Setting Up Before Your Alpacas Arrive

How Much Land Do You Need?

• The starter minimum: around half an acre is generally given as the minimum UK grazing area for a group of two or three alpacas
• A safe working guide: about three alpacas per acre in typical UK conditions; good pasture can carry more in summer
• Plan for winter, not summer: set your numbers by what the land supports in winter, when grass growth stops, rather than by peak summer growth
• Split it in two: even a small plot works better divided into two paddocks, so one can rest and recover while the other is grazed
• Shared access: position water and shelter so they can be reached from either paddock

Safe Fencing for a Fleeced Animal

Alpacas rarely test a fence. Fencing does not exist in their native Andes and they show little interest in pushing through one. Its real job is keeping dogs and other unwanted visitors out, and making sure your alpacas cannot hurt themselves on it.

• Height: about four feet (roughly 1.2 metres) makes an adequate enclosure
• The classic build: three-foot stock fencing with two plain wires above it
• Small mesh low down: openings near the ground should be small enough that a cria cannot get its head or legs through
• Check for hazards: no sharp edges, loose wire ends or gaps where a head can get stuck
• Gates: plan gates so you can move animals between paddocks and into the catch pen without a struggle

Dry and Out of the Wind

• Three-sided is enough: in a mild climate like the UK, a three-sided field shelter is usually all that is needed
• Face it the right way: the open side should point away from the prevailing weather
• Size: a general guide is 40 to 50 square feet per animal (roughly 4 square metres); more space lets lower-ranking animals keep their distance from dominant ones
• Dry, not warm: the fleece does the insulating; the shelter just needs to keep off rain and wind
• Ventilation: good airflow matters more than draught-proofing
• Power and water close by: if you can, site the shelter near a water supply and power; it makes winter chores far easier

Clean Water, Every Day, All Year

• Always available: alpacas must have fresh, clean drinking water at all times
• How much: an adult may drink up to around 4 litres a day, and more in hot weather, in full fleece, or when a female is nursing a cria
• Keep it clean: alpacas will not drink contaminated water, so troughs and buckets need regular cleaning
• Reachable from both paddocks: site the trough where either grazing area can get to it

Make Handling Calm and Easy

You will need to handle your alpacas for toenail trimming, injections, vet checks, faecal samples and shearing. Chasing them round a field stresses everyone. Even with only two or three alpacas, a small catch pen makes every one of these jobs easier.

• Keep it small: one specialist trainer recommends a catch pen no larger than about 9 by 9 feet (under 3 by 3 metres)
• Open to both sides: on a divided plot, a pen that opens into either paddock works whichever field is in use
• Feed them in it: give the daily vitamin and mineral feed inside the pen, so the alpacas walk in willingly and you can simply close the gate when you need them
• Catch calmly: once the alpaca is in the pen, a quiet arm around the neck will usually hold it still, provided it stays balanced on all four feet

Walk Every Boundary for Poisonous Plants

Before your alpacas arrive, walk every paddock and boundary and look for plants that should not be there. Common UK dangers to grazing animals include:

• Yew: one of the most toxic plants in the UK; check hedges, gardens and any trees overhanging the boundary
• Rhododendron: often found in gardens and woodland next to fields
• Ragwort: a yellow-flowered weed of pasture and verges, poisonous whether fresh or dried
• Bracken: tends to take hold where pasture is poorly managed or overgrazed

The Admin and the Arrival

• CPH number (England): a County Parish Holding number is currently voluntary for camelids, but bluetongue identification and vaccination require an APHA herd mark, which is linked to a CPH number; check the current rules on gov.uk
• British Alpaca Society: join before your alpacas arrive and make sure registration is transferred into your name at purchase
• Know your vet: have a vet lined up before arrival day rather than looking for one in an emergency
• Quarantine new arrivals: if you already keep animals, a 30-day quarantine is recommended for any newcomers
• No shared fence lines: the quarantine area should sit away from the main herd
• Separate boots, chores last: keep a pair of boots for the quarantine area only and do those chores at the end of the day

Before the Trailer Pulls In