The forecast for the next week includes high temps in the 90's and lows in the 70's. For us in West Michigan, this is really warm weather. We might have a couple nights with lows in the 70's but most nights are much cooler. Those cooler nights in the 60's are nice to open up the windows and let the cool fresh air inside the house. We won't be doing that for the next week.
Alpacas handle cold better than heat. They have that wonderful warm fiber on their bodies that keep them warm. Even though they are shorn, they still tend to be warm and struggle to cool down. So during this heat wave we will be watching them closely. We don't want any problems with overheating.
Some things we do to cool theme down: hose them down, allow plenty of areas with shade, and turn on fans. Alpacas regulate their body temperature through their chest. In the cold, they cush down and make sure that area is warm, then they are warm. In hot weather, if they can get that area cool, they cool down. We can cool them down by hosing them off with cold water (aiming right at their chest), or if they cush on the ground in the shade in front of a fan. I expect in the next few days we will be hosing them down several times a day.
2 comments:
I wanted to breed two of my girls today but it's too hot so...now I have to wait until next weekend. Argh! Keep yourself and your herd cool.
yeah, much hotter than we are used to anyway.
I feel most bad for the girls who are due with cria soon. I remember being pregnant over the summer and it is miserable. These poor girls can't lay on the couch in air conditioning.
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