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Below are the questions we asked and questions we should have asked. It’s all in the learning processes and the answers are individualized to our experience, schedules published by AOBA and other organizations as well as information gathered from publications and other websites. The subjects are generally broken out in to the following categories listed below.
Following the FAQ Section is an Online Informational Request Form. Please feel free to submit any additional questions you may have. We will answer them to the best of our ability!
Please click on a question below. Each are linked to their appropriate answer OR scroll down the page to view the entire FAQ Section.
What is an alpaca?
What is the
gestation period for an alpaca?
What is the
expected lifespan of an alpaca?
What is the
reproductive lifespan of an alpaca?
How
many babies (crias) per year can be expected?
How big does an alpaca
get?
How frequently is the
alpaca sheared?
Should I plan on
shearing my alpacas?
Do I need to own a
farm?
Do I need a barn?
How big does my shelter
have to be?
Should I have a wooden
or metal barn?
What kind of floor
should be used?
Do I need to have
water in the barn?
Are there any secrets
to putting doors on our barn?
Hay storage; should we
have a loft?
What kind of fencing
is best?
Do I need a trailer
for my alpacas?
What kind of equipment
do I need to run an alpaca farm?
I’m a first time
buyer, how do I go about selecting an alpaca for purchase?
What is involved in the
daily care of alpacas?
What kind of medical
care is needed for an alpaca?
What is an alpaca?
The alpaca is a charming and valuable member of the camelid family. Alpacas are
prized for their luxurious and costly fiber. Their babies are called cria. They
are herd animals native to the Andes Mountains of South America and are very
gentle, clean and make wonderful pets.
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What is the gestation period for an alpaca?
Approximately eleven months. Alpaca can be late or early, but they normally
deliver in the morning or early afternoon.
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What is the expected lifespan of an alpaca?
We are not really sure in North America. North American alpaca breeders have
provided sound husbandry practices and breeding programs. It is not uncommon to
see North American alpacas well into their teens and some twenty years old.
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What is the reproductive lifespan of an alpaca?
Female alpacas usually begin
breeding at between 15 and 18 months of age while most males can successfully
impregnate a female at about three years. We recommend checking with you vet
before first time breeding of your females. We are holding ours until they are
24 months to insure that they are fully developed. Currently a reproductive
life of about ten to twelve years can be expected.
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How
many babies (crias) per year can be expected?
One cria per year is the norm.
Twins are very infrequent.
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How big does an alpaca get?
Generally, alpaca grow to about
150 to 200 pounds. I have seen larger males up to the range of about 250
pounds.
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How frequently is the alpaca sheared?
Alpaca are sheared once a year.
The fiber can then be sent to a cooperative or local processor. Finished
products are returned to you for resale.
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Should I plan on shearing my alpacas?
I don’t recommend that you shear
your animals the first year unless you have some experience with shearing
animals and are willing to forego your first year fiber collection. However, at
some point you may want to shear and you will need special clipper, blades, some
medical supplies in case you cut the animal as well as restraining equipment.
This equipment is relatively expensive, clipper $350+, blades $35+, restraining
equipment $250+. I recommend you have your animals sheared and work as the
shearer’s apprentice for the first year. For more information concerning
shearing
click here.
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Do I need to own a farm?
No. There are two ways to own
alpacas. First is to have sufficient land and either a barn or ability to build
a barn or other type structure. In this case you can purchase and take the
alpacas to your “farm” assuming your land is zoned for livestock. The second is
called agistment. You purchase the alpacas and the breeder (or another breeder)
maintains the alpacas for you. You receive the fiber and the tax advantages of
a business.
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Do I need a barn?
Many associations will tell you
that a three-sided shelter will do. I don’t agree particularly if you live in a
cold climate or where the weather is not mostly cool and clear with no change of
showers, snow or high winds. For more information concerning shelters
click here.
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How big does my shelter have to be?
As big as you can
afford is our answer. Look at you business plan and build the largest you can
within budget. Plan for expansion. You can establish internal barriers to
close off unneeded space. For more information concerning barns and how we
divided our barn please
click here.
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Should I have a wooden or metal barn?
If you are buying an established
farm the type of construction may already have been decided. Wood looks great
and traditionally was the material of choice. We have metal barns (painted barn
red) and are very satisfied with the choice. Metal barns have little to no
maintenance requirements and are quickly erected using pole barn construction
techniques. Additionally, metal pole barns can be expanded with minimum
expenditure.
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What kind of floor should be used?
Floors are a difficult
choice. To date we have met one breeder who is completely happy with their
floor. They have a cement floor with cow mats installed (similar to wall to
wall carpeting). This is expensive. We have a dirt floor. Cement floors are
not recommended, but come with most dairy farm farms. They can be removed or
modified. Please
click here
for a more detailed discussion of this
subject.
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Do I need to have water in the barn?
The alpaca needs to have a good supply of clean water all day. They drink very
little while in pasture, but increase their consumption in the winter when the
primary source of food is hay. We have running water to the barns and carry it
to water stations (buckets hanging in the barn area. Others have automatic
waters, which are very convenient. More information concerning our water
experience and decisions can be found by
clicking here.
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Are there any secrets to putting doors on our barn?
No secrets, but some caution
should be exercised in door selection. If you are putting on interior sliding
doors you will lose twice the width of the door in interior wall space. If you
put on exterior slider, be sure you have a porch or shelter over the doors if
you live in a snow area. Exterior sliders will not open in the snow without
having their path cleared. The fact is that the door only has to be wide
enough for you largest alpaca (and you) to get though. Overhead doors also work
very well.
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Hay storage; should we have a loft?
I believe the answer is yes. A
loft is not necessary, but it is much easier to toss the hay down then carry in
across the barn or from building to building. We went without a loft in one
barn for one year. You can store the hay on pallets. Just keep the stored hay
away from the alpacas. (Stored hay is always more tasty than the hay in the
feeders.) Be sure that the roof structure allows for adding a loft later if
needed.
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What kind of fencing is best?
Alpacas will not challenge fencing
for the most part now and then the males trying to get to the females. Fencing
for the most part is to keep other animals away from your alpacas. We use
five-foot no-climb woven (not welded) fencing with post approximately twelve
feet apart. Electric fencing works fine or any combination depending upon the
type of animals you are trying to keep out.
Click here
to read more about our experience with
fencing.
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Do I need a trailer for my alpacas?
The simple answer is no. But, I
strongly recommend that you acquire one. Unfortunately, trailers are
expensive. The alpacas will fit in a van or station wagon and you can transport
them quite effectively; however, alpacas do not give up their bodily functions
during transport. Please see a more detailed answer and possible alternatives
by
clicking here.
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What kind of equipment do I need to run an alpaca farm?
Equipment needs are dependent upon how big an
operation you have or intend to have. Be aware that farm equipment is
frequently shared with other farmers or rental equipment is available though
dealers and cooperatives. You will need some kind of tractor, equipment to
maintain you pasture/meadow and the standard group of hand tools as well as at
least one wheelbarrow per barn. “Poop” pick up tools, some rakes, buckets and
feeders will also needed. For more complete information concerning equipment
click here.
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I’m a first time
buyer, how do I go about selecting an alpaca for purchase?
This is too big a question to
answer in FAQ; however, the first action is to visit several alpaca farms and
talk with the breeders. In most instances you will not find the breeders
“pushing” their alpacas. If you do, you probably don’t want a long-term
relationship with them. Read the many publications and visit websites of alpaca
owners. For more information concerning first time buying and selecting a
breeder
click here
to share our experience in selecting our
alpacas.
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What is involved in the daily care of alpacas?
We refer to daily care
as the chores. We do chores twice a day. Once in the morning and evening.
The chores consist of picking up the poop, feeding, providing clean water and
grain/minerals. The daily care of the alpacas is quite simple, enjoyable and
gives you the opportunity to interact with them. Monthly, we have a health day
and do shots and check their overall health and foot maintenance. For more
information on our daily chores please
click here.
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What kind of medical
care is needed for an alpaca?
Alpacas are generally quite
healthy animals needing very little veterinarian care other then gelding, as
appropriate. An owner without prior medical experience can do most care. We
give monthly shots to prevent worms and crias may require periodic vitamins
shots in the winter to assure their strong growth. If you have never give a
shot before, your veterinarian or breeder will be happy to instruct you.
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