Alpacas
We have 3 male alpacas:
| Name | Nickname | Age | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onyx | Onu | 10 yrs | Alpha & guardian of the herd | White fur, no “hat” of hair |
| Flocon | Floco | 4 yrs | Next in line — son of Onyx | White fur, with a “hat” of hair |
| Sapphire | Sapphi | — | Smallest of the herd | Black fur |
Alpacas hide illness
They’re prey animals — they mask symptoms until critical. If something seems even slightly off, monitor it closely. See Animal Emergency.
Daily Routine
Cleaning Times: 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM
Twice daily — pen cleaning, water refresh, hay check.
Feeding
Hay (the main food)
- Quality: Light greenish hay from inside the bale. Should smell sweet and grassy, never dusty or moldy.
- Outer shell of the bale is degraded — safe as bedding but not food.
- Moisture: 12-16% for large bales, up to 18% for smaller bales.
- Storage: Covered, off the ground (or at least off the grass). Damp = worse than dusty.
- Portions: Frequent small bundles from inside the bale. Don’t put out too much at once — anything exposed degrades faster than it’ll be eaten.
- Behavior check: They should be curious and accepting of hay offers, not ravenous or aggressively competitive.
Grain
- 1 bag should last roughly 6 months (per Jean Louis).
- Use sparingly as supplement, not main food.
Water
- Always available, fresh. Camelids need unlimited fresh water.
- Refresh during cleaning rounds (11 AM, 8 PM) at minimum.
Anyone can feed/water/fluff bedding at any time
The system is flexible. If you notice it, nurture it.
Health Signs
✅ Good signs
- Staying with the herd
- Cud chewing — rhythmic, relaxed, regurgitating partially digested material
- Manure output trending normal (formed pellets)
- Grazing fresh grass, drinking water
- Smooth skin under fiber
⚠️ Watch closely
- Reduced manure output — isolate to monitor if needed
- Reduced appetite (>12 hrs)
- Crusty / thick / “elephant” skin → likely mange / mite infestation (treatable, ask vet)
- Mild lameness
🚨 Emergency — see Animal Emergency
- Self-isolation from herd (extreme emergency sign for camelids)
- Colic signs (see below)
- Stargazing, head tilt, neck arch, unsteady gait, leg weakness — neurological emergency
- Stops eating
- No manure
- Tooth grinding (pain, not the same as cud chewing)
Colic warning signs (call vet immediately)
- Reduced/stopped eating
- Little or no manure output
- Repeatedly lying down and getting up
- Restlessness, can’t get comfortable
- Tooth grinding
- Stretched-out or hunched posture
- Kicking at or looking at belly
- Bloated/tight abdomen
- No cud chewing
- Isolation from herd
- Weakness or depression
Annual / Periodic Care
| Task | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enterotoxemia preventive | 1×/year, beginning of Spring | 2cc subcutaneous. Last dose: April 25, 2026 |
| Sel Vitaminé à l’ail | Ongoing | Natural prevention against worms & bacterial overgrowth — see Natural Care |
| Shearing (tonte) | End June / early July | Contact: François Meheust — 06 76 63 58 47 |
| Nail trimming | White: every 3-4 months. Black: much less often | Often done at shearing. Visually apparent when needed. |
| Fecal exam | Every 3-4 months | Targeted deworming based on results, not blanket treatment |
Notes from the Herd
- Onyx (Onu) is the alpha and guardian — can be reactive at night, has been known to charge things he thinks are predators (e.g. blanket movement at the foot of the bed) and make a loud screech. Stops as soon as you say it’s you.
- Flocon (Floco) is Onyx’s son and second in line.
- Sapphire (Sapphi) is the smallest — keep an eye on him in feeding/herd dynamics.
- Deer in the area can make alpacas nervous → loud warning sounds.
- A camera in the stables is planned for monitoring.
- Sapphi’s leg wound (~April 26, 2026): was bitten — clean 1-2× per day with vet’s protocol for 7-10 days. Watch for flies on fresh wounds.
- The herd is patrolled and protected by our two Anatolian Shepherd LGDs.
Stables Setup
- Idea: attach a hay-feeding bar to a lower spot between boxes.
- Idea: build a 3rd wall on the stables so they can sleep inside in less hyper-alert mode.
- Electric fence: check status before assuming on/off (was unplugged at one point).
Sleeping in the Stables
If you stay overnight with the herd:
- Bring a mosquito net (camping nets work).
- Keep a good stick nearby for chasing predators.
- Leave the metal gate open or closed depending on situation — coordinate with whoever else is on duty.