Happy Hiker Llamas is located on 5.1 acres in the beautiful high desert of Central Oregon between Redmond and Bend with a great view of the Cascade Mountains. With 4.7 irrigated Happy Hiker acres, access to an additional 3.5 acres of "neighbor's pasture", and a current herd size of 39, it is actually necessary to mow vast portions of the pastures during the summer growing season. Hay rations are doled out in the winter and early spring.
Happy Hiker Llamas began transforming the 5.1 acres of former pig farm / junk yard into a functional llama ranch in October of 2003. Needless to say, the neighbors were quite thrilled to have a much cleaner, quieter, and more pleasant ranch activity taking place at this location.
After numerous trips to the dump and recycling center and countless burn piles, 2+ acres of pig rutted pasture area was re-graded. The excess dirt from the pond embankment was removed and utilized in re-grading sunken areas and forming mounds in several pastures for the llamas to play on. With several years of good irrigation and llama manure, the pastures have recovered nicely.
Currently 4000 linear feet of lodge pole / no-climb perimeter and cross fencing has been installed. There are ten separate pasture areas of varying sizes each with access to one of four 12’x24’ loafing sheds, a 90’x 60’ obstacle training area, and a 20’x 72’ catch pen area accessible by three separate pastures.
A new 30'x30'x16'H barn with an attached 12'x30' loafing shed was completed in 2010. 2/3 of the interior of the barn has a poured concrete floor with enough room to easily store 40+ tons of hay. The other 1/3 is dirt and is used in very inclement weather to expand the loafing shed area.
All old outbuildings, pig stalls and pens have been removed (and thankfully burned in the winter burn piles). The human quarters are scheduled to be replaced sometime between 2015 and 2016.
|
