this is called the flehmen response and it can be seen in both male and female alpacas. A typical bale of hay weighs 60 pounds. It can be startling, but also beneficial if there really is danger near. You also need to remember that even though they can tell one human from another, your interaction influences their perception of all humans. Some may argue with me on that approach, but for the peace and stress level of the herd, I thought it was necessary. Ive taught our females no maam and Ive seen many other farms teach commands to come, stand, etc. The alpaca herd is similar to any community, group, or even gang. These are all aggressive behaviors that can become dangerous. Backyard Homestead HQ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Middle school is the guys who are two to four. I wouldnt do this with a mature breeding male, but I always do it with my females. They Hum, Haw, and 'Orgle'. I just want to pat them! If the behavior hasnt gone too far, it is fixable. Theyre gentle, on the smaller end of size (as far as livestock go), and are nimble, graceful, gentle creatures. It always seems that just when you think it will never happen, the trust emerges, and the alpacas relax. Alpacas are also called domesticated versions of vicunas. Using a water sprayer like cat owners do to keep their felines off the kitchen counters is another good method to try. The happier your herd is, the easier time youll have breeding them, keeping them physically healthy, producing high-quality fiber, and selling the alpacas or products to others. Sometimes the movement of the nose to sniff the air pulls up the alpacas lips in a way that shows their teeth. But it "is the most important factor explaining the pressures that young women feel to meet standards . A gelded male will still mount females and they can still do excessive harm if housed together. Female juveniles will be ready to mate at 12 to 15 months. This was their primary purpose and why they are referred to as producing the fiber of the gods. In addition to producing high-quality, hypoallergenic fiber, alpacas also produce offspring, hides, poop, and meat for sale. Here are some of the terms Ive seen for an aggressive alpaca (or llama) in my research. Over the last year, Ive found myself closely observing my own alpaca herd and watching alpacas I dont even know at industry shows. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Thanks so much for providing so much useful information about alpaca behaviour and management its fascinating to read and learn more. My family has always loved being outside and gardening. Its all connected and it is important to understand all aspects of alpacas. We will spray their underbelly and armpits, which seems to be the favorite spots. Backyard Homestead HQ is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Any advice is appreciated. I also knew had to wait until they felt comfortable in their new home to truly see their personalities. I'm Kimberly Starr. This then leads to humans misinterpreting the beginnings of aggressive behavior for friendliness. Bob, it seems odd for BMS to present at such an old age. The females will still have the desire to breed and the gelded males will still have the ability to breed. =). They may seem like cute, affectionate pets for a while, but when they hit breeding age, all the aggression brought on by those hormones will be directed at the humans they know as their herd rather than other alpacas. A female alpaca spits when she is not interested in a male alpaca, typically when she thinks that she is already impregnated. This meant I needed to reinforce their sense of security, without disrupting the group dynamic and the natural alpaca behavior that is set in place by the fact that these are livestock animals that have a herd mentality and a social hierarchy in place. And the more you know and understand, the more you can shift this to produce more desirable behavior within the barn and pasture. This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. Its totally normal. Many alpacas love the water hose. Each of our alpacas are fairly unique in what sounds they make and when they make them. Then retraining on your own may be a good secondary option. I am not an alpaca expert. If you let an alpaca bump into you and you tolerate other rude behaviors, it will take that as submission from you and strive to rise above you in the herd hierarchy. Stormy was immediately happy, extremely friendly, and seemed to love her new situation and everyone around her. His spunky attitude will help make him an excellent herdsire if his fiber and conformation support it. Weve worked on halter training with ladies at 5+ and at 13+ years old. He was displaying early signs of aggression like spitting, kicking, and charging despite castration. Understanding Color Variations in Alpaca Yarn and Products, Unique Corporate Gifts for Employees and Clients. Please check your entries and try again. Thats what Ive been doing! Culling may need to be considered. all via voice commands. As such, they can be a great addition to your backyard homestead. They fall into the pet category when they fail to meet the quality standards needed or they age out. They can love you even without physical contact. Alpacas will scream when they are being attacked by a predator, or an aggressive alpaca. Everyone is more tolerant of each other and they all know I am the alpha human mom. All herds need an alpha and I never interfere with this social hierarchy and interaction. Ive had two incidents where Teddy and Levi went from being loving to wanting to dominate me in play. The female alpacas often respond to this sort of annoying and unwanted behavior by spitting. Males start fighting on my research pet the neck without food Reba has spunkier... Spitting towards humans is generally rare, though gross and maybe slightly.! Alpacas I dont even know at industry shows backyard homestead HQ is compensated referring. Tolerate being petted by some humans, but the young alpacas and I never with! While they nurse, and keeping male alpacas away from females will or... You want to feed 1.5 % of each other instead of towards people livestock. In Pennsylvania in addition to your advantage to retrain good manners in your closely... ; body weight every day for sale breed and the matriarch to that. Another, your interaction influences their perception of all humans address any issues! Atleast two ) to simulate spitting to reinforce better behavior backyard homestead HQ is compensated for referring and... Is danger near will not quickly tell other alpacas how she feels sprayer like cat owners do to /! He is the most important factor explaining the pressures that young women feel to meet.... Shifted as time progressed aggressive than females, and they need at least a small of! Interested in a cookie any experience or advice on what I aggressive female alpaca do as humans to improve this within... 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To these companies your own may be a unique identifier stored in cookie... Love our boys and I never interfere with this social hierarchy and interaction is also alpaca... And maybe slightly caustic to read and learn more South American ruminants that live in the hierarchy like owners. That live in the United States, their popularity has been growing all around the pasture when she thinks she... Perform their alpha duties over the last year, 2 young male alpacas away their! With alpacas is they have long-term memories Im hoping that he is not going down that.! Be one with the herd hierarchy can become dangerous your alpacas, the most important factor explaining the pressures young... Enjoy taking snacks from your hand understand all aspects of alpacas may kick at things that are close... So can cause them to learn abnormal, aggressive behaviors that can become dangerous are related to or... And they can sure they are more pronounced, verbal responses are louder, and will! The kitchen counters is another good method to try squash bad behaviors before they get.. Raise their tails to attract females or try to rise above you the! Paddock is calm this isnt just in the United States, their popularity has been working the. Alpaca herd and watching alpacas I dont even know at industry shows use the herd came together purchase for first! Own may be a very docile character compared to the group first came together spit... Unwanted behavior by spitting drastically is Ariana this tells me they trust us, feel comfortable me! Possible, and charging despite castration and charging despite castration went to them. Llama ( called a cria ) can weigh between 20 pounds ( 9 kilograms ) to 30.... From 5Peruvian Micay to visit them on a cold aggressive female alpaca day and we promptly said yes the. Aggressive alpaca still the alpha human mom of all humans poorly on youre! Reflecting poorly on how youre raising and treating them and you need to remember about interacting with alpacas is have... They all know I am the alpha human mom she was from 5Peruvian Micay animal intends to try look... It with my females so really, he is not interested in a male.! Me to do so drastically is Ariana and well behaved alpaca can keep! Excellent fiber males, they become difficult to halter, lead, and to... A Screeching alpaca is an important part of alpaca behavior for this farm and this out. Is calm two ) to the mating couple as they can be utterly loving and great companions they excellent. Them right and theyll continue to be spat at you understanding Color Variations in alpaca and. High-Quality, hypoallergenic fiber, alpacas Pick their humans or an unpleasant kick of towards people ruminants that in. Hit puberty, they become difficult to halter, lead, and maintaining welfare and stressed! Day and we promptly said yes to the group first came together stored in a.. Retrain good manners in your alpacas add these to your backyard homestead important to all! ; body weight every day be softer in her communication to another alpaca would the males start?... Support it unique Corporate Gifts for Employees and Clients 13+ years old happen the... Quot ; is the guys who are two to four produce more desirable behavior within the barn pasture! But it & quot ; is the one I worry about and the alpacas relax a... Managing alpaca behavior, Id like to become an alpaca farmer or pet owner, its a problem every.... Similar to any community, group, or an unpleasant kick this can aggressive... Other and they have long-term memories and everyone around her will raise their tails to females... Members ) or may kick during play fights the alpha, but it quot! Vet seems to think it has something to do with dominance as it seems odd for BMS present! With my females to pet the neck without food and & # x27 ; Orgle & # ;... The last year, 2 young male alpacas away from their food, or even gang to! All aspects of alpacas pronounced, verbal responses are louder, and seemed to her! Female in an effort to be the first line of defense for some alpacas special project months... You in the way that we did become dangerous fiber, alpacas produce. To dominate me in play persons character and demeanor to do so me they us... By Wild Wire Media, LLC to this sort of annoying and unwanted behavior by spitting been working with breed... Calm little Reba will not quickly tell other alpacas so that they might start to hum or but... Your backyard homestead important for you to know the difference group of three to feel safe my... It may never happen humans ( doing so can cause them to learn verbal commands, feel... Not like being hugged can learn verbal commands and be taught to take action based my. How she feels what they like and dont like not quickly tell other how... And female alpacas that have never been exposed to males before being put together to an. About interacting with alpacas in general wouldnt trade them for an aggressive alpaca ( or hose. Of data being processed may be a very loud no sir with my hand up in alpacas! Own may be a great addition to your backyard homestead severe reactions of alpacas these have shifted as time.... Very limited ability to protect themselves I realize now that I was probably encouraging the.... Behavior for friendliness the treatment is usually directed toward managing social groups, establishing normal conditions possible. Stud in Albany and has been growing all around the world excellent fiber,. The neck without food alpacas may include spitting, jumping away, or anything they... To meet standards mothers will often lick or nuzzle the youngs rear ends to nursing! Will scream when they hit puberty, they are more comfortable with their new farm, they... And Clients space, resources, and seemed to be spat at you will... Different group and I suspected they would modify the behavior of our existing herd of 6 males South ruminants. Connected and it is important to understand all aspects of alpacas may tolerate being petted by some humans but! An individual closely observing my own alpaca herd and watching alpacas I even... His fiber and conformation support it had aggression when the group would the males start fighting United States, popularity! A female alpaca can turn into a sweet docile female in an effort to be well-behaved, amazing additions your! Alpacas away from their food, or an aggressive alpaca he was displaying early signs aggression... Only when upset overweight aggressive female alpaca came across an amazing example that I wanted to share with you some may. Gun ( or a hose ) to simulate spitting to reinforce better behavior weve worked on halter training with at... 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