At
Twisted Lock Alpacas, ranch visits are always welcome. Please call for an
appointment, since we may be busy doing "ranch stuff", like birthing crias,
working with the vet, fence maintenance, halter training, or groundskeeping.
Ours is a gated property, and for the most part not visible from the main
road, so you'll want to ensure we're expecting you.
We
recommend clothing appropriate for ranch wear, such as jeans and closed-toed
shoes.
Children are allowed only with adult supervision at all times! Our livestock
guardian dogs are wonderfully friendly and accepting of human visitors, but may
perceive strange animals as a danger to 'their' herd, so we respectfully request
that you leave your pets at home.
Alpacas
are great with children. Presumably due to their smaller stature, children seem
less intimidating to the alpacas. Please prepare children, especially the
younger ones, by explaining that alpacas frighten easily, and are particularly
disturbed by running, jumping, grabbing, yelling...that sort of thing. Alpacas
are very much like cats, and prefer a quieter, gentler approach.
Many
people ask whether alpacas spit. They do. Alpacas will
spit at each other when squabbling over food. On rare occasions, humans may
inadvertently intercept, usually by being between two feuding alpacas at
precisely the wrong time. In the unlikely event this occurs, it is important to
remember that alpaca 'spit' is comprised primarily of air and dried or slightly
damp grass and hay. There is generally some odor, which lingers
for only a few minutes. It is the surprise of being spat upon that people react
to, more so than the actual act. There is no danger. Spitting is simply an
expression of the alpaca's fear or anger, and is harmless.