Mom, I’m bored!  Alpacas, especially the young, like to play. A simple mound of dirt in the pasture to play king of the hill on will bring a playful wag to your alpaca’s tail.  Another idea to entertain your alpacas is to attach a pet squeeze toy to the stall wall.  They delight in the sound that comes from squeezing the toy with their mouth.

Where’s the beach?  On a hot summer day, there’s nothing like a jump in a pool to cool off.  Alpacas like this too!  A small plastic kiddy pool for them to wade in makes them happy. Since alpacas loose heat from their underside, another treat is to spray them on the chest and belly with water from a hose. They will line up in anticipation for this summertime treat.

Please pass the sunscreen.  Although alpacas truly enjoy sunbathing, they also know when they have had too much sun.  Provide lots of shade in hot weather. Plant trees or have buildings that provide shade. Use fans to cool off the barn.  During the hot part of the day you'll find all your alpacas lounging under the trees or in front of the fans with grins on their lips.

Give them a break:  Alpacas enjoy summer breezes to cool them off but they really dislike cold wind blowing on them. They will naturally seek relief from uncomfortable weather.  Make sure you provide adequate shelter and natural windbreaks during inclement weather and in the cold winter months.  Your alpacas will thank you for it.

Choosy mothers choose...  Quality food is very important when raising alpacas. Be very choosy when purchasing hay. Don't get hay that has a lot of hard stems in it. The stems are difficult for alpacas to chew and they will leave all the hard stems behind. Choose good quality grass hay and your alpacas will beam.

say.

 

U.S. livestock industry without a standard that defines our breed.

 

Don’t crowd me:  Provide lots of space. Alpacas, especially the young, like to race and play. Four to five alpacas per acre gives them lots of room to stretch their legs.  Also, give them plenty of space to eat.  Alpacas are very selfish when it comes to eating.  Providing feed in a long feeding trough will reduce the stress of feeding frenzy, allowing them to eat more slowing with less incidence of choking.

Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas | Tim & Beth Sheets | Flora, IN | www.OurHeritageFarm.com

Happy feet, happy alpacas.  Just like their human caregivers, alpacas have toenails that require regular trimming.  If you let the toenails on an alpaca curl, they can break off, cause problems, and in the worst case, make your alpaca lame. Simple regular toenail trimmings can prevent problems and keep your alpacas smiling.

Ten Things That Make

An Alpaca Smile!

Give them some company:  Humans like to have some alone time occasionally. Not so with alpacas. They become very stressed if alone. They are herd animals and need company. If one needs to be removed from the herd, assign a buddy to accompany them. That will keep them happy and relaxed.

Think like an alpaca:  When raising alpacas, think like an alpaca. The better you understand how an alpaca thinks, the better you will be able to handle your camelid friends. There are handling classes available that will help you learn to think like an alpaca. (Don't carry this over into other aspects of your life or co-workers will make fun of you around the water cooler and your friends and family may have you committed.)