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INTERESTING ALPACA INFORMATION!We try to share as much alpaca information as we can. The more you learn about the history, types, risks, diseases, and behavior of these incredibly hardy animals, the closer you will be to caring for them properly. There is so much to learn about these fiber producing cuties and we think you will find it all fascinating.
Alpacas live for 15-25 years and beyond. Nutrition has gotten better in the alpacas increasing their lifespan. One alpaca made it to the age of 29! We have personally met a 22 year old alpaca who had her last baby at the age of 20. At age 12 and above, your animals are considered geriatric alpacas. Plan on providing for them for a long time.
The smiling alpaca face is irresistable, isn't it? Get enough alpaca information to be informed before you purchase. This adorable face might not be so cute if it causes you hardship. This gentle creature deserves someone who wants to care for them and can afford to take care of them. Just like any other animal. Don't get scammed. You want quality alpacas to start an alpaca farm. Read our article on buying alpacas to avoid dishonest farms. What is the difference between the alpaca and llama? Watch our video to find out.
Hey, here's some alpaca information you might not know. Alpacas almost didn't exist. They were nearly wiped out once and then decimated a second time. We find the history of alpacas fascinating. Follow this link to read about alpaca history. Learn about the natural alpaca habitat to understand more about alpacas.
Alpacas are hardy animals but you still need to be aware of diseases that can affect them. You should be aware of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) and it's impact on alpacas. Read about BVDV and protect your herd. And coccidiosis is another infection you should know about. Don't skip reading about meningeal worm. When temperatures soar, protect your herd from alpaca heat stress. Want to know the risks of owning/breeding alpaca? There aren't many but you should understand there are some before you purchase. Read about alpaca risks here. Did you know that breeding white to gray alpacas can be risky?
What about emergencies? Do you know what to do in an alpaca emergency situation? Read about caring for alpacas during an emergency. Get ready for more alpaca info...
You'd think an alpaca is an alpaca just like any other alpaca, right? Wrong. There are two types of alpaca. There are Huacaya (pronounced wah-ki-ya) and Suri (pronounced sir-ee). The huacaya is the most common. That's the kind we own. Their fleece grows perpendicular to their body giving them the fluffy look. Only 10% of alpacas are suri's. Their fleece grows parallel to their body in what some people call a dreadlock look. The suri have a silky sheen to their fleece. Knowing normal behavior of an alpaca no matter what type it is, lets you pick-up on abnormal behavior faster. It, also, will tell you what is going on in your herd and if your animals are happy. Check out our observations of normal alpaca behavior. One behavior that we get asked about is spitting. Yes, camelids spit. Mostly, they spit on other herdmates. There are reasons why your fuzzy pacas spew their stomach contents at each other. Their spitting behavior is a defense mechanism and a way that they communicate with other camelids. Because we know our alpacas well, we know that natural pest control methods can keep alpacas out of your garden.
Alpaca males fight. That little thing called testosterone kicks in along with the need to establish dominance. Read about alpaca males fighting. Keep a sense of humor while raising your fiber producing herd and you will never have a dull moment. From dodging loogies hurled at herdmates to scooping poop, life on an alpaca farm is interesting. You will notice that your alpacas have lots of herd behavior, but they have some individual personalities, too. For fun, we began to think about the life of an alpaca and created a bucket list. You can skip our list but, you might learn something about what an alpaca wants and get a little insight into alpaca personality if you read the article.
Hopefully, giving you all this alpaca information will help you decide if owning alpaca is right for you. |