Bam Bam Update

Bam Bam has been home for 4 days now. He looks remarkably good, considering the circumstances. He's sporting a bright pink fiberglass cast on his injured leg. We think he's feeling better, because he sure likes to kick us with his cast. I don't blame him - he was getting shots twice a day, every day to prevent infection. Fortunately, the shots are done. Bam Bam is also confined to a pen in the barn, to limit his movement. He hates it, but it's going to help him heal.

This was a bad day

I went out to the barn this morning to do chores. Everything was fine on the girls side (Hula, Sabetha, Caroline, and Patty the dog). However, in the boys' pen, there were drops of blood all over the floor. Huh. This is not good.

I put some feed in their bins. Usually, Titanium and Bam Bam are fighting each other to get to the feed. (We call them "The Clowns" - they fight just like brothers, but they also stick up for each other too. It's pretty neat to watch them.)

Anyway, only Titanium comes in to eat. No Bam Bam. I went to look for him with a sick feeling in my stomach. Found him in the dark, standing up, but limping. I'd been to an alpaca meeting a few days earlier, and they said that alpacas are very stoic animals, and rarely display symptoms of injury / illness. So, I knew this was a bad sign.

Bam Bam had a cut on the back of his left hind leg, just above the knee. My husband and I tried to bandage it, but it was very deep. We were thinking stitches. Because he was upright, and not spurting blood, we waited a few hours until the vet clinic opened at 7 a.m. (Yup, this was all happening at 5 in the morning).

Our vet, Dr. Mike Etter from Lodi Vet Hospital came in the afternoon. My poor Bam Bam has a ruptured Achilles Tendon and went back to the clinic so Dr. Mike could work on him. I just feel sick. Bam Bam got his leg stuck under one of our new steel barn doors, and it sliced right through his tendon. Fortunately, Bam Bam is not a horse, so he can survive with a gimpy leg. If all goes well at the clinic, Bam Bam will have to spend some time confined to his pen in the barn, but will be able to live a near normal life, palling around with his clown friend, Titanium.

I'll breathe much easier when he's home. I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but Bam Bam is such a beautiful boy, and he's got great fiber. He's also got a lot of personality, and is the perfect size to hug. It was really tough this morning seeing him in pain.

Socks for Sale

We are members of the Alpaca Fiber Co-op of North America. We send them some of our fiber, which gets made into wonderful alpaca products!

We currently have an assortment of alpaca socks available for purchase! Why alpaca socks? The fiber from alpaca is unusually strong and resilient. Raised at high altitudes in freezing cold, the alpaca has developed more thermal capacity in its fiber than almost any other animal. The fiber contains microscopic air pockets which create lightweight garments with high insulation values.

If you would like to purchase any of our socks, please send us an e-mail at offbeatacres@gmail.com or call 608-219-6369. We will deliver at no charge in the Madison area, or you can come pick them up yourself, and meet our alpacas! All prices include tax.

Extreme Alpaca Socks - $22

In our opinion, these are simply the best alpaca socks being made today! Cushy softness to be enjoyed whenever winter chills the toes. Wear these thick, terry knit socks as slippers inside. Wear outside in hiking, hunting, wading, or work boots. They will extend the enjoyment of winter activities. Made in USA of North American alpaca fiber. Sizes 9-11, 10-13 and 13-15 available.

Extreme Boot Alpaca Socks - $24
Made to wear with work boots or ski boots. Just like our # 1 selling Extreme sock with a longer calf. Sizes 9-11, 10-13, and 13-15 available.

Alpaca Slipper Socks - $17
After the stress of a typical day, it's nice to slip into our Terry Slipper Socks. Same great construction and yarn as our Extreme Alpaca Socks but knit to stop just above the ankle for inside wear. Nothing is better than the cushy, soft warmth enveloping your toes on a drafty floor. Sizes 9-11 and 10-13 available.

Alpaca Dress Socks - $15

Solid dress socks are 70% Baby Alpaca with 28% Nylon and 2% Lycra for comfort and easy care. Machine wash and dry. These socks are incredibly soft and luxurious. They are available in beige, brown, and black, and in men's and ladies' sizes!

Offbeat Acres Open House!

October 11 & 12, 2 – 5 p.m.
5453 Pierceville Road
Cottage Grove, WI 53527

Questions? Call (608) 219-6369 or e-mail offbeatacres@gmail.com

Here are the directions from Madison:

• Take I-94 East towards Milwaukee (4.1 mi)
• Take exit 244 for CR-N toward Cottage Grove/Sun Prairie (0.2 mi).
• Turn left at CR-N (0.2 mi)
• Turn right at CR-TT (3.0 mi) Note: about a mile up TT, Pierceville Rd will go off to the right. This is NOT your turn.
• Turn left at Pierceville Rd, we’re the third place on the left (0.9 mi)



Meet our alpacas and see our renovated barn! We will also have a limited supply of alpaca yarn, roving, and socks available. Come and sit a spell!

Like Mother, Like Daughter?

Sabetha (and Caroline) have been gone for a few weeks. Alpacas can be bred just a few weeks, after giving birth, so Sabetha went back up to Oshkosh to see Clint again. We went to visit them last weekend - and neither wanted their picture taken!

Don't worry, they'll be back next weekend, in time for our open house.

Our Patty

Patty is a wonderful guard dog. There's been a suspicious critter lurking lately, so Patty has set up shop near the fenceline. She's such a beautiful dog - and such a hard worker. We're incredibly lucky to have her!