A BOUNCING baby llama and three eagle owlets are the latest additions to the Smithills Open Farm family.

The llama came into the world on Sunday at noon while mum Tango was enjoying some time out in the field.

The last of the three owlets arrived eight days ago – each of them spent five weeks being incubated after they were laid by their mum Bubu.

The baby, which is yet to be named and is known as a cria, is doing well and is currently being looking after by its mum in the pets' corner.

A bundle of joy, it weighs about eight kilos, is the farm's 17th llama.

Farm owner Carl Grimshaw said: "She's really cute and both her and her mum are doing well.

"Llamas are pregnant for 11 and a half months and give birth all year round, normally every 18 months. We always separate the babies and their mother from the father so that they have proper time to bond.

"Llama births are normally problem free, and thankfully this one went well. It isn't always smooth going though – 10 weeks ago Cherry nearly died and had to be hand-reared. She's doing well now, thankfully, and is bonding well with the newborn."

The three European eagle owl chicks have hatched over the last two and a half weeks.

Mr Grimshaw said: "The oldest one is about two and a half weeks, the second is just under two weeks old and the third is about eight days old. The idea is the mother lays them at different times so the hatching is staggered.

"We have had Bubu since the farm opened – about 14 years now, and has successfully reared a number of owlets in the last eight years.

"Bubu laid four eggs but one didn't hatch. After the egg has been laid, the incubation period is about 35 days. She will lay one, sit on it for about four or five days then lay another, and then another. They will also be going into the Pets corner next week."

To suggest a name for the baby Llama, check the farm's Facebook page for the competition by searching 'Smithills Open Farm'.