Environment

Alpacas are large animals that need plenty of outdoor space. The more alpacas in your herd, the more land you will need! It’s also a great idea to have more than one pasture, so you can rotate your alpaca herd into different pastures, giving the empty pastures a chance to grow while they are not being used.

Rotating your pasture is important so that the pasture does not get too muddy as well. As a responsible alpaca guardian, you need to make sure your alpacas feet are kept dry so they do not get any foot infections.

Two important natural alpaca behaviours are roaming and grazing, so providing a big outdoor environment and lots of fresh, green pasture, will provide your alpacas with plenty of opportunities to happily express these behaviours.  

Before introducing your alpacas to their beautiful outdoor environment, have an adult help you ensure that there are no poisonous plants in their pasture.

Tutu (Coriaria arborea) and ngaio (Myoporum laetum), are native NZ plants and are dangerous for alpaca. Several garden plants including oleander, rhododendron and azalea, are also very poisonous.

If you’re unsure about a certain plant, it’s best to just remove it from the pasture to be safe.

An important part of your alpacas’ outdoor environment is fencing. Fencing prevents your alpacas from roaming away from home and keeps them safe from other animals that may hurt them.

The type of fencing used is very important. You may be surprised to learn that alpacas can actually jump quite high! Therefore, it’s key to have a fence that is high enough to prevent them from escaping.

Fence materials should also be strong and solid to prevent your alpacas from knocking it down. Materials such as wood works best, as other materials like wire and electric tape can cause serious injuries. Also, be sure that there are no places your alpacas can get their heads or neck stuck and check your fence frequently to ensure it’s safe and secure!

It’s very important to have a regular cleaning timetable for your alpacas’ shelter.

There are lots of serious health risks to alpaca if wet and soiled straw remains in their environment for too long. A regular cleaning schedule, or timetable, is essential for keeping your alpacas’ shelter clean and dry, and your alpacas healthy.

Fortunately, alpaca will usually choose one place to become their bathroom! This can make cleaning alpaca’s shelters a bit easier, but of course this area will need to be cleaned often.

Just as alpaca need plenty of outdoor space, they also need appropriate shelter so that they’re protected from harsh weather such as wind, rain, sun and snow. Just like you have a home, alpacas need to have a shelter. Shelters keep alpacas dry and warm in the winter, and nice and cool in the summer!

Make sure the sizing of your shelter is perfect for your herds’ needs – shelter that is too big may be too cold in the winter, however, there still needs to be enough room for your alpaca to move around and lie down. 

Just like you, alpacas like to be comfy, so fresh, clean, and dry bedding materials should be provided at all times.

Dry, clean straw is an ideal bedding material for alpaca. You can always provide extra straw in the winter to help your alpaca stay warm.

You must regularly remove and replace all wet and soiled straw to prevent serious health risks to your alpacas.

It’s important that your alpacas’ shelter has the right temperature and *humidity levels.

Cria (baby alpacas) and alpacas that have just been shorn are particularly sensitive to the cold. Therefore, they must have access to appropriate shelter at all times.

Additionally, alpaca can suffer from *heat stress. Plenty of fresh, clean water, and a proper shelter will help reduce the risk of heat stress.

Glossary:

*humidity – when the air is full of water vapour, especially when the temperature is hot.

*heat stress – when the body cannot get rid of excess heat, causing the body temperature and heart rate to rise.

There are lots of natural ways you can provide your alpaca with additional shelter. For example, lots of trees can help provide protection from the sun and the rain. Alpaca also like lots of gullies and hollows in the ground where they can lie down and rest. 

You can also set up hay bale structures and covers to ensure your alpaca have heaps of shelter options, no matter where they are in their environment! This helps ensure that your alpacas have plenty of choice and enough space if they want to hang out together, or have some alone time.