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New to Alpacas

4K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  TracyCrabtree 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello,
I've been given a young female alpaca and I know nothing of them. I have goats, chickens, horses and dogs. What all do I need for an alpaca? She will be in with my Nubian's, whom I hoping she will protect?
 
#6 ·
First, alpacas are a prey species. A llama, by contrast, will kick the snot out of a coyote. An alpaca will not.

The biggest dietary variation you will have is that alpacas need copper to produce good quality fiber where your other animals should not have copper in their diet. My local supplier has alpaca feed hit an miss and what they call an 'all stock' feed pellet all the time. Both run 14% protein and the only real difference is whether or not there is copper in the mix.

Alpacas are generally more sedate than goats. All of mine eat out of my hand and enjoy attention even though they aren't big on being touched, especially not on their heads. One particularly amusing thing is that if I stretch out for a rest on the ground in the pasture, my alpacas will do likewise!

Make absolutely sure that you give her a shot of ivermectrin every 3 months to prevent parasite infection including and especially meningeal worms. It is a truly awful way for one to go. Like your goats, alpacas are vulnerable to barber pole worms, so this is yet another thing to watch for. If you don't already have Panacur on hand, get it now. You will need the horse/cattle version and it is not available on the open market, so you will have to go to your vet, but the vet may not be available when you need it, and may well not keep it in stock and have to order it for you, which adds additional time.
 
#7 ·
Thank you very munch IndyDave for the advice. Everything I have read is saying copper is bad for them. I get goat mineral blocks and see them eating it also so I was very worried. They seem to be doing fine and ready to show. I'm having trouble getting them to lead with a halter and lead. Any advice for me?
Thanks.




First, alpacas are a prey species. A llama, by contrast, will kick the snot out of a coyote. An alpaca will not.

The biggest dietary variation you will have is that alpacas need copper to produce good quality fiber where your other animals should not have copper in their diet. My local supplier has alpaca feed hit an miss and what they call an 'all stock' feed pellet all the time. Both run 14% protein and the only real difference is whether or not there is copper in the mix.

Alpacas are generally more sedate than goats. All of mine eat out of my hand and enjoy attention even though they aren't big on being touched, especially not on their heads. One particularly amusing thing is that if I stretch out for a rest on the ground in the pasture, my alpacas will do likewise!

Make absolutely sure that you give her a shot of ivermectrin every 3 months to prevent parasite infection including and especially meningeal worms. It is a truly awful way for one to go. Like your goats, alpacas are vulnerable to barber pole worms, so this is yet another thing to watch for. If you don't already have Panacur on hand, get it now. You will need the horse/cattle version and it is not available on the open market, so you will have to go to your vet, but the vet may not be available when you need it, and may well not keep it in stock and have to order it for you, which adds additional time.
 
#8 ·
I haven't done much halter training. The first problem is that they don't like their heads touched, which a halter does in a big way. I anticipate that it is a matter of patience. That said, I will try to find out from a more knowledgeable friend (although with my chaotic schedule this may take a while).
 
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