Llama behaviour shows they are curious animals and somewhat shy. That is, unless they were born on the Fat Ewe Farm and loved from the moment they arrived. Karin was born here and as a baby, I hugged her and held her close. When she was a little bigger, it took strength to hold onto the little girl since it is their natural instinct to move away from humans. Karin loves to go meet any new people and will be right there smelling their faces to see who they are. Most people have heard horror stories of spitting llamas, and believe me, after having been spit on by a male we were trying to load in a trailer, there isn't a lot much grosser. Llama spit is actually vomit from the stomach and it stinks like puke. That is the only time I have ever been spit on. Karin has not once ever spit on anyone or anything that I have witnessed. She is a sweetheart.
Llamas do not like dogs usually, but she had no choice since they were here mostly before she was. Mike and Joe live in the same pen as she does and they all get along wonderfully. If Karin hears something such as a coyote or fox, her ears go back and move around listening. I am hoping she is bonded enough to want to protect the sheep and stomp the crap out of a predator, which llamas can do.
Karin loves to be present at the birth of every lamb. She waits patiently near the mother and leans right in to inspect the newborns, but she never interferes. Kaon had twins this evening, a boy and a girl, purebred Shetlands and Karin was there. I picked a twin up to take a photo and guess who photobombed? Karin!
Karin fur can be spun into yarn or felted for fibre. It is very silky and soft. Llamas do not need to be shorn yearly and some have short fibre that does not need to be shorn at all. Others have dreadlocks, like on a Suri Llama and the fibre grows 10 to 20 inches long! I wish I had one of those! But I am happy with Karin. Soon she will have a friend, a little white alpaca female with blue eyes.
I am happy to have Karin on the Fat Ewe Farm and think her presence here makes the farm so much more pleasant than it would be without her. She was named after my dear sweet cousin Karin, whom I also love very much. I don't know what will happen to Karin Llama when I retire. Maybe she will go to your farm?