New to Alpacas: Birthing

We have been fortunate to have experienced almost one hundred births at the Alpaca Hacienda, and every birth is just as exciting as the first. Here, we would like to cover some of the things we have learned about this most amazing, but sometimes stressful time in owning and breeding alpacas. more »

Most births occur during daylight hours and reputedly between 0800 and 1400 hours. Physical signs of approaching parturition are often imperceptible but changes in general behaviour are usually the most obvious outward sign that birth is imminent. Physical signs may include relaxation of the vulva, loss of the cervical mucus plug, slight increase in the size of the mammary gland and waxing of the tips of the teats (only if previously given birth). Behavioural changes include signs of obvious discomfort (including rolling and frequently lying down and getting up), frequently looking at their tail, and placing themselves in isolation to the rest of the herd, and frequent visits to the dung pile with little or no defecation. Other common body language includes sitting on one hip, ears back, and back arched. more »