Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch

10/08/2026

🦙 Did You Know Our Awesome Veterinarian Offers TRAILER BACKING SERVICES, Too?! 😂🚛

This morning, I loaded up a couple of our female alpacas for a visit with our wonderful veterinarian, Dr. Robert Simmons. Unfortunately, both girls delivered fully developed but stillborn cria this fall. 💔

This is something very unusual for us here at Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch, and after more than 20 years of breeding alpacas, we know how important it is to investigate when something just doesn’t seem right.

Recently, a fellow alpaca breeder reached out to share that she, too, had experienced THREE stillborn cria this fall. After testing one of her dams, she discovered positive titers for Leptospirosis.

🦠 Leptospirosis? What’s that?

It’s a bacterial infection that can affect numerous animals, including alpacas and llamas, and can potentially cause reproductive problems, including fetal death and stillbirth.

There are certainly other reasons a cria might be stillborn. A difficult delivery (dystocia), an improperly positioned cria, prolonged labor, or complications involving the umbilical cord can all contribute to a tragic outcome.

But TWO stillborn cria in one season? That’s enough for us to start asking questions!

🩺 So, we’re being proactive!

Dr. Simmons collected blood samples from our girls and is running diagnostic tests to help us determine whether an infectious cause may have contributed to these losses.

We still have THREE pregnant dams, and we want to do everything possible to protect them and their unborn cria. In the meantime, Dr. Simmons has recommended precautionary antibiotic treatment for our remaining pregnant females while we await results.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that good herd management isn’t just about responding to problems. It’s about investigating, learning, and doing everything possible to prevent them.

And now for the OTHER reason I absolutely LOVE our veterinarian! 😂❤️

🚛 Apparently, Dr. Simmons also offers complimentary TRAILER BACKING SERVICES!

You see, despite all my years hauling alpacas and llamas around the country, I STILL haven’t mastered the fine art of backing up my trailer! 🤦‍♀️🤣

So, this morning, Dr. Simmons graciously took the wheel and backed up my trailer for me, with a little assistance from my trusty copilot, Bella Bean! 🐾❤️

Now THAT’S what I call FULL-SERVICE veterinary care! 😂👏

Thank you, Dr. Simmons, for always going above and beyond for our animals AND their slightly trailer-backup-challenged farmer!

❤️🦙 Fellow breeders: Have you experienced any unexplained stillbirths this breeding season? Have you ever tested your herd for Leptospirosis? We’d love to hear about your experiences.

We’ll share what we learn when our test results come back!
Alpaca Owners Association, Inc.

09/27/2026

🦙🧶 Come see us at the Shenandoah Fiber Festival today! 🧶🦙

Yesterday was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and we had such a wonderful day at the Shenandoah Fiber Festival! 💜 We were thrilled to see so much of our locally grown and made Double 8 alpaca yarn head home with fellow fiber lovers. There’s something extra special about knowing the fiber started right here on our farm with our alpacas! 🦙🧶

And… our Farm Blend Alpaca Socks are BACK from the mill! 🧦✨

They’re better than ever, with a slightly updated design that now includes arch support in our mid-weight socks. And at 96% alpaca, they are incredibly soft, warm, and cozy—just in time for cooler fall weather! 🍂

We also brought along our adorable alpaca figurines and lots of other Double 8 alpaca favorites for you to shop.

❤️ And don’t forget to come say hello to Aurora the Alpaca and Magnolia the Llama! 🦙🦙 They’ll be hanging out with us and would love to meet you!

📍 Clarke County Fairgrounds — Berryville, VA
⏰ 10 AM–4 PM TODAY

There are tons of other wonderful fiber vendors to explore, beautiful yarns and handmade goods, and plenty of good eats too!

Come spend a gorgeous fall Sunday at the festival, say hello, meet Aurora & Magnolia, squish some alpaca yarn, and treat yourself to something cozy! 🦙🧶🧦🍁

Our Farm to Your Feet. 💜
Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch

Llamas FiberFestival BerryvilleVA ShopLocal OurFarmToYourFeet

09/23/2026

Just another Herd Health Day at Double 8… 😂🦙💗

Yesterday was monthly herd health for our female llamas, and apparently DBL8 had other plans.

This girl is OPEN and ready to breed… and evidently she wanted to make that VERY clear. 😂 Just before it was her turn to step on the scale, she decided to plop herself down directly in front of it.

And there she stayed.
For. The. Entire. Herd. 🤦‍♀️😂

We weigh our llamas monthly so we can monitor changes in weight and body condition and accurately dose medications, including our monthly ivermectin protocol for meningeal worm prevention.

Meanwhile, everyone else still needed to get on the scale, so Farmer Bonnie did what farmers do…

I straddled her. 🤣

And yes, the entire time I was thinking:

“Please don’t stand up. Please don’t stand up. PLEASE DON’T STAND UP.” 😳🦙

She never moved. Apparently I was just part of the furniture.

Farm life: where herd health, reproductive behavior, veterinary care, and llama yoga all happen at the same time. 😂

HerdHealth CamelidCare LlamaFarm MeningealWorm Ivermectin WomenInAg FarmHer LivestockLife LlamaDrama VirginiaFarm

08/30/2026

🦙❤️ Caring for the Golden Oldies: Geriatric Alpaca & Llama Care

We have been raising alpacas since 2005, which means something pretty special is happening here at Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch…

Some of the very first crias born from our original herd are now 19+ years old and still going strong!

Meet our Golden Oldies: Double 8 Mountain, Vicki Vale, Pride, Rio and Sky. ❤️

So, how do we help our senior alpacas and llamas stay healthy and comfortable as they age?

One of the most important things we do is PUT OUR HANDS ON THEM!

All that beautiful fiber can hide weight loss. We weigh and body-condition score our herd monthly, paying especially close attention to our youngsters and seniors. A number on the scale is helpful, but physically feeling the spine, ribs and muscle coverage tells us even more.

🦷 Watch those teeth!

As camelids age, their teeth can wear down or develop dental problems that make chewing long-stem hay difficult. If one of our seniors starts losing weight or dropping feed, their mouth is one of the first things we investigate.

And this is important: we use a veterinarian who is experienced with CAMELID dentition. Camelid teeth are very different from horse teeth, and dental care needs to be appropriate for the individual animal.

If a senior can no longer adequately chew hay, we adjust the diet. We may soak grass pellets into a soft mash and feed that along with their daily camelid supplements.

🍽️ Sometimes Grandma needs her own table!

Older animals can drop lower in the herd hierarchy and may simply get pushed away from the feeder. If necessary, we separate our seniors at mealtime so we know exactly how much they are eating—and so nobody else gobbles up their special ration!

For seniors having trouble maintaining weight, we gradually increase their nutrition based upon their individual needs. In our herd, that may include soaked grass pellets and up to 2 cups of Equine Senior added to their camelid ration twice daily.

🪱 Stay ahead of parasites.
Young and geriatric animals deserve especially close monitoring. We routinely perform f***l exams, monitor FAMACHA and body condition, and use strategic parasite control rather than assuming that every thin animal simply “needs deworming.”

Knowing an animal’s accurate weight is also extremely important when medication IS necessary.

🦙 Watch how they MOVE.

Aging isn’t only about weight. We watch for stiffness, reluctance to walk, difficulty getting into or out of the cush position, spending more time lying down, dropped fetlocks, or simply not keeping up with the herd like they once did.

Work closely with your veterinarian, especially if your senior isn’t moving the way they used to. Arthritis and chronic joint discomfort can significantly affect an older camelid’s quality of life—and sometimes what looks like an animal simply “slowing down” may actually be pain.

Your veterinarian may recommend an anti-inflammatory medication such as meloxicam to help manage arthritis and keep your senior more comfortable and mobile. Because meloxicam is a prescription medication and long-term NSAID use requires veterinary oversight, the appropriate dose, duration and monitoring should always be determined by your veterinarian.

Keeping an older animal comfortable enough to get up, walk to the hay feeder, drink, graze and stay engaged with the herd is an important part of geriatric care. ❤️

👀 Pay attention to the little changes.

Is an older animal suddenly hanging back from the herd?

Taking longer to get up?

Not coming to the feeder as quickly?

Dropping hay?

Drinking less?

Losing weight despite eating?

Growing fiber back more slowly after shearing?

These seemingly small changes can be important clues in a geriatric animal.

💧 Make life a little easier.

Our seniors should have easy access to clean water, feed, shelter and comfortable places to cush. We also keep a close eye on their feet and toenails and make adjustments when mobility becomes more difficult.

And perhaps most importantly, we don’t assume that weight loss, stiffness or slowing down is simply because “they’re old.” We investigate WHY.

There isn’t one magic feeding program or supplement that keeps an alpaca or llama healthy into its late teens and twenties. It’s really about knowing your animals, establishing their normal, putting your hands on them regularly, working closely with your veterinarian and noticing changes EARLY.

Our senior citizens have earned a little extra TLC. ❤️

After more than two decades of raising alpacas, there is something incredibly rewarding about looking out into the pasture and seeing some of the babies from our very first herd still out there enjoying life. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc.

08/27/2026

Apparently, I have a new farm gym… and my personal trainers are a llama and an alpaca. 😂💪🦙🦙

I decided that if this lady needs to get in shape, why not squeeze in a workout while I’m already out working on the farm?!

Enter Llama Enzo and Alpaca Jack… who are VERY concerned about what the heck their human is doing in THEIR barn. 👀😂

I can just hear them…

Enzo: “Why is she doing that?”
Jack: “I have absolutely no idea. Just keep watching.”
Enzo: “Should we help?”
Jack: “Nope. This is way more entertaining.” 🤣

But really… who needs a fancy gym when your workout comes with fresh air, beautiful farm views, curious alpacas and llamas, and the occasional audience judging your form? 😂

Might as well get those squats and stretches in while taking in the view of the farm and some of my favorite boys. ❤️

Now if I could just convince Enzo and Jack that watching me exercise does NOT count as their workout! 😂

Double8Alpacas Double8Ranch LlamaEnzo AlpacaJack FarmWorkout LifeOnTheFarm AlpacasAndLlamas

08/25/2026

🦙 Come Meet the Herd at Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch! 🦙

Looking for a fun and memorable experience for your family, friends, birthday celebration, or just an excuse to spend some time with some ridiculously cute alpacas and llamas? Come visit us at Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch! ❤️

Book one of our Alpaca & Llama Farm Experiences or head out on a Llama & Alpaca Hike around our beautiful farm overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. ⛰️🌿

But don’t just take our word for it…here’s what some of our guests have shared:

💬 “You have the funniest and cutest alpacas and llamas!”

💬 “Bonnie & Doug are very knowledgeable and will answer your questions about llamas and alpacas.”

💬 “The birthday alpaca encounter was a hit with our family and friends!”

💬 “So many amazing photo opportunities with your precious animals and on your beautiful farm!”

And yes…our animals definitely know when the cameras come out. 📸😂

During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to get up close and personal with our alpacas and llamas, learn about their personalities, care, fleece, and what makes these two camelid cousins so different.

🥾 Want a little more adventure? Book a hike and enjoy some fresh air, beautiful scenery, and a llama or alpaca companion along the way!

Whether you’re 5 or 85, there’s something pretty special about walking through the pasture with a llama by your side. ❤️🦙

📍 Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch
Hillsboro, Virginia

✨ Visits are by reservation, so book your experience and come make some memories with our herd!

👉 Alpaca & Llama Experiences:
https://www.double8alpacas.com/alpaca-and-llama-encounters/ NORTHERN VIRGINIA AlpacaExperience LlamaExperience LoudounCountyVA HillsboroVA VirginiaAgritourism FarmLife BlueRidgeMountains FamilyFun

08/23/2026

🐾 Our FAILED Livestock Guardian Dog 🐾

Meet Lucy, our absolutely beautiful Maremma Livestock Guardian Dog… who apparently missed the memo about the livestock part. 😂

Lucy is EXCELLENT at guarding:

🛋️ The couch
🍳 The kitchen floor
👩 Me
🏠 The house
🚶‍♀️ And wherever I happen to be on the farm.

What Lucy is apparently NOT guarding?

🐓 THE CHICKENS.

And after losing CHICKEN #13 to a fox last night 🦊, we may officially have to put Lucy on a Performance Improvement Plan. 😂

My husband, Doug, is convinced this is all my fault.

“You broke the livestock guardian dog.”

In my defense, there are different schools of thought when raising LGDs from puppies. One approach is to let them stay close to the house and family while they’re young, then gradually transition them into the livestock areas as they mature.

And Lucy has mastered part of that training beautifully!

When I head out to do chores, she follows me all over the farm. ✔️
She checks on everybody. ✔️
She patrols the property. ✔️
She hangs out while I work. ✔️

The problem?

When I go back to the house… LUCY GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE. 🤦‍♀️😂

Lucy, sweetheart, the instructions were:

“Stay outside and guard the livestock.”

Not:

“Escort Mom safely back to the couch and wait for your next assignment.”

Meanwhile, somewhere on our farm, a fox is apparently thinking…

“Best livestock guardian dog they’ve ever had.” 🦊🐓😂

So yes, we have a Maremma.

Technically.

But at this point, her official title may be:

Lucy — Human Guardian, Couch Protector & Fox Accomplice. 🤣🐾

FarmDog ChickenGuardianFail Double8Ranch LifeOnTheFarm

08/23/2026

https://therealwv.com/2026/08/22/llama-and-alpaca-handlers-educate-compete-at-state-fair/

By Vanta Coda III, RealWV Yulia Windham, an alpaca and llama ambassador from Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch, shows her llama in the youth pack event.

08/22/2026

I couldn’t be more proud of our youth in our Double 8 Youth Club!! They are true ambassadors of both the Alpaca Owners Association organization and the International Llama Registry! They have such passion for educating the public about their alpacas and llamas! https://therealwv.com/2026/08/22/llama-and-alpaca-handlers-educate-compete-at-state-fair/

08/17/2026

Hard work certainly pays off! 💛🦙

We couldn’t be more proud of our Double 8 Youth Club kids and everything they accomplished this past weekend at the State Fair of West Virginia! 🎡

Fair weekend isn’t just about stepping into the show ring. These kids worked from start to finish—helping with setup, cleaning stalls, feeding and caring for their animals, grooming, practicing, and making sure their alpacas and llamas were ready to show. And when it was time to enter the ring, they took their classes seriously and gave it their very best. 🏆 One of the greatest rewards was seeing the incredible amount of growth and confidence in our 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old youth members. At these young ages, they are already learning responsibility, sportsmanship, animal husbandry, teamwork, and how dedication pays off.

But showing is only part of what makes us so proud. Our kids were also wonderful ambassadors for the alpaca and llama communities. They happily talked with fairgoers, shared what they’ve learned, and explained the differences between llamas and alpacas—even getting the opportunity to share their knowledge with the West Virginia State Fair Princess! 👑🦙

And because you can’t go to the fair without having a little fun, they still managed to squeeze in plenty of rides, corn dogs, Dippin’ Dots, yummy lemonade, laughter…and apparently a little broom-guitar rock concert in the barn aisle! 🎸🧹😂

Of course, no educational experience would be complete without a few unexpected lessons! Our stalls just happened to be located right next to the bovine weigh-in station, so by the end of the weekend, our Double 8 kids had significantly expanded their agricultural knowledge base. Let’s just say they now know WAY more about bovine p**p than they ever expected—or probably ever wanted—to know! 🐄💩🤣

Apparently, at the State Fair, EVERYTHING is an educational opportunity! 😂 Alpaca Owners Association Susan Hannah Ilr