BlackHawk Ranch & Photography

Our Last Camelid Baby for the Year

2009-07-13T00:27:49Z

Our last llama was born today, and it is a lovely little girl. Her dam is our BBF Chocolate Truffles and the sire is XL Bar LL Bean. She is a lovely mix of colors and seems to be very strong from the start. She was on her feet and attempting to run with in the half hour. She is stunning with a very dark head, light grey ears and browns, greys and possibly blacks splashed through out. She weighed 23.6 pounds at birth and we'll see how she does. Keep reading to see her photos...
]]> Introducing: Chocolate Dynasty

Trying to figure out Nursing:

Our First Alpaca Baby

2009-07-13T00:06:56Z

Our first alpaca baby and only for the year has arrived, we'd like to introduce; Persephone, she started out on June 25th, where she was reletively normal until Saturday when she began walking in circles. Only circles and only clockwise. She ran into anything that was in her path and wouldn't stop. She visited our trusted vet who gave her plasma along with a few other things and we've been giving banamine since. She walks well now and seems to be able to see things much better so we are hoping that she will make a full recovery and live a normal life. Continue reading for photos:
]]> She started out at 12 pounds and over the course of two weeks she is up to 20 pounds, she is growing well and her mother is a very good mother. Janna does a fantastic job with her babies. Here is Persephone:

First Baby of the Year!

2009-07-01T16:37:25Z

Chocolate Liberty has had her first cria and it is our first for the year! She had a beautiful white boy with a couple of brown and grey spots. The process was not as smooth as her mothers but she has been an excellent mother since she passed her placenta. She does not leave his side. He was 24.4 lbs and is already very friendly. See photos in the extended entry.
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Shetland Fleece for Sale

2009-06-01T16:36:51Z

We have a beautiful shetland sheep fleece for sale. She had a blanket on all year so this fleece is exceptionally clean and has been skirted to avoid second cuts and get some of the vegetable matter out that may have been in there. She is a nice grey underneath with some bleached tips. This is an unwashed, skirted fleece only.

$12 per pound or $0.75 per ounce. Would prefer to sell as an entire fleece. Entire Fleece: $24.00 plus shipping.

SOLD

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Spinoffs going well.

2009-06-01T16:27:40Z

We entered a total of four spinoffs this year. BHR's FireHawk was sent to three shows: WI Spring Bling Alpaca Show (2/2), The California Classic (1/8) and the National Conference (June '09). BHR's Kentucky Bourbon was sent to MAPACA and placed first of five. We are very pleased with the results of this years spinoff entries and can't wait to do some more later this year.

Three outstanding show entries

2009-05-25T16:34:04Z

We have three entries still out, our final spinoff entry for our 2008 fleeces should be back in a couple weeks and we also have sent out our 2009 alpaca fleeces to the Estes Park Wool Festival where they are entered in the full fleece competition. Hopefully we will receive those fleeces back in time to send off to a couple spinoffs that have deadlines at the end of June.

Show Season went well.

2009-05-25T16:31:06Z

The 2009 halter season went well. We showed our alpaca boys at one show in Minnesota and BHR's FireHawk received fourth place in a small class and BHR's Kentucky Bourbon received third place in a very large class. The judge did not comment on FireHawk, however she said that Tuck surprised her when she opened up his fleece and that she did not expect it to be as nice as it was. Yay Tuck! Our suri llama was shown at the Badgerland Sweepsteaks, however he did not place. He got some much needed experience off the farm, however and he will continue to get worked on the farm.

2009 Shearing Done

2009-05-25T15:51:18Z

This years shearing went well. We sheared all of our animals in about two weeks. Even the sheep are done. We look forward to preparing many of the fleeces from this year and when they are prepared, rovings will be available for purchase.
]]> If you think you are interested in rovings from some of our animals, the following colors will be available.

Llama -- Light Rose Grey, Silver Grey, Medium Brown

Alpacas -- Medium Brown

For inquiries go our web-site (http://www.mjimaging.com) and go to the contact us link and send us a message. I am happy to answer questions regarding the fiber and the animals they came from.

BHR's FireHawk

2009-01-03T21:21:34Z

FireHawk should be ready to breed in 2009! Breedings as low as $250 per breeding and they aren't an introductory offer. He is available for drivebys and he has the ability to visit your farm. He has been BVD tested negative and is a strong healthy male. He has great coverage, wonderful handle and is good to work around. Don't miss this opportunity to add a new bloodline to your breeding program. He is sired by white and has a black dam. He is the lightest cria that his mother has ever produced and he is medium brown. Take a look at FireHawk, contact us and we can make arrangements to service your girls.

2 Confirmed Pregnant, 1 Maybe

2008-07-24T18:02:18Z

Well, we only planned to breed two females this year. AGO Janna Grace (after 1 yr open) and Chocolate Liberty (Maiden). Turns out BBF Chocolate Truffles (1 yr open) didn't want to be left out and Bean helped her by jumping the fence (yes, 400 + lbs over the fence) and breeding her. The first two girls bred have been ultrasounded and confirmed pregnant. Truffles excursion took place last night so we won't know on her for a little bit. Both Libby and Truffles are bred to XL Bar LL Bean and Janna is bred to Hobby Horse A Fistful of Dollars. We are looking forward to our 2009 crias.

2008 Breedings

2008-06-13T20:24:50Z

Well, we've started our breeding for the year. Our females were left open in 2007 so we will not be having any crias in 2008 but we did start our breeding. We have one female alpaca, Janna Grace and she is being bred to Hobby Horse A Fistful of Dollars. She has spit at Clint so she should be set. Our second female we are breeding is a maiden and her name is Chocolate Liberty. She is being bred to XL Bar LL Bean, we have only been able to breed her once so far as the weather has not permitted additional breedings. We'll see if the once took.]]>

First Round of Shearing a Success

2008-05-07T16:18:36Z

We did our first round of shearing. We only did two of our animals, the two alpaca boys but Ben did both of them. It went well, a few equipment troubles but otherwise they both survived. It is amazing how much they look alike, Tuck is just smaller do to his age. There colors and fiber characteristics are very different when compared at the same age. Tuck is much darker and doesn't have nearly the curly crimp that FireHawk had. FireHawk sheared almost 7 lbs of fiber and all but .8 lbs of it is usable.]]> We also decided to trim llama nails while we had the chance. We only got to two animals but after a hassle with Truffles, Libby was a breeze. We hope to shear at least Bean this coming weekend and potentially the girls as well if we have time. It is just Ben and Melissa for the weekend but the llamas are sheared standing so it should work out just fine.

We'll post photographs when we get them edited.

Wyoming's Indian Outlaw

2008-04-22T23:20:02Z

We are very excited about getting Outlaw registered so that he can go to two shows this spring. We are looking at the Lama Market in Chippewa Falls and the Northern WI State Fair in Eau Claire. If he does well in these shows we may show him in the fall at a show in MI. If all goes well this year we may look into getting him Kearned next year so that hopefully he will be eligable to be a member of the SLA. We'll keep you informed to how he does!

Spring Bling came and went

2008-04-10T17:53:07Z

Spring Bling in it's first year did very well for us as photographers. We met a lot of new farms and saw some old ones too. We enjoyed the show, although it moved a little slower then years past but overall, I'd say it was a good show for new breeders. The judge was very thourough and gave good comments. We stayed busy and are looking forward to the Madison show at the end of the month.

Janna Grace Produces two fine males

2008-04-08T12:51:09Z

This is Janna Grace's last two cria, FireHawk is now going to be two and Kentucky Bourboun is turning one. There are great similarities among all of her crias and these two boys are no exception. They have gorgous fiber, with very low microns, great staple length and crimp. They also have lustre. FireHawk will be available for breedings with in the next year and watch for tuck down the road!