Homestead Alpacas

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Getting Started Raising Alpacas

by Mark Puhr
Homestead Alpacas

What do you need to get started with alpacas? Some good reference material and a good mentor or the person you bought the alpacas from. You have to have the commitment to care for these animals year round unless you've decided to purchase investment livestock and have them boarded. You will also need finances not only for the initial purchase, but also for feed and veterinary care. And if you will be purchasing investment animals, you will need a business plan outlining your objectives and growing the business. As you can see, not much, mostly just money for your initial purchase. Some additional items would include:

• Fenced pasture area for your alpacas
• A smaller enclosure for catching, feeding and handling of the animals
• Some type of shelter such as a loafing shed, barn or sturdy tent.
• Some good grass hay or foraging place
• A rake, shovel and wheelbarrow for cleaning up poop
• A mineral supplement, this can be free choice or within pellets
• Water
• Halters and leads for each alpaca
• Toenail clippers
• Wormers such as Panacur and Dectomax
• First Aid kit containing vet warp, antiseptic for cleaning wounds, animal thermometer, antibiotic cream
• Vet who knows something about camelids (llamas)
• A book about basic care, such as Caring for Llama and Alpacas, A Health and Management Guide by Clare Hoffman, DVM, Ingrid Asmus

You will also need a way to transport an animal, although if you purchased them from a local breeder, they would be able to assist in this until you obtained necessary equipment. I've transported animals in a SUV, pickup with a topper as well as livestock trailer.

The fencing is minimal, these animals don't challenge fences. The fences are more to keep predators out, such as the neighbor's dog. These animals don't require much space and are very clean. You can have 5-10 per acre. In Weld county, Colorado, the zoning is 52 per acre or 13 alpacas are equivalent to one horse.

The shelter can be lean-tos, barns, loafing sheds or three sided buildings, tents such as the Hanson Weather Port. The animals prefer to be outside where they can see.

Catch pens are used for feeding and handling the animals.

The hay most breeders in Colorado feed is Smooth Brome/Orchard grass hay, some breeders like to have a little alfalfa mixed in, but we just feed the third cutting grass hay to our animals.

The rake and shovel is for cleaning up poop. The animals poop in one or two spots within the pasture so clean-up is easy. The poop makes good compost and fertilizer.

Mix supplements are optional depending on your environment. We supplement the hay with a pellet specifically formulated for Llama.

Always have clean fresh water for the animals. We use the electric plug in buckets during the winter time and just a regular bucket during the summer. During the heat of the summer four alpacas will drink two gallons of water per day.

You will want a good halter for each animal. Halters come in different sizes, it's important to have a proper fitting halter so the animal can breath through it's noise. You should receive halters and leads with your animals.

The toenail clippers will be needed for some of the animals. Not all alpacas need trimming, some wear naturally, others you will trim every six months.

These are relatively easy animals to care for, most of the items will not be needed initially and can be obtained later from the supply companies.

Last update: April 1, 2002
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Homestead Alpacas, 7880 W 20th St, Greeley, CO 80634, (970) 506-0799,