GoodShipp Alpaca Co.

30/05/2026

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30/05/2026

a new visitor to the

29/05/2026

You've had chickadees at the feeder for years. Same black cap, same white cheeks, same call from the hedge every morning. You've never questioned which species you're looking at.

There are two — and the difference is in the wing. The black-capped chickadee shows a bold white patch along the wing edge. The Carolina chickadee has plain gray wings. Same cap, same face, same size. The wing is the one-second diagnostic.

The song confirms it — two clear notes for the black-capped, four quick notes for the Carolina. Where the two species overlap in the central US, they hybridize. That hybrid zone is shifting northward as winters warm.

🐾 The one that got me: the tufted titmouse — the gray crested bird at the feeder who's in the same family — plucks hair from live animals to line her nest. Dogs, raccoons, opossums, sleeping humans. She lands, pulls, and flies. Scientists call it kleptotrichy.

Two more in the west most people never hear about — the mountain chickadee with a white eyebrow stripe, and the chestnut-backed chickadee with a rich brown back, tucked into Pacific Northwest conifer forests.

Five birds in one family. The wing edge separates the two you see every morning 🐾

29/05/2026

Alpaca fact Friday.... tis the season

𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬!!! 🔥 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘀

In female alpacas, ovulation does not occur at a set point during a cycle as it does in many other species.

Instead, the physical act of mating triggers a cascade of hormonal changes that lead to ovulation.

During mating, an ovulation inducing factor (ß-NGF) that is present in the semen is absorbed through the wall of the uterus and this causes the female to release hormones that signal the ovaries to release an egg.

This process ensures that ovulation occurs at the most favourable time for fertilisation.
Because ovulation occurs shortly after mating, the timing between s***m and egg is highly synchronised. This increases the likelihood of successful pregnancy.

Nature has designed an efficient system to ensure reproduction occurs when conditions are right.

Did you know alpacas rely on mating to trigger ovulation? Let us know below!

29/05/2026

TW: Language
the first male cria born at our farm from a rescue mama 😍

29/05/2026

Native plants do more than look beautiful, they help rebuild healthy ecosystems right in our own backyards. 🌿🦋

Planting native flowers, grasses, and shrubs provides food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects that our environment depends on. One of the most important plants you can grow? Milkweed.

Milkweed is the ONLY host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars. Without it, monarchs cannot complete their life cycle. By planting milkweed, you're creating a safe haven for one of nature’s most iconic pollinators. 🧡🖤

At GoodShipp Alpaca Co., we believe caring for the land means supporting the wildlife that calls it home too. Every patch of native plants helps:
🐝 Support bees and butterflies
👩🏻‍🔬 Improve soil health
💧 Reduce water use
🌳 Create habitat for wildlife
⚖️ Restore balance to local ecosystems

Have you added native plants or milkweed to your garden yet?

29/05/2026

oh that smell 🤢

29/05/2026

Open today, Friday May the 29th, from 2pm- 6pm
Tomorrow 10am - 5pm
Its officially summer break!
Come out and meet the Camelid Crew and shop our farm store. 🖤🤍🩶🤎🦙

28/05/2026

Its 2026, we should be past this. I shouldn't have to make these posts: balloon releases are not a beautiful tribute, they are glorified littering.

Your balloons do not float off to heaven. They fall back to earth… into forests, rivers, fields, fences, and pastures. Wildlife and livestock often mistake balloon fragments and ribbons for food, leading to injury, suffering, and death.

If you want to honor someone you love, choose something that gives life instead of harming it. Plant a tree. Light a candle. Donate in their name. Share their story.

Love should leave a legacy, not trash scattered across the land.