s e v e n i s a j o u r n e y

On a lighter note, Basilisk does battle with a bit of gum bark. Miniya is bemused.

Our rapid growth in the last year has also led to a rather steep learning curve at times. The first males we had were all very low-key. Heir is quite mellow, as is Hyouki. You would never guess they are intact males, as they are so calm and friendly. When Hankyo started getting too stroppy, we had him snipped. Our “boy herd” does well, run by the wethers with Jim the Llama on top, and the pugnacious Oak, Pointer and Hankyo there to enforce order. The intact males are way down the pecking order.
The addition of Fred complicated matters. He was *very* keen about the girls, and when worked up into a testosterone-fueled-frenzy would get very bite-y. We now have the boys in a paddock where Fred cannot see the girls, and he has calmed down. Learning what sets him off, and avoiding that, has made life easier.

Then we added Zeus, he is the male we are agisting for the next year. He was also very keen to stay in sight of his girls. Knowing Fred might be a problem, we decided to put Zeus on his own with some companions to keep him company. Rikaku and Zeus would squabble, mainly because Rikaku had been taught to stand up for himself by Oak and Pointer. But today Zeus got a bit too worked up, and the fighting teeth went into play.

Two gashes on the left rear leg. I took this photo after hosing the wound out, which got the blood flowing and made it look quite gruesome. I then bandaged it, which was fun and educational, as needless to say he did *not* want to hold still and let me mess wiith his wounded leg (camelids, like all animals that rely on flight from predators for survival, are very protective of their legs). Boy Scout training from many decades ago got use, though the limb I was wrapping had joints and a shape that didn’t match any of the figures in the Scout Handbook!

We replaced the dressing about 7PM this evening. While it looked nasty with the dried blood, the important bit is that the bleeding had stoppped, and the leg seems sound. He and Pinnochio are spending the night in the shed, and the two of them will be in semi-confinement until we are satisfied that the leg has healed, then they can go back with the boys.

Zeus will be put in with his girls, and the 6 of them will be run as a separate mob. So long as he does no share a fence with any other males, everything should be fine.

In the good news department it is raining. Nice, steady, soaking rain. More is forecast for tomorrow, too. While inconvenient for poor wounded Rikaku, it is very much appreciated by the plant life.