ODDS AND ENDS:

We always try to provide a realistic view of day to day alpaca farm living.  Here are just a few bits of good, down to earth, need-to-know advice that you are not likely to read anywhere else, at least in one place,  that we regularly share.  We selected just a few tips, but these will give you a gem or two and maybe a feel for how we work with our customers.

Alpacas are work:
Yes, they are delightful, cute, and a great investment.  They will, however, require your time, your financial resources and your skills.  The more you have, the more work there is to be done. You must feed them, water them, clean up after them and provide veterinary care for them.  You must figure out what you don’t know and then learn it.  You must read and ask and watch.  The lifestyle is wonderful, and we recommend alpacas to anyone ready for the task, but you must be willing to invest more than your money in them.  Many people agist their animals because they don’t have the time to care for them. That’s a great plan for that situation.  If you are like us and do want to be on the farm with them every day then make your decision wisely and be prepared for your daily life with them. The rewards are there, in exchange for a little fulfilling farm work and some time in the alpaca library.

Alpacas need to be with other alpacas:
They don’t do well by themselves.  Even for a day, it stresses them out. Their little instincts to be a part of the herd are strong.  Keep this in mind as you lay out your farm and pastures.  Sooner or later males and females need to be separated. If you end up, for instance, with 2 females and one yearling male, you’ll need another male to keep company for the “odd man out” when you separate him from your girls. It’s not all that big of a deal, and many farms will loan or sell you a companion animal, but it is something to keep in mind and plan ahead for.

You don’t want winter crias!
Any female bred to deliver her cria in the winter months, unless you live in south Florida, is going to be a worry for you.  Take our advice, you will regret buying a pregnant female that is due in November, December, January, February or March.  March or April might be OK depending upon where you live. If it is still freezing every night in March or April , it’s too cold.  A cria born on a cold winter day is a baby at immediate high risk. If you are not there watching, in 20 minutes you could lose your cria.   Winter babies are hard to care for and the likelihood of problems is compounded by cold weather. Sure, you can build warm rooms in your barn, but daily sunlight plays a large roll in the health of your crias.  Play it safe!

Make sure you have enough of operating capital:  
It may take a year or two for your farm to be profitable.  Don’t spend every dime you have on alpacas and not leave enough in reserve for feed, vet bills, fencing etc.  Make sure your budget allows for at least 12 months worth of operating cash reserves.

Enjoy your alpacas! These whimsical, lovely creatures are ours to love. Spending time with them, watching them play, feeding and caring for them is one of life’s great rewards.

We’ll be glad to share more of our must-know alpaca tips with you. Call us today to talk with us and set up a time to see our alpacas.

816-619-3515
Matt & Tricia Clements

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