Herd
Behaviour
We are learning all the
time about how alpacas interact and communicate as a herd. Some lessons
have been worrying and others enjoyable.
Many behaviours are a combination
of communications via neck, tail, ears and sounds. The following are some
of the most common behaviours we have observed between members of the
herd.
Ears
Ears are the easiest form of communication to read.
- If all the animals are standing
in a huddle, all looking in the same direction with ears forward, it
means there is something out there that could possibly be a threat.
Alpacas are prey animals and, therefore, need to be on the alert at
all times.
- Ears pinned back means you
are close enough, back off.
- The lowering of the neck
and ears pinned back means back off now or I will spit at you.
- Spitting (almost always
at each other) means you are really annoying me or leave my food alone.
It also means I'm female and pregnant and don't sniff my bottom or I
will spit at you.
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Tails
Tails also tell a story.
- Crias curl their tails up
on their back before latching onto the teats at feed time. The tail
lowers as the milk comes in, a sure sign that feeding is underway.
 
- Tails curled back are a
sign of submission. Young alpacas usually curl their tails back when
approaching older alpacas.
- The arched tail is another
sign of alertness or sometimes a forewarning to aggression.
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Necks
The neck positions are usually combined with other signals such as ears
and tails.
- The neck stretched forward,
head raised and ears back means I am annoyed and about to spit at you.
- Crias often play neck games
as they practice dominance. The neck of one is pressed on top of the
other until submission is achieved. Submission is successful when the
victor is on top and the defeated is on the ground.
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Sounds
We love the soothing humming sounds that alpacas make. This is one behaviour
humans can never completely and accurately interpret.
Mothers talk constantly to
their young, especially in the first few days following birth. She will
call in the youngster if it ventures too far from her or if she is on
the move and wants the cria to follow.
If one of the herd (usually
an animal higher ranking) thinks the danger is real she/he will make a
loud screeching sound to warn the others of the impending danger.You will
soon know the sounds which are friendly and the ones that convey a warning.
Listen and learn.
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There is more to come in the future about herd behaviour. Watch and wait.
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