Episodes

  • Hunting flies and growing your alpaca herd
    Jun 11 2025

    Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    The weather has warmed, bringing some flies. Including an early appearance by the large horseflies usually reserved for a week in July. I sorted one out that was feeding from Efa. I hope she will forgive me for chasing her around to catch the fly.

    When alpaca herds grow, it is either because more are added - a general challenge for all alpaca owners, to resist the temptation to buy more. The alternative is to grow your own through breeding. Listen in for some reflections.

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    17 mins
  • That was a close shave
    May 28 2025

    I am delighted to report that the shearing is finished for another year. It was physically demanding but less so than in some previous years. The alpacas have just about forgiven me, but a few are still looking at me suspiciously and giving me a wider berth than usual during feeding time.

    Dry fleece is essential for both shearing and storing the fleece. The week of dry, sunny weather helped.

    Also listen in to find out what the geese and swans have been up to. Spring is well and truly here, and summer is around the corner.Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    In this episode,

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    19 mins
  • Some alpaca jobs just need two people
    May 14 2025

    Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    In this episode, I consider the difficulty of doing some alpaca jobs alone.

    There is also a valley update about the new ready-made family of geese joining the number one family.

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    17 mins
  • Chilling in the sun with the alpacas
    Apr 30 2025

    Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    Beautiful spring mornings with the alpacas are a delight. Recognising that we are all connected to the life around us is an important reason to slow down, take a breath, and be present.

    I have learned so much from living with alpacas, and slowing down is definitely one of the best.

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    20 mins
  • How to speak alpaca - or at least try
    Apr 23 2025

    Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    We don't really know what is going on inside the head of an alpaca. What are they thinking? What do they think of us?

    It doesn't stop us trying to speak alpaca, though. And if you can spend time around your alpacas, you stand a better chance of connecting. When you do, it is a bit magical.

    Spring continues to gather pace and there are more signs of its arrival - the swallows, the cuckoo, the woodpecker and butterflies. What are you noticing where you are?

    Reminder: From May, the podcast frequency will change, and new episodes will arrive fortnightly rather than weekly.

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    17 mins
  • Valley update and podcast news
    Apr 16 2025

    Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    Podcast update

    The frequency of the Alpaca Tribe podcast will be changing from May 2025. It will become every two weeks rather than weekly. The alternate weeks will be filled by a new podcast called View From The Valley, which will focus on the 'other' things, leaving Alpaca Tribe to focus more on the alpacas. I would love to know what you think.

    Valley update

    Lake emptied and is back to half-full - weather doing its thing. The geese are nesting and the fox is around. The other birds are noisy. Spring is here, but the grass has not quite arrived. Recent rain will help with the catch-up.

    Freds is coping but being careful on the steep slopes. Desire lines and the right light levels help him negotiate the hill with his poor eyesight.

    Try to take advantage of any good weather you have and spend some time with your alpacas.

    Links

    Claire Whitehead of Camelid Veterinary Services has just published a new book - The Camelid Care Handbook for Alpaca & Llama Owners: Foundations of Care (Volume 1). Comprehensive and practical - it is worth checking out.

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    20 mins
  • Alpacas get old too
    Apr 9 2025

    Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    In this episode, following on my conversation with Rita of Campo Verde Alpacas and Llamas, we turned to ageing alpacas and owners and what Rita has planned for down on the farm later in the year.

    Check out the Campo Verde Instagram feed for some lovely videos of Rita, the Llamas, and the Alpacas.

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    20 mins
  • A Spring/Autumn catch up with Rita Soares in Australia
    Apr 2 2025

    Welcome to the podcast for alpaca people!

    In this episode, Listen in as I catch up with Rita Soares in Victoria, Australia and hear about the arrival of Llamas at Campo Verde Alpacas and Llamas. More to come in the future.

    It is well worth checking out Rita's photos and videos on her Instagram feed - https://www.instagram.com/campoverdealpacas/

    I was also reminded of my episode with Kristin Llamas - (pronounced Ya-mass in Spanish - listen here).

    Episode with Kirstin - https://alpacatribe.com/podcast71/

    Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoyed it.

    If you would like to be in touch, please contact me by email - steve@alpacatribe.com - or leave me a voicemail from your browser.

    Alpaca Tribe is hosted and produced by Steve Heatherington of Good Podcasting Works, which is part of The Waterside (Swansea) Ltd



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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    26 mins