The Tenacious Unicorn Ranch / @TenaciousRanch / Steampunk Penny / Penellope Logue / Phillip Matthew Logue - Don't cry because it ended, laugh because it's still getting worse.

I'm not exactly a seasoned expert on running charitable ventures, but I must stress that starting a charitable venture to bank camelid plasma while also running a charitable venture to bring various supplies to the Lakota (and driving hundreds of miles to do so twice a month because you didn't plan logistics), while also running a charitable venture to provide a safe haven to trans people, while also running a charitable venture to rehome alpaca, while also running a ranch with over 200 alpaca, while also attempting to renovate a 1920s era home in order to meet ends meet, while also constantly getting sick because you're increasingly frail and injured and not taking care of yourself because you're potentially down to $7 in the bank - it's not the most sustainable plan I've ever heard of.

Meiwaku said:

Penny. There isn't a "rescue" it's under the same LLC. But that doesn't mean shit. He can be booted off the Tranch any time because Sky and Bonnie own the property.

I'm not really sure about tenant laws in Colorado but knowing this thread I'm sure somebody reading it is an expert and will tell us if there has to be an eviction notice or something like that.

Afaik most evictions are 30 days notice. Imagining the meltdown Penny will have and whole tranch losing their shit trying to relocate in 30 days is beautiful to me. Moving with broken cars and tractors etc.


BREAKING NEWS

Olivia the new baby has died

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I'm not well versed enough to know what would cause sepsis (or how you diagnose that) in a neonate barn animal /cria. @Näkki @Oxyjen do you know?

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This is the quickest "arc" I could possibly imagine for the tranch.

- Alpaca is born to a mother they didn't even know was pregnant.
- They remove it from the mother.
- It dies because of the above.
- Penny instantly says he wants to start a "project" for alpaca babies which most likely involves him receiving exorbitant amounts of cash to "fund."

It perfectly encapsulates everything that makes the tranch so scummy.

( I have so many quotes saved and after looking at the mess my reply is, I won't make shit even more autistic.)
Thank you @Meiwaku , @Oxyjen and everyone I'm missing. All of you have already provided very accurate insights. I'll likely repeat things, I apologise. I'm angry. And got a bottle of wine.

To unpack:
- Not realizing an alpaca was pregnant
- Missing mother / abandonment
- Colostrum / birth care
- Antibiotics / Keeping it around all their cats dogs and themselves germs
- General stupidity


PREGNANCY
It's hard to miss a pregnancy, especially seeing how thin most of their alpacas are. It won't just look like an overweight alpaca. It's a pregnant belly that hangs lower, especially late on. They will behave differently, they will make different sounds. Some hum even. Especially more so when it comes close to delivery those signs become more and more obvious. I simply assume they never check a single alpaca more closely. Else there are plenty of biological changes too. Waxy coating on their teats, swollen vulva, etc.l


PREGNANCY + ABANDONMENT
Which is why I think it's impossible they could've simply "lost" the dam. Go check then. Only one will have the fucking signs you lazy fucking pricks.

At this point we all know they mismanage their herds. I wouldn't be surprised if there are other pregnancies incoming. Usually, you'd never plan an alpaca birth for winter. Cria can not regulate their own body temperature yet, neither does their mother dry them. It's a recipe for hypothermia. Anyone else would have long prepared a proper baby blanket, heat lamps, an accessible barn, dry hay or straw, colostrum replacement in an emergency.. Plasma too. You can actually make your own replacement with the placenta.

It's incredibly, incredibly rare for alpacas to abandon their young, To the point that I was double checking online so I won't simply say bullshit, and am actually surprised at how little there is to find on that. You can have alpaca breeders of 30 years and they might have needed to bottle feed two cria in all that time. Usually, there is no abandonment. It's more often orphaned cria where the mother passed during birth.

Alpacas are very, very social and nurturing. They have an incredibly strong mothering instinct. You can separate the cria and dam, and still reintroduce it way back later. They will easily take them back. These are not sheep and can not be compared that closely in behaviour. Much more equine? At that point, if you truly wouldn't know which one is the dam, you start looking for it. Quickly. Not just because of the cria, because its also important to check if they passed the afterbirth as well. They do not consume it. It will stay there and rot. Inside them too. Sepsis. Death. (Also, because you need it for a plasma replacement in an emergency.)


COLOSTRUM / DAM / BIRTH ISSUES / ETC
A common problem might be dropping milk for a dam, and for a cria to start nursing. (Simulate by milking them, introduce the cria.) It's suggested you help as soon as possible, if you do see issues there. The first 24 hours are the most vital. Some would go as far as saying it's the first 2-8 hours. As so many of you already know, because of the colostrum. Alpacas aren't born with antibodies, immune system etc. It's vital for survival. Some breeders and vets will go as far to go for antibiotics in that time as well, just in case. (There's replacements, sure, like goat, etc, but getting it then, might take time. Even the replacement colostrum powder from a vet, is not enough! It's meant for an emergency, and hoping you can find a replacement in time!)

Usually cria are born in the morning hours. It's unusual for a birth after midday. They are capable of introducing birth when they see fit. Or to drag it out if the circumstances are shit. But only so and so long of course. They don't like an audience either. Unless you know that the cria isn't in the right position--typical dystocia-- you should not intervene. It's said to go have some tea or some coffee, you're stressing more than they are. They're more likely to introduce birth if you're not watching. So it's not unusual to be surprised by a birth. Just not in general! It's usually hard to miss everything leading up to it. I can not stress that part enough. Sudden birth? Can be surprising. Not knowing your dam is pregnant? Negligence. Simple.


NEW BIRTH CARE
All you should do is make sure they are dry, covered in a blanket and then make sure they drink. They can not process nutrients below a body temperature of 98F) Dip the cord to prevent sepsis. Vetadine, etc. Check if they suck, see if they can stand and get milk themselves. Check for urine and stool. Blockage will also lead to sepsis. Then put them back with the herd. They don't need that much time separated. Social creatures. The other dams are seen as aunts. Keep stable open with heat lamps, dry straw. Give them space to go to if needed.

You're not supposed to coddle them. It will have a negative impact on their development and how they see humans. If it's an emergency, no problem for a while. It's usually assumed you're not cuddling it on your damn couch however. It needs to bond to it's dam and herd, not to humans. It will always, always profit more from being with it's mother. I think that's basics.

If they seem weak, don't get up to drink. --They're usually hypothermic. It's the first thing you should always look for. (And that's for optimal births in summer. Else, always, always check their temperature.)

Cria have no immune system, they are born deficient. The first week they can go down quickly, especially because of hypothermia and sepsis. First day, check they pass stool too. Else warm water enema. Can lead to sepsis too.

If it can not stand. If it trembles. If it does not drink.
Vet, hospital ASAP.

Sepsis.

That's where antibiotics, fluid and a plasma treatment comes in. Make it yourself, if you made sure to get the dam's placenta. You can also go for an intravenous plasma transplant from the dam itself though. CALL THE FUCKING VET ASAP! They can be saved. There is no reason for them to die, neglected on the floor next to some dogs in your fucking living room.


TL;DR:
It surely is a lot of interconnecting things. Usually, check the dam. Clean her up. Afterbirth. Dry the cria. Disinfect. Check body temperature. Seperate the two if hypothermic. Make sure it can drink and stand by itself. Call a vet if something seems off.

Please. Please. Please. Do not expose them to all your other farm animals. Especially not the dogs and cats. The fuck. Are they even vaccinated against anything? When was the last deworm? When was anything? Cria have no or barely any immune system. DO NOT EXPOSE THEM. It needs time to build up!


ALPACA RESCUES
There's several alpaca rescues in their area alone. I have a list. Having looked it up made me feel better a few months ago. Not that I'd go do something stupid.

Meiwaku said:

ALPACA UPDATE:

Apparently Olivia is still alive ? They made it sound like she died??? Everyone in the comments thought she did.

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Double posting because i did not see this much more stupidity coming

DO THE PLASMA TRANSFUSION YOUR FUCKING SELVES THEN YOU LAZY ASS NARCISSISTS!
It's not a damn nature experiment! It's just for you guys because you know shit, and don't care to give one either.
Mom will survive it. And it could save your damn cria! What do you have to lose?

Didn't know shit about setting intravenous saline infusions, using sugar water, simply pumping fluids between skin folds until I was faced with some dying puppies. You learn very, very quickly if you need to. Especially knowing that they will die without intervention anyway. It's a no brainer. Do it.

How do those guys not have a go to vet at this point? I have three different ones. Don't even ask.

I'm calling it. It's already dead, they just don't know it yet.
At least grow some actual damn ovaries and do the honourable thing then.
Especially if you can't be arsed and just watched it deteriorate for hours on end.

Step up.
Vet.
Knife or axe.

At least be quick about it.