Here's Baxter Black, also known as BB, with his new summer time haircut. Llamas can take any kind and amount of cold weather but the heat can take them quickly. So when summer finally decided to stick around these parts, I decided it was haircut time. My neighbor and friend, Yvonne, volunteered to help.
I got these two boys the same way I've gotten all my critters. BB came first. The man hauling him to the auction yard, where the slaughter trucks were lined up, made a quick detour to our ranch. BB was a small boy, small boned and all black.
I didn't know a thing about llamas when he arrived. I soon found a woman named Barb, who is still my go-to for any questions. She introduced me to llama 101, what to feed, how to handle, when and how to shear, etc. Then she said, "You'll need to get a second llama." And, she added, he needs to be as small as BB. It seems a larger boy llama will pick on a smaller one. Then one day she called with an offer I couldn't refuse.
His name is Murphy and his mama was part a herd the sheriff confiscated because their owner wasn't feeding them. When one of the females arrived at the foster home, she dropped a baby. No one knew she was pregnant because she was so thin. She had no milk so the baby was bottle fed. Because of his difficult start Murphy never grew to usual llama size, which can be around 500 or more pounds.
They were easy to catch that day. I led them into the barn where Yvonne waited with scissors in hand. Murphy went into a stall and I clipped BB to the stall door. BB began humming and soon Murphy joined him. Llama's hum when they're nervous or upset. We set forth, making great headway when BB decided to couch. Llamas are cousins of camels, when they lay down they tuck their legs and feet underneath, they also have a split upper lip.
I knelt beside BB and continued clipping. Yvonne worked on his long neck. Suddenly BB lurched forward and upward. I rolled sideways in the soft, but very dusty barn floor and managed to miss his flying legs. Yvonne ducked backwards and we both escaped.
Then it was Murphy's turn. He seemed cooperative too, for a while. He hummed while we clipped. He went silent except for a raspy sound in his throat. Yvonne bent down to catch a long patch of hair between his front legs. And Murphy let loose. Llama spit can fly for several feet. Murphy's went over Yvonne, with just the mist falling on her back.
Llama spit is not only ugly, it's slimy and green and it stinks.
Both boys were greatly relieved to return to the pasture. Sienna, my mustang mare, was not at all sure these were the llamas she was used to. They smelled the same but they looked different.
