Some have gone over 12 months. The female has been standing around the poo pile. If you see her rolling on the ground, she is trying to rotate the cria into position for an easy birth. Guide her to a safe place near the barn and the tools for the expected birth. Do keep your house pets away at this time. You need to concentrate on the birthing of your new cria only. If you have other female llamas around they will all be in your way wanting to see the new kid on the block.
The little toes and then the nose will protrude. The toes may still have the coating that protects the inside of the mom. Sometimes the new mom will want to brush against the fence or the wall of the barn. Calmly guide her away from harms way. Hopefully the cria will pop out and drop to the ground as you try to catch it so it won’t get hurt. A container is needed to hold all the tools such as towels and sheets. Lay the sheets on the ground. Straw and sand and debris may stick to the beautiful wet cria. Use the towels to dry. I leave enough on the cria so the mom can still smell the scent.
The placenta is transparent flat and round with fluid, it will follow about an hour later. Keeping the pair confined will make it easier to find the spent placenta. I place ours in the freezer until I decide what to do with it.We use Betadine on the umbilical cord. The Fleet enema is not used right away. The cria is only drinking milk, he has had no solids at this point.
A scale is needed to see if the cria is gaining weight a few times a week. Keep a written record of this event. You will hear of weight gain of 1 pound per day. They may only gain ½ pound per day. Also may not show any gain. You will be concerned if it loses weight in one day.
Some cria may find their source of milk in a short time. While others may take longer. Most mothers are very patient with their offspring. In most cases if the cria is active and on their feet searching for milk. I would wash my hands and work each teat to make sure colostrum and milk is available by removing the wax plugs. You may want to guide them in the right direction. Be patient, but be sure the cria has had his first milk before you leave them to rest.
