Why do people sell Alpacas on television?

[CoffeeCat]

Why on Earth are people in this country selling Alpacas on television?

Have you seen the ads? You quit your job, and start a new life raising Alpacas.

Why is this something we need to be talked into?

Is there an overabundance of homeless Alpacas...that we need to advertise that they are for sale?

You never see ads to buy cows or chickens.

Why are we being sold the idea of becoming Alpaca farmers?

(It's late and I think I need to go to bed).

[Muttocracy]

1. Don't know - there are a surprising # of alpacas and llamas in upstate NY. nt

[CoffeeCat]

4. What do people do with Alpacas?

For what are Alpacas raised?

Is their wool (fur?) used to make sweaters?

After you quit your job and buy a bunch of Alpacas--what do you do with them?

They are adorable.

[Muttocracy]

6. just posted down below. It is startling to see them in the countryside.

I guess llamas make good guards for sheep or something too.

[aquart]

15. I have sweaters. I have a skirt.

Nice stuff, alpaca.

And they are just so cute!

[Maat]

2. LOL

:rofl:

[rpannier]

7. Alpacas

The only recession-proof investment

[notesdev]

3. Just follow these simple steps...

Step 1: Stuff potato salad into wooden alpaca

Step 2: ????

Step 3: Profit!

[Muttocracy]

5. Here, read up!

edit to add this one too: http://www.indianchimneyfarm.com/alpaca.php

http://www.indianchimneyfarm.com/alpacasarticle.php

[CoffeeCat]

8. Wow, they're expensive!

The cost of one pregnant female Alpaca and one young female Alpaca--is $20,000.

They're so cute!

[Cleita]

9. Well, a couple of rancher acquaintances of mine a mile up the

road acquired a couple of llamas. They used to have sheep because they liked to get wool from them, but decided to get alpacas because the coyotes were killing the sheep and someone told them that the cameloids would fight back. They couldn't afford alpacas because they were very expensive (very nice wool) so they settled on llamas instead. I haven't checked back on the coyote problem. Sorry, it upsets me. However, it seems alpacas are sort of like getting Arabian horses, they are still very expensive.

[cliffordu]

13. It is my understanding that llamas will in fact kill or run off coyotes.

[JoDog]

25. Once talked to a guy who raises

both alpacas and llamas in Wisconsin. Llamas are very aggressive with predators. They will chase them off, or failing that, stomp on them. Alpacas are very passive. When threatened, they play dead. He told me it is not uncommon in their native Chile to have a herd of alpaca with a few guard llamas. He adopted that system and has very few problems with coyotes.

[Horse with no Name]

41. If they run off coyotes

Then there is no excuse for ANYONE that doesn't buy one immediately to complain about the pitbull eating their child. I mean, if they ONLY bought a llama their family would be protected.:hide:

[LWolf]

30. Llamas are often used as "guards" in sheep herds, locally.

A whole herd of sheep with one or two llamas.

[OnyxCollie]

10. It's easier to sell alpacas on television than to sell them on meth. nt

[cliffordu]

11. Selling them is the only way to make any money:

It's like a pyramid scheme - get three of your friends to each by one of yours, then THEY sell the offspring of theirs to three of THEIR friends, and you get a piece of the action, etc, etc, etc..

Just like a four footed chain letter!!

Alpaca + nature taking it's course == Profit!!

[Bunny]

19. That's exactly what it is. A big pyramid scheme.

They do make some nice wool, but the market for alpaca wool is still very limited. You will not make a profit on your investment through wool sales alone. You've got to convince others to buy alpacas from you in order to make any money.

[Xithras]

45. Yep yep. My neighbor has a couple alpacas.

It's actually possible to make money on alpaca wool, but you'd need at least a thousand head and a professional shearing operation. The meat has no market, nobody is willing to buy alpaca wool in small quantities, and they aren't very good pets.

It's a giant pyramid scheme. At this point, they're just trying to sell enough to recoup their original investment. Four years on, they haven't done it yet.

Too much stress. I'll keep my horses thankyouverymuch.

[TomInTib]

12. There was this guy, used to hang out at Moby Dick's (Castro)....

True story

Dressed in leather, head to toe.

One-eyed, eye-patch...

Said his name was Alpacas.

[xchrom]

27. you know moby dick's? -- my you do get around. nt

[TomInTib]

33. Hey, I don't miss much...

I figure you only get one shot at life, so what the hell.

Bright lights, big City, you know.

I am just a hick from Texas who moved to California and found myself living in Mayberry (with a few extra zeros on the price tags).

Tom

[xchrom]

34. try this one -- all my winters in peoria illinois and all

my summers in the bay area growing up.

i have cultural dyslexsia.

[TomInTib]

36. "cultural dyslexsia"

With a line like that, you can get away with just about anything.
Tom

[xchrom]

37. lol -- and in my time -- i just about have. nt

[coriolis]

44. I know him. It's actually Al Packus.

:evilgrin:

[madrchsod]

14. got them illegals here in northern illinois

send them alpacas back to south america where they belong...well they work really cheap and ya just feed them some grains and grass

[1]

16. for the same reason they sell "ped eggs" to smooth your feets...

because some people have something to sell and are looking for someone to buy.

if i had money?

i'd invest in alpacas and ped eggs. the best of both worlds. smooth little animals and smooth feet.

how can you go wrong?

[mcctatas]

17. I bought one of those godforsaken ped eggs...

you know, sandal season is fast approaching blah blah blah.....
Anyway, I followed the instructions of using it after a bath/shower or foot soak and the evil demon cheese grater for feet ripped off a huge chunk of foot flesh. Stupid freaking ped eggs, next time I'll buy an alpaca!

[1]

18. ouch! ok, good to know...

i'll now adjust my investment strategy.

i'm pretty sure an alpaca would never ripped off a huge chunk of foot flesh. sweet little alpaca's...

they seem so lovely. and smooth...

[ashling]

20. Are you an alpacaphobe?! After all it is a lifestyle choice.

the Alpaca lifestyle.
or are you just a terrorist?
:rofl:

[timtom]

21. I don't know

but some of my friends smoked Camels in college.

[MrSlayer]

22. Are you supposed to eat them or something?

Is Alpaca the up and coming meat?

[mitchtv]

24. I ate some while in Peru'

not bad at all

[L. Coyote]

35. We had roasted whole alpacas at the Liberation Celebration

for Hacienda Sollocota. It was a grand day, taking over the Hacienda, and giving it back to the chattel slaves.

On of the former slaves told me, "We have waited 400 years to get our land back, and today we got it back."

[CoffeeCat]

32. Alpaca! It's what's for dinner!

Alpaca...the other white meat.

I could go on...but is it really necessary?

[Wiley50]

46. Whole new meaning to "Alpaca lunch Mayo or mustard"

Alpaca gun if I'm scared of them

[blondie58]

23. oh, I love alpacas!

they make the oddest little humming noise.

Do you know why they hum?

Because they don't know the words!

[CBGLuthier]

26. Because, to quote Mencken

No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public


Henry Mencken

[Marrah_G]

28. I love those things!

When I finally retire to my little farm, I plan to get a couple. I have friends who spin their own wool, so they would be a beneficial addition.

[SmokingJacket]

29. Hint: anything that must be advertised is probably not worth buying.

[yellerpup]

31. A friend bought a small starter herd of alpacas

and boarded them while she found and bought a farm. The cheapest one she bought was $23K. They live in Texas and they soon found out that Texas is much too hot for mountain creatures to produce long silky coats of alpaca wool. The alpaca babies died of heat exhaustion in the summer. She's switched to longhorns and donkeys, but took a big loss on TV alpacas. She's an impulsive sort, who asks for advice then tells you that you are an idiot if you disagree with her. She found out the hard way.

Edit for typo

[Muttocracy]

39. the alpacas suffered the hard way too! :-(

[yellerpup]

40. So right.

Animals are at the mercy of our good/bad judgement.

[slackmaster]

38. At least they stopped pushing for people to raise chinchillas

:argh:

[anakie]

42. I have 2 alpacas

up in my top paddock. Sinbad and Samsun. If I knew how to post photos I would post one.

While it is true that female alpacas (pregnant or not) and stud males are still very expensive my two are whethers and were substantially cheaper. I paid $1500 for the pair, and that was above what we could have got some for. You can get a whether in Australia for about $500. My two boys are pets and lawn mowers - in fact the 1500 we paid for them is cheaper than a decent ride on mower and have no ongoing maintenance - other than shearing once a year.

Their wool is very fine and is non allegenic making it ideal for those who suffer allergies to wool and other materials. However, my wife will eventually when she gets time felt the wool and make whatever with the felt.

They are also getting a reputation as herd guardians for sheep and goats against wild dogs. They are about two thirds the size of llamas and have much nicer dispositions. They are incredibly curious but stand offish at the same time. They come to you at the fence line but when you try to reach them to give them a pat - because they are soooo cute - the manage to stay just out of reach; not unlike a naughty puppy.


Peace

[coriolis]

43. They are hard to sell on radio.

But why are you even worried about this?
:eyes: