- The last twenty years has shown us how easy it is for anyone to keep alpacas. These wonderful animals have adapted very well to life in Britain and are now in the fields of many properties throughout the country. Alpacas are hardy animals whose forebears have spent thousands of years grazing on seasonally diverse pastures in very harsh weather conditions. Here at Inca Alpaca we have developed a husbandry regime that keeps our alpacas healthy, happy and in optimum condition. We can divide basic alpaca care and husbandry into eleven areas. more »
- Alpacas don't challenge a fence the way other livestock do. When fencing for alpacas keep one thing in mind. predators! This does not necessarily mean bears, mountain lions, etc. but more the neighbor's dogs or any pack of dogs that might roam the area. At Walnut Creek, we also have guardian dogs that guard the perimeter of the alpaca pens. This discourages a great deal of predators before they get close to the pens. Of course, your geographic area will determine what types of predators you have to worry about. Contrary to popular belief, coyotes don't seem to be a problem. I have only heard of one instance where coyotes attacked and killed alpacas. This was in the drought stricken area of Colorado. Animals of prey become pretty bold as times get harsh. I would especially think the cria (babies) would be inviting to a hungry pack of coyotes. Remember, don't fence your alpacas in! Fence their predators out! more »
- There are a number of things to consider when laying out your facility. If you are lucky enough to already have barns and/or fencing in place then you will need to adapt to what exists. If not, here are some options to consider and how we addressed them at Sunset Ridge Alpacas. One feature we highly recommend is a 10' wide lane separating your pastures with a gate to each pasture and two additional gates to close off the lane. With all four gates closed you can create a 10' x 10' pen. With three gates open it is relatively easy to herd the animals from the open pasture into the lane. Feeding them grain in the lane makes this even easier. Once in the lane the third gate is closed. The animals are easily herded up and the fourth gate closed to create the catch pen. This is much easier on you and much less traumatic for the animals. more »
- If you are thinking about alpacas as pets, the good news is that health issues aren't a major issue. Breeding alpacas can be a bit more intensive, but looking after pet males can be a lot of fun with very little work. While pet alpacas are easy to manage, there are still a few very important health issues for pet owners to consider. more »
- Mark arrived early in the morning and asked where to set up. He needed a flat surface with posts or 'O' rings to attach some pulleys, explaining that this was a restraint system to hold the alpaca still while quickly shearing the fleece off. With only a semi-enclosed loafing shed with dirt floor for sheltering the alpacas, Mark looked around and decided on using our concrete patio under the deck. The support posts for the deck would work well to anchor the restraints. more »