Misty Hills Ranch - Alpacas in Alberta, Canada

09/28/2021

Beautiful sunrise!

04/27/2021

The super moon last night reflected in the pond. The frogs and salamanders are serenading as well! Another spring indicator .. Whoo hooo!

01/30/2021

This pair came for dinner a couple of nights ago.

09/08/2020

I sure missed seeing everyone and the beautiful alpacas at the show this year. Fingers crossed 2021 will be better and showing can resume!

04/15/2019

Congratulations to Sunnyhill Alpacas on winning Female Supreme Champion with Sunnyhill's KP's Zoey, at the A.L.P.A.C.A. Spring Show in Red Deer this weekend. She is a gorgeous junior female - outstanding! I was honored to be able to show her in the ring for Leanne and Kevin - so much fun!

03/18/2018

Talking a break in the yard on a warm pre-spring day!

04/12/2017

With our retirement a couple of years ago, we have some alpaca related items that we would like to move on to others who may need it. For example we have a weigh scale that would be excellent for weighing alpacas before and after shearing to get a total shear weight. Shearing season will soon be here! Give us a call and we will make arrangements for you to come and see what we have!

03/02/2017

12/28/2014

Thought it was time to update this page ... we have sold all of our alpacas and have officially retired from the alpaca business. It was a great experience; love the animals and the people involved in the industry were/are awesome.

Some of our alpacas were sold to Camelot Haven in Vernon, B.C., and some to Charles Park in Ponoka - if you are looking for any of our genetics, please look up these folks, I know they would be happy to hear from you.

07/11/2013

There are many things in our lives to be grateful for - from small things like the beautiful rose in the garden, or larger things like how fortunate we are to live where we do and to have enough food on the table and a roof over our heads. And then there are things that happen, that are not fortunate, or wanted, and are down right disappointing and sad - but it's the good and the bad that make up our life. And the bad helps us to appreciate the good even more. I can say this so philosophically today, but not so much yesterday!

Yesterday was one of our bad days on the 'ranch'. Our lovely Selena, only 4 years old, who was expecting her first cria from the handsome ECA Shamar, had problems with the birth.

I was in the field with her most of the day, watching her pre-labour movements, and when her labour became more intense and it became apparent things were not progressing as they should, I suspected a breech presentation - as we have unfortunately experienced these before.

The vet was called and confirmed the baby was presenting in the breech position with 'her' little back legs all folded up nicely, which made it even more difficult for Selena to deliver her.

To make a long story short, we lost both Selena and her baby yesterday. I found this very difficult as I take time off my regular job to be home when the girls give birth to help them if they have a problem; I knew she was having a problem, but I was helpless to correct it!

We all miss you in the field Selena - the girls could feel last night that someone was not there. Each one of them came up to me and brushed me with their nose, as if to say, you did what you could, but it was not meant to be. Even the boys were quieter than normal.

Today was a new day; we all need to move on - but not forget!

Rest in peace beautiful Selena with your babe! You are missed.

07/08/2013

07/08/2013

Couple of foxes live in the trees beside the house - they decided to come up on the desk and into the yard for a visit this morning ....

07/07/2013

Our first baby alpaca this year was born yesterday at 12:00 noon. It's a girl and she weighed in at 15.8 lbs. Mom and baby are doing great. Mom is MHR Misty's Annie and dad is ECA Shamar (who just got first place in the Mature White Olds Fleece Show)!

06/02/2013

Still raining ... was going to sort some fleeces out in the garage today, but it's just too wet out! We did have a moose at the end of our driveway this morning though - he didn't mind the rain at all! Wish I would have gotten a picture, but was too busy just watching him before he walked away!

05/24/2013

Just sitting there watching us through the window!!

05/24/2013

Just a few pics before we got the rain!

05/24/2013

It's pouring here in usually sunny Cochrane, but luckily the rain held off until we got all our alpacas sheared last Saturday. Here is a picture of Carlos in front of the pond with a muskrat swimming by!

04/27/2013

This is so cute - love the music with it!

The music really makes this dozy little alpaca video so much better. Get this guy a pillow!

04/27/2013

A behind the scenes look of German alpacas getting their haircut. Enjoy.

04/27/2013

04/27/2013

We had a great time at the Canadian National Alpaca Sale and Futurity in Red Deer a couple of weekends ago! It was really nice to see everyone again after the long winter - and see all of the beautiful animals everyone brought for the show! They were all so gorgeous/handsome ... the quality is just getting better and better every year!

We were really honoured to have our one and only cria, MHR Misty's Epic, that was born last year win a 1st place ribbon in his class. He is a gorgeous little guy ... and the judge said he 'owned the class as soon as he walked in'. Glad to hear that other's think he's pretty nice as well. This little guy is sold to Rick and Vickie McCaffrey who will be taking him with a number of his 'buddies' to Creston, B.C. this summer! We know they will do really well with them!

Thanks to all the organizers of this event, and to all the participants, for a fabulous weekend (and we weren't driving home in a blizzard - bonus)!

04/01/2013

Gorgeous Easter Monday! Hope everyone had a fabulous Easter!

03/21/2013

Hi all - apologies to those of you who are friends of both our pages as you are getting this message twice, but we wanted to be sure this message was also on our Misty Hills Ranch page.

Thi is an update to let everyone know that we have decided to retire from the alpaca business - looking forward to trading in our shovels for palm trees and sand - at least that's the plan!

We have been involved in this industry for 14 years and have loved so many aspects of it - the animals and the great people we have met and become friends with top the list! However, we are looking forward to moving on and doing some new things, visiting some new places and meeting more new friends.

Our herd is fairly small as we have always bred for quality rather than quantity - the highest number of cria born in any one year on our farm was 4 - but we have been fortunate to have been awarded many ribbons and championships in both halter and fleece shows. (42 Supreme Champion, Grand Champion, Reserve Champion or Judge's Choice / Best in Show Ribbons or Banners to be exact!)

For our 'friends' who are existing breeders - we encourage you to check out our website - retirement prices are in effect and we guarantee all offers will be seriously considered.

For those of you who are not currently breeders, but may be thinking of getting into this industry, we would be happy to spend time with you and share our knowledge in all aspects of the business - and, of course, offer you alpacas to start your herd at very affordable prices.

Contact us at: [email protected]
Visit our website at: mistyhillsranch.com to view photos of the alpacas and find information on each of them.

Warm regards to all,

02/24/2013

I like the funding model projected by Alpaca United:

"Funding
Alpaca United will generate revenue through:
website advertising sales
web-based fiber exchange transactions
logo licensing fees
textile trade fair event tile sales
subscription newsletters
collateral sales (hats, rack-cards, bumper stickers etc)
marketing services consulting
commercial textile network consulting
investor sign-ups
angel investor sign-ups
grants
donations"

I think these are some of the things that Alpaca Canada should be looking into and promoting as well. Some of these are not feasible at this time, but some are things that should be investigated at least. We need to start working on the fiber end of this industry!

01/04/2013

Thank goodness the weather has warmed up for 2013. Those frigid -25 temperatures in December were not welcome. The alpacas are happier too - bonus!!

12/31/2012

This is Epic - our award-winning Lily's first cria! He is absolutely fantastic! His sire is Accoyo Accoyo Carson - so his genetics are 'stacked'!!

12/31/2012

Happy New Year's Eve! 2012 was a great year for us at Misty Hills Ranch, and we are looking forward to another great year in 2013! Be safe tonight everyone!!

11/12/2011

This is MHR Misty's Perfect Storm!

11/12/2011

MHR Misty's Perfect Storm has been awarded Supreme Champion at 4 out of 5 fleece shows his fleece has been entered in - in the 5th show, he won Reserve Colour Champion White.

07/16/2011

They are naturals on the runway!