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I have got a new addition to my smallholding! A one year old Llama called Robbie. Travelled right down Leicestershire on Saturday for him, but of a struggle parting him from his mum and dad and the rest of the family. He had to go, or he would have got his mum and sister pregnant! A struggle at this end getting him out of the trailer too - we got spat at .....wow, it makes you jump back believe me - they can spit some distance when scared! He has settled in pretty good now, gets a bit upset when the little pony goes in at night, but he pops round to the stable to check he is there, and the two Anglo Nubian billies are in the field with him, so he has company. They are still a bit wary of him, he keeps trying to go up to them, and they shoot off - its the humming noise that scare them. Hoping he will keep the foxes away from my hens, he seems very alert ...has had a couple of runs at my RIR cockerel, but not the hens. When he runs, he keeps his head near to the ground, and gets some speed up.

Well, he may be keeping the foxes away, but for some reason he has taken to chasing the farm cats, and also poor Charlie the cockerel. They are used to mingling among my goats and horses, and it is a shock to the system being chased. I saw the llama try to jump on one cat, but he got away ok.

I have just walked up with the dogs a few minutes ago, and Robbie the llama is lay down outside my hen sheds - hopefully he may stand on any foxes that come and check on my hens tonight!

I think I read that Llamas meant to be very protective of their family (this means all other animals kept with them) Sounds great. You have only had him a few days yet and he'll be unsettled from leaving his old family behind... poor thing, maybe with time he will be a bit more accepting of the poor cats.

He is a lovely looking creature.

I do love the fact that all your livestock roam around together, chickens and all! Maybe your male llama thinks the cockerel is a threat to him?!! I love your pics and hope that Robbie settles down soon and that there are no mishaps with the cats!

Annpan wrote:I think I read that Llamas meant to be very protective of their family (this means all other animals kept with them) .

I've read this too - I understand they make good shepherds as they will look after sheep - they think they're young Lamas, aparently!

Will you be able to make use of his wool?

Yes, Marshlander, apparantly you can get £10 per kilo for their fibre as they call it. Its like putting your hands into a sheeps fleece, its so thick. A lady called by yesterday to say she had just seen we had a llama, and could she have some of his coat please as she made bags .....not sure whether they were handbags or what. I don't think they have to be relieved of their coats like sheep, its more of people wanting to make things from it!!

Still looking round for a girlfriend for Robbie. He is very inquisitive, and anything different in the field, even a bucket, has to be looked at.