My hiking partner is getting bigger.

savagesicslayer

savagesicslayer

Joined
May 24, 2005
Messages
3,361
My Llama is growing like a weed.It's been a while since I posted a pic of him.We have 2 now and a miniature donkey as well.
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He's the one on the left.
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I can't pack with him yet because he's too young.They have to be 2 years old to pack because their joints have to mature.He'll be almost 350 lbs when he's done growing.A full grown Llama can pack around 80 lbs so that'll be a help in the woods.though I've never needed 80 lbs of gear in the woods ever.It's nice to know I have the option.
 
so how do you train them?

I raise goats and know a friend who uses them to pack with but he has trouble getting them to cross water.

How friendly are yours? I have known a few but they have never been real friendly.

I have a friend who has one as a guard for her goats. It will kick the shit out of a dog:thumbup:

As for the Donkey? I know all about that sort of evil creature

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Cameron Hanes (Backcountry Bowhunting) used to use llamas to pack elk quarters out of the backcountry. :thumbup:

-- FLIX
 
Tom (my llama) is super friendly.He loves people and always looks to get petted.Gavin(the other llama) is more stand-offish.
I'm going to teach him to pack just like any other animal.start small and work up.I already walk him in the woods.As long as he sees me walk through water he'll do it too.
 
Ooooh. Now I'm really jealous! I love the farm creatures!
 
What is the name of that mini-donkey? He's a cute fella. What his name? Disposition?
 
Her name is Penny.she's a full-sized donkey in a mini donkeys body.Stubborn as heck when she doesn't want to do anything.But she's a sweetheart.Loves to be hugged and petted.
 
A lot of occupational nature photographers use llamas to pack photo gear. I have considered doing so, myself, though I have not yet chosen to do so.

How much can your llama carry, while still being happy? How does your llama do over steep, rocky, trailless terrain? How do wild animals react to your llama? How much does it cost too feed and house your llama? How much are vet bills for your llama?

Thanks.
 
I always said if i ever get a chance to have some land away from the city i want to have a Lama.. But for backpacking im torn between a Lama and a good ol Donkey.. As someone that grow up in Israel i know all about the jackasses(male) donkey (is the female) They take nothing from anyone, in a fight they would stand right beside you and kick the living h*** from anyone lol. If you ever convice one that he Wants to carry that 300lb load up the steep mountain. Then by golly he would do it and tow you behind.. Yea i do like donkeys dont forget they are alot smarter then any dog you would ever have.
Savage i meet some people backpacking with two Lamas the woman said there is nothing better then have a glass of wine at the end of the day. A Lama can carry those extra little things that make it more fun. Have you ever tried to take Penny backpacking??? HD i have seen some pissed off Goats too. One of them was chasing the herder around trying to head butt him...

Sasha
 
llama can carry 80 lbs easy full grown.They are very shore footed and move like a deer in thick overgrown bush.Other animals don't like llamas much because they have no scent.it took our horse a month to get used to him being there.this makes them great guard animals because the bad critters don't know they're there.
You can keep 6 llamas for a year for the cost of one horse for the same time period.vet bills are the same for any animal that size.at least around here.
 
OMG! This thread is getting funnier by the second! A jackass who will fight alongside you and a llama who can take any dog. I love this forum!
 
Rockywolf,

Somewhere on the web their are pictures of a mule killing, I believe it was, a mountain lion. I've heard of more than one shepard using them for guard animals. Sometimes becomes a problem around lambing time as they think they should get to adopt one of the kids for their own too.
 
I have heard of a Llama that killed a mountain lion one on one.He was really beat up but he survived.I think it was in Alberta.
 
WA Martin said:
Rockywolf,

Somewhere on the web their are pictures of a mule killing, I believe it was, a mountain lion. I've heard of more than one shepard using them for guard animals. Sometimes becomes a problem around lambing time as they think they should get to adopt one of the kids for their own too.
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It isn't that I doubt any of these stories, just haven't heard of it before.
 
Like many things, it is and it isn't:
Many lama breeders employ llamas or donkeys as guard animals. Both have great eyesight, good hearing and have little natural fear of predators which is both a plus and a minus. We’ve heard many stories of brave llamas or donkeys stomping coyote to death (which we mostly attribute to “alpaca/llama/donkey urban myths” and actually know one llama breeder who watched this happen. Most honest and caring llama breeders don’t recommend the use of guard llamas as guard animals unless used in conjunction with Livestock Guard Dogs (LGDs). A llama or donkey will rush a bear or mountain lion out of lack of experience and is no match for either. Used solely on their own, we’ve heard of far too many mutilations and deaths. Basically, llamas and donkeys are sitting ducks if dog packs, wolf packs, bear or mountain lion are on your predator list.
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llama are pretty cool.... i read about some dudes that use them as pack animals on backcountery bowhunting trips....
 
Our neighbors had a Rottweiler that ran loose.

Our donkey ran loose.

Then the Rott would get on our property the donkey would come up to him, look him in the face and then turn his back to him.

Finally the Rott would run up at him and the Donkey would kick the sh*t out of his head. Sounded like 2 bricks hitting together. The rott would then run for the neighbors property and the donkey running right on his tail, trying to stomp him with his front feet.:thumbup:

Eventually we had to put a fence up to keep the donkey off of their property because every time he saw the Rott he would run down there, run him up on their porch and then walk back and forth in their front yard waiting for him to come off so he could kick the sh*t out of him:thumbup:
 
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