I have one blog about unusual fiber tools written, but I don’t have the pictures to go with it. I have the pictures for another entry about the differences between dyeing white alpaca fiber and over-dyeing natural gray alpaca fiber, but I don’t have the entry written. I haven’t posted much recently, so instead of posting about the fiber projects I have in progress, I’m going to write about my alpacas.

Yesterday was introduction day. We introduced Sindre to the pasture with the little boys.

We introduced 160 pound Sindre to a pasture with 80 pound Percy, 110 pound Del, and Donovan who’s in-between.

We introduced a 160 pound, well-muscled, fully-mature male Sindre to a pasture with two growing yearlings and skinny little Percy who isn’t even a year old yet.

Yes, we were a little bit nervous.

Sindre is a gentle alpaca, but he likes to play rough. He’s not a bully and not particularly aggressive toward other males, but he does like to chest-butt and neck-wrestle.

Did I say we were a little nervous?

The dominance struggle took all of thirty seconds. Sindre pushed a couple heads to the ground, spit a couple times, and moved to the top position.

The boys are still working out the new arrangements. Sindre seems quite interested in breeding Donovan – it’s a dominance thing. Donovan is quite insistent that he’s not interested in breeding – at least not interested in being bred by Sindre.

Del is accustomed to being the big guy in the pasture and does try to protect Percy and Donovan from Sindre. Del’s problem is that he finds it hard to stand up and be protective when he’s being submissive to Sindre at the same time.

Only little Percy has the courage to chest-butt Sindre in play. Fortunately, Sindre backs off a bit when he’s chest-butting Percy. We’d like to think it’s his naturally gentle personality, but he might simply recognize that Percy isn’t a threat.

There are no injuries yet and the herd dynamics seem to be sorting themselves out. Sindre has been alone in a pasture since he injured his shoulder in late May and he seems happy to have pasture companions again.

So far, all is well – but we’re still a little nervous and watching the pasture.