05/31/2026
For our final Sunday Senior Spotlight, we'll be discussing our herd of Alpacas, which consists of three spunky males that we love dearly.
Kachay, Oso, and Paqo were each born in 2008 (on different days) and are approaching their 18th birthdays! All three arrived together in 2010, so we've had the privilege of their presence in our Backyards & Barnyards for 15 years now.
Throughout their time here, they've moved yards a few times but have recently settled into their own next to the Jacob sheep. One thing the three of them all love is a water sprinkler! They enjoy standing over it to cool off, and then rolling around in the dirt afterwards!
Their keepers say Paqo is the leader despite being the smallest, while Kachay is a 'food hound' and is always the first to eat the feed pellets out of your hand!
All three Alpacas get sheared once a year! You can see in the photos the contrast in the thickness of their coats throughout the seasons. They get sheared in early spring depending on the weather and can enjoy a light coat for the warmer months while it grows out to be thick and cozy for the winter.
Sometimes, you'll see Paqo with a fly mask on, which works to prevent him from rubbing his itchy eyes. He has been dealing with some seasonal allergies recently that just require a little extra tlc and medications to keep him comfortable.
Our veterinary team is always mindful that any animal can experience muscle loss in their senior years, which is why our alpacas are on additional supplements to assist with this.
Visit these three and feed them by hand any day from 10:00am to 4:30pm.
