Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! We had a named storm pass through, but today is calm, still and sunny. A perfect day for breakfast with the girls. Why don't you join me? Nona was enjoying the pile of hay she claimed - she does like her hay. Later, after I put all the food out and spread it about for the girls, they settled down, but before that, Nona and Hermione got into a spit-spat. Huffing over the final crumbs, or even an empty food trough, which resulted in them both having a drop...
Aug 06, 2025•17 min•Ep. 337
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I offer a tip for dealing with overwhelm, suggest ways to learn more about alpaca behaviour, and explain looking out for which one starts the drift. There is also an update on the herd and life in the valley. For valley news, you can also check out my Substack " View From The Valley ". Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voice...
Jul 23, 2025•23 min•Ep. 336
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I continue reflecting on the cria birthing season and how we can be prepared. This includes talking to some people, including your vet, reading up and taking some courses - probably too late for this season, but there is always next year. Birthing kits I talked about them in some previous episodes. Check out: Episode 13 – Topical Alpaca Tips with Steve Heatherington Episode 22 – Expect the unexpected with Steve Heatherington Episode 24 –...
Jul 09, 2025•15 min•Ep. 335
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Memories abound of the magic of alpaca births. Mostly straightforward, but I always liked to be around to be available to help when needed. Cria watch can be stressful but hourly checks for signs of births and labour means you are likely to be there when needed. Keep it light and keep your distance to avoid stressing the mums. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe....
Jun 25, 2025•17 min•Ep. 334
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! The weather has warmed, bringing some flies. Including an early appearance by the large horseflies usually reserved for a week in July. I sorted one out that was feeding from Efa. I hope she will forgive me for chasing her around to catch the fly. When alpaca herds grow, it is either because more are added - a general challenge for all alpaca owners, to resist the temptation to buy more. The alternative is to grow your own through breeding. Listen in for...
Jun 11, 2025•17 min•Ep. 333
I am delighted to report that the shearing is finished for another year. It was physically demanding but less so than in some previous years. The alpacas have just about forgiven me, but a few are still looking at me suspiciously and giving me a wider berth than usual during feeding time. Dry fleece is essential for both shearing and storing the fleece. The week of dry, sunny weather helped. Also listen in to find out what the geese and swans have been up to. Spring is well and truly here, and s...
May 28, 2025•19 min•Ep. 332
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I consider the difficulty of doing some alpaca jobs alone. There is also a valley update about the new ready-made family of geese joining the number one family. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works , which is part of...
May 14, 2025•17 min•Ep. 331
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Beautiful spring mornings with the alpacas are a delight. Recognising that we are all connected to the life around us is an important reason to slow down, take a breath, and be present. I have learned so much from living with alpacas, and slowing down is definitely one of the best. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browse...
Apr 30, 2025•20 min•Ep. 330
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! We don't really know what is going on inside the head of an alpaca. What are they thinking? What do they think of us? It doesn't stop us trying to speak alpaca, though. And if you can spend time around your alpacas, you stand a better chance of connecting. When you do, it is a bit magical. Spring continues to gather pace and there are more signs of its arrival - the swallows, the cuckoo, the woodpecker and butterflies. What are you noticing where you are...
Apr 23, 2025•17 min•Ep. 329
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Podcast update The frequency of the Alpaca Tribe podcast will be changing from May 2025. It will become every two weeks rather than weekly. The alternate weeks will be filled by a new podcast called View From The Valley, which will focus on the 'other' things, leaving Alpaca Tribe to focus more on the alpacas. I would love to know what you think. Valley update Lake emptied and is back to half-full - weather doing its thing. The geese are nesting and the ...
Apr 16, 2025•20 min•Ep. 328
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, following on my conversation with Rita of Campo Verde Alpacas and Llamas , we turned to ageing alpacas and owners and what Rita has planned for down on the farm later in the year. Check out the Campo Verde Instagram feed for some lovely videos of Rita, the Llamas, and the Alpacas. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail ...
Apr 09, 2025•20 min•Ep. 327
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, Listen in as I catch up with Rita Soares in Victoria, Australia and hear about the arrival of Llamas at Campo Verde Alpacas and Llamas . More to come in the future. It is well worth checking out Rita's photos and videos on her Instagram feed - https://www.instagram.com/campoverdealpacas/ I was also reminded of my episode with Kristin Llamas - (pronounced Ya-mass in Spanish - listen here ). Episode with Kirstin - https://alpacatribe.com/p...
Apr 02, 2025•26 min•Ep. 326
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, Spring continues to arrive. Which makes you think of Spring cleaning and updating tools and equipment. How are things on the farm with you? Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works , which is part of The Waterside (Swans...
Mar 26, 2025•24 min•Ep. 325
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I have been musing about growth. How soon the grass starts growing is a prime factor in judging when spring has arrived. The interplay of the essentials of moisture, sun and soil temperature determines how much growth, if any, the grass makes and how soon. Ours seems to have slowed down - disappointing but nothing to do but wait. Sufficient nutrients in the soil and in what our alpacas eat determine the rate of growth. We are also enteri...
Mar 19, 2025•14 min•Ep. 324
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Confident and fulfilled owners of happy and healthy alpacas. It is why I do the podcast and I know it is a work in progress. One of the most significant things which helped me in my early days of trying to become a good alpaca shepherd, was doing Camelidynamics Training with Marty McGee Bennett . Here is a reworking of a previous interview with her. Also, she has a free 30 min introductory online webinar that is worth signing up for (but don't hang aroun...
Mar 12, 2025•27 min•Ep. 323
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, you can join me as we talk Spring, field shelters and things that make you smile. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works , which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd This podcast uses the following third-party servic...
Mar 05, 2025•19 min•Ep. 322
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Today was a weather day with a bit of everything. Very Spring-like. What kind of weather protection do alpacas need? In addition to field shelters, natural shelter-belt from trees and bushes are really helpful. Protection is needed from the rain/wind/sun. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted a...
Feb 26, 2025•21 min•Ep. 321
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Listen in to this episode as I consider expectations. Everyone has expectations including you and your alpacas. What we do and how can affect them every time. Build your alpacas' expectations of you being a safe person. Plan your interactions to create good, and appropriate expectations for yourself. From my experience thngs cost 1/3 more than we would like them too and always take longer to complete. If you can, go spend some time with your alpacas and ...
Feb 19, 2025•14 min•Ep. 320
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Like all of us, alpacas thrive on familarity and the expected plus variety now and again. What kind of variety could you bring to the mix for your alpacas. Listen in and let me share some thoughts. These include what they need as basics - food, water, shelter. But also stimulation and interest. They are naturally curious and delight in something new. Rita Soares of Campo Verde Alpacas in Australia used a collection of unusual objects in the alpaca field ...
Feb 12, 2025•15 min•Ep. 319
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Sitting with the alpacas you can zone out but still be present. A delight to spend time with them and notice what is happening in the valley. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works , which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd This po...
Feb 05, 2025•14 min•Ep. 318
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, Changing tack when sailing allows us to take advantage of the wind. How do you know when to tack? I share some thoughts about making decisions and factors that can influence it. There is also an update on happenings in the valley. Listen in, you are most welcome. Alpaca Feed We are now using the vitality alpaca mix from Waterhouse Feeds and are very pleased with it and at how much our alpacas seem to like it. Worth considering if you are...
Jan 29, 2025•19 min•Ep. 317
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I make suggestions about using the low-ebb time of winter when the vegetation has died back, you can see the fences and the weeds and catch up on some maintenance. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works , which is part...
Jan 22, 2025•16 min•Ep. 316
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I reflect on how much of our life is outside of our control. This includes our alpacas for sure. Though there are some things that help. Lovely day in the valley, so I took the opportunity to sit outside with my alpacas. Hope you get a chance to do so too. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca...
Jan 15, 2025•22 min•Ep. 315
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! And welcome to 2025. Intention is so important as we continue what we have been doing with our alpacas or plan to add in new things. Growing skills and confidence takes time and effort - and intention. Don't settle for more of the same - conserving what you have. Keep leaning into a forward trajectory as we plan and work our way through 2025. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - st...
Jan 08, 2025•18 min•Ep. 314
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Happy New Year to you all. I have found my happy place to be with my alpacas. I hope it is yours too and you get a chance to spend some time with them. What will 2025 hold? More of the same? Different? How can we do better? No resolutions but a question to carry through the year. What will yours be? Peace and presence, Steve Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.co...
Jan 01, 2025•7 min•Ep. 313
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Happy holidays to one and all. The gift of keeping alpacas is amazing and lasts all year. How can we give back? What can we get better at? How do we do it? Being intentional is a great place to start. Plan to build on what you are already good at, or things you need to improve or add into your repertoire. Next year could be a great step forward if we approach it with intention. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in to...
Dec 25, 2024•12 min•Ep. 312
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! In this episode, I went in search of Normal and found it in Illinois! Alpacas here are mostly normal but we did have a visitor who left the gate open and the alpacas free to wander off down the road. No damage done. Have a listen to my musings and if you can, go spend some time with your own alpacas watching out for normal. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com...
Dec 18, 2024•12 min•Ep. 311
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Another storm - Darragh - hit the valley and made some impact. High winds, rain and a power cut. We lost some trees to the 80 mph winds but no serious damage to house or stable. Today was very quiet and I found myself on my own and feeling on my own - the valley was quiet and empty. Most of the time it doesn't feel quite so empty. I feel connected. It was a good reminder at this time of year to reconnect and strengthen the connections we have with our fr...
Dec 11, 2024•18 min•Ep. 310
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Alpacas are mysterious creatures. We get to know them but they still surprise us with their mysterious ways. 'Why do they do that?' becomes 'Why do they sometimes do that?'. I have three questions that might help: Is it me? Is it them? Is it something in the local environment? Megan spat in my ear again. She doesn't always but sometimes I get surprised. Winter continues to settle in and make itself at home. Listen in for a valley update. Thanks for liste...
Dec 04, 2024•16 min•Ep. 309
Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people! Update post-storm and what is happening with the alpacas in the valley. If you are celebrating a holiday around this time, do enjoy and share life with those you love. Of course for the alpacas, it is just another day! Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it. If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser. Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of...
Nov 27, 2024•14 min•Ep. 308
