I almost didn't open this thread, dreaded hearing something terrible....but now am having a good laugh with morning coffee! The same thing happened to me last year but it was one of our donkeys. Our house was still being built so we had to drive out here once or twice a day to check on the animals; one really hot day I drove in to see one of the girls lying out in the full blazing sun in the dirt with her legs sort of sticking out...from a distance she looked more stiff than relaxed, and didn't respond when I called. The other girls came running over to the gate and my heart just sank. I was actually standing over and touching her before she lazily opened one eye and looked annoyed at having her sunbathing interrupted! Of course, the adrenaline draining away left me so sick, I wanted to kill her, LOL.

I had the same experience last night w/ my llama. I was searching for a lost calf (the newest baby), and almost fell over Roni in the pasture. I was so focused on the calf that was missing, that I didn't even notice she was laying there. Finally she stood up, but she was slow moving... just sleeping.
Found the calf 2 hours later, after searching the woods that border the pasture... BAREFOOT. I only had flip flops on b/c I thought I was just stopping by to check in. Well, when she came up missing, the search was on, and just below the fence line in the woods is a spring. Everything is sooooo dry that I didn't realize the wet spot was 12" deep. Lost both my shoes in it. I was able to dig for them, but then I was stuck running around the wood (deep hardwoods I might add) barefoot. Finally found her back in the pasture. She's 6 days old, but she knew she was in trouble. Her mother was not all too pleased w/ her, nor was I!

Bad llama, bad! My horse used to take long naps in the sun, all sprawled out like a dead horse. He wouldn't even raise his head until I was right there looking at him for breathing. Same response as your animals "What, can't a guy take a nap?" It took me a few times to learn he wasn't dead, just napping.
Carla

In March and April when we get a really sunny day, the pregnant mares like to do this. I go running out because I think somebody's foaling, and then once I get all the way there, they jump up and run away. Turn back to the barn, and the guys are all laughing....(and so are the mares).

Great story, GREAT picture! *L*

Aren't animals just soooo funny when they pull this one...(said through gritted teeth). Our chickens do the same thing when sunabthing. They lie out on the open on their sides, head thrown back, eyes closed, beak open and tongue hanging out, wing spread, legs extended....looking for all the freaking WORLD like fresh roadkill, the breeze ruffling their feathers the only movement. I go tearing out there with my heart in my throat and whammo--! Up they jump and run off, looking offended that I interrupted them.

The little dears....

You all are too much. It just so happens there are LLAMAS at the farm where I work. It's supposed to be a POULTRY farm, but what's with the llamas anyway? Back in July, when it was so hot, I saw a llama lying in the pasture across from the office and it LOOKED DEAD! I told the foreman it was dead. He looked across the drive and saw it. he told me that's how they sleep. It looked just it was dead!

Now, I can definitely relate to velvet's experience with the chickens. With some 2,300 chickens, many do die from heat, stress, illnes or whatever. many a time, I've opened the pen doors to pick up the "dead" chicken and nearly have a massive coronary when it jumps up! Good grief!

When my horses were a little younger my gleding would lay out in the sun looking like he was dead. I got used to it, but people who lived on the road would call me to tell me there was something wrong with my horse. Nope, just taking a nap. If he was on his back, I would have a major panic attack just like you did! Who would have thought that llama's sleep on their back like a dog!

Whew! Scared the livin' daylights out of me! I was horrified too, reading the first sentences. My chickens do that and I've just gotten used to it. I've seen horses do it too. But, a Llama? I never gave that much thought at all! LOL
Love the photo and I'm glad he's NOT dead, but did YOU have yourself checked out by the doc after the big scare?! LOL That sounds like heart attack time for sure. :)

chckenmama1

tooooo funny! i've only had llamas for about 8 months so this was new to me!

as my mare grew old and rickety, i would see her napping for hours at a time. literally hours, it was nothing to see her lying flat out for 2, 3 hours at a time. now we horse people know that a horse lying down for that long isn't a good sign. but for old chips, it was so normal.

i used to think to myself that i wish she WOULD die quietly in her sleep. she was nearing 37 years of age and i knew if she didn't die naturally soon, it would be up to me. ultimately i had to have her put down. she was a real scrapper but the last few months of her life, she was having to struggle somewhat to get up and down. it was a kindness i had to deal with and i wanted it to happen before she lost her dignity. still miss that ole gal!

What about when a toddler does that??? One day I couldn't find mine...hunted high and low for him.(He was always under foot, like toddlers are) When I found him he was lying just under the dust ruffle of my bed, with a wash cloth in his mouth...(I'm thinking choking)...eyes closed, no movement, did not respond to my calling him. I jerked him out from under the bed and he opened his eyes like I had lost my mind. I aged about 20 years!

OMG jan!! when my little one was a toddler, he was never still long enough to sleep. ever!! LOL

Wow, now I can see a positive side to my toddler's behavior - he will sleep ONLY in a quiet, darkened room. If anything is going on around, he's awake and part of the action :-) But Jan, that would scare the crap outta me!

Nina, one of my llamas does this, too, BTW!

Pam

That would scare me to death, Jan!
The llama story if funny, tho...LOL....