Waiting for Crias- Alpaca Butt Watching

Some of my parents alpacas are expecting crias (that is the word for baby alpacas) very soon.  We are constantly on the watch for mommies in labor.  In most cases alpacas births go smoothly without any help from humans, but that is not always the case so we must keep our eyes peeled to see if they need help.  Yesterday my sister Liz helped birth a cria at a neighbors farm.  The cria was stuck inside it's mother and she was able to work her magic and get the baby turned around and out of it's mother. Had she not been there to help it may not have had a happy ending.  My sister Liz is pregnant herself and is expecting her first child in September.  I would have loved to seen her yesterday elbow deep in an alpaca with her pregnant belly sticking out.  She is fearless!

So basically there is a lot of butt watching going on at the farm these days.  That's what we tend to call it, because after weeks of looking at alpacas butts we are kind of sick of it and ready for some crias.  I swung by the farm today to pick something up.  While I was there my mother told me Spicy is showing signs that she will be having her cria within the week.  So exciting!  So as I was leaving I saw Spicy out in the field laying down.  You can see her big belly.  I believe crias weigh about 20 lbs when they are born, you would think they would look even bigger. 

Anyway here is Spicy laying down...

Stretching out a little, I remember when Melody (the girl on the right) was in labor last year she was laying like that....

She reached around and checked out her belly...

Stretched out again....

Oh she's up....

she had a scratch....

oh things don't look exciting anymore she is just eating some grass....

oh wait she is on the move. maybe to find a better spot?

is this a good spot????

oh my is this really happening is she going to have her baby????

nope just poop...

but wait there's more...maybe this is it....

nope just pee.

Aren't you so glad I shared butt watching?  I'll be sure to check back in when there are actual crias born.

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