Caring For Alpacas

Feeding

Alpacas are herbivores (they eat and digest vegetation) and they are also ruminants, which means that they chew the cud. Primarily they live on grass pasture and good quality hay. Alpacas tend to do particularly well on meadow grass and often like the wild flower mixes that are sometimes prepared by seed merchants for grazing purposes.

Alpacas may also browse from Hedgerows, and particuarly like the sweet new shoots of Hawthorn in springtime. It is essential not to allow them access to plants that are toxic, for instance rhododendrons, azaleas, holly etc. It is best to fence such areas off so as to be out of reach of their long necks! Always be vigilant in ensuring that no ragwort exists in the pasture.

It is important that the Alpacas have fresh clean water available to them at all times

Feed Supplements

We also feed our Alpacas a mineral supplement which amongst other things, gives the extra copper and selenium etc. that they would find in their natural habitat of the Andes.

Health and Well Being

Caring for alpacas is not difficult or too expensive, but it is important to invest some time with your Alpacas at least twice a day.

Animals should be checked twice a day to ensure that they are fine and happy...the more time you spend with them the more they will be relaxed and interact with you!

Twice each year vaccinations will be necessary, it is relatively easy to learn how to do this. Similarly the alpacas have toe nails which will need clipping about 3 times per year with a pair of sharp secateurs or sheep foot rot shears (NB. Alpacas do not suffer foot rot).

Worming will need to be carried out periodically, this can be achieved by means of injections, pour-on or by an oral drench.

At shearing time an experienced alpaca shearer can examine the teeth to determine if these need trimming, alternatively a veterinary surgeon or competent horse dentist will oblige.