What Does It Really Take?

One important thing to understand about alpacas is that they are not pets. No matter how much time you spend with them or how many treats you bring, they generally don’t bond with humans the way a horse or dog might.

Alpacas are curious and quirky. They want to know what’s going on and will often follow along to see what you’re doing—but usually from a safe arm’s-length distance!

Don’t be frustrated or disappointed if they don’t give back the same affection you feel for them. Alpacas are natural introverts and form only bonds with their own kind. And honestly, that’s part of what makes them so wonderfully quirky!

Daily Alpaca Care

Every morning starts with feeding the alpacas their grain mixture, a custom blend made specifically for our herd by a local feed mill.

Fresh, clean water is essential for keeping the alpacas healthy. Water buckets are checked and refilled daily, with extra attention during hot weather and freezing temperatures in the winter. Keeping water available and clean is an important part of the daily routine.

Manure management is a simple but important part of the routine. Alpacas naturally use communal “poop piles,” which makes pasture cleanup much easier and helps keep the rest of the area tidy. In the barn, only the areas where the alpacas regularly use the bathroom need to be shoveled daily—you are not cleaning out the entire barn.

During the summer, the alpacas spend most of their time on the summer pasture, where they graze on fresh grass.

During the winter months, when the alpacas are in the barn, hay needs to be provided daily. Hay boxes are filled regularly throughout the winter to make sure the herd always has access to good-quality hay.

The daily morning chores, including feeding, checking the herd, watering, and cleaning the barn areas, generally take about 1.5 to 2 hours. This time also allows you to observe each alpaca, make sure everyone is eating well, and notice any changes that may need attention.

Feeding the Herd

Our alpacas are fed a custom grain/pellet mix made by our local feed mill. We pick up about 10 bags every two weeks, keeping a steady supply on hand.

Hay is another important part of their diet. We have approximately 650 small bales delivered once a year, giving us enough hay to get through the winter months.

And, of course, the alpacas enjoy a few treats! Some of their favourites include shredded carrots, freshly mowed grass, and trimmed willow branches. These little extras are a fun way to spoil the herd and interact with them.