Keeping Alpacas

Keeping alpacas can be quite straight forward and fun! At Morden Hall Alpacas we recommend the following.

Routine Maintenance

We believe that livestock should be checked at least once a day and alpacas are no exception to this general rule.

We feed our alpacas daily with a small quantity of pellets containing the necessary vitamins and minerals. We provide permanent access to fresh water and in winter we also supply good quality hay.

All our alpacas are vaccinated and wormed on a six monthly cycle. We also give some additional vitamins during the winter months.

Alpacas have two toes on each foot and toe nails are trimmed from time to time (usually two or three times a year).

Alpaca Shearing

Our alpacas are shorn annually, preferably in May or June. Sandra Scott is our shearer but shearing is usually a three person job – one to handle the animal, one to handle the shears and one to collect the fleece.

Housing, fencing and security

Alpacas are hardy creatures and like to spend most of their time out in the paddocks. We generally recommend some form of field shelter which will provide protection in some of our wetter winters and also some shade in our better summers.

General stock fencing is adequate for alpacas. They are not escape artists and do not generally challenge fences.

With regard to security, all our animals are registered with the British Alpaca Society and they are all micro-chipped. We also lock our gates when we are not around.

Veterinary assistance

Alpacas are generally very healthy and call outs for the vets are rare. However, before purchasing alpacas we do suggest you check that your local vet is willing and keen to take on your herd. Obviously, past experience with Camelids is an advantage but we have found that a vet’s enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are almost as good.