Thinking about adding alpacas to your life?
They're curious, gentle, surprisingly low-maintenance, and — full disclosure — very hard to say no to once you've met them. If you're considering starting a herd, we're happy to help you figure out if it's the right fit.
Before you reach out, here are a few things worth thinking through.
Plan for at least two
Alpacas are herd animals and don't do well alone. Start with two at minimum — three is better. You'll need at least an acre of pasture for a small herd.
Shelter required
In Northern Ontario, alpacas need an enclosed barn they can fully get out of the elements in. Their fleece handles the cold surprisingly well — but they need four walls and a roof to do it safely.
Check your zoning first
Make sure your property is zoned for livestock before anything else. It's a quick check that's worth doing early.
Line up a large-animal vet
Find a livestock vet in your area who's familiar with alpaca care — or open to learning. Having that relationship before you need it matters.
Shearing is non-negotiable
Once a year in early spring, no exceptions. Left unshorn, alpacas are at risk of overheating. The fibre you get back can be spun into yarn and goods worth selling.
Have a manure plan
Alpaca manure is cold compost and excellent fertilizer — some people sell it, some use it. Either way, you'll need somewhere for it to go.
Separate males and females
Female alpacas are induced ovulators. If you have both sexes, you'll need separate areas to keep them apart when needed.
There may be tax benefits
Alpacas are classified as livestock, which may open up agricultural tax advantages. Worth a conversation with your accountant.
Know what quality you need
Pet quality, fibre quality, or breeding quality — each means something different in price and purpose. Knowing your goal helps us point you to the right animal.
Still interested? Good — so are we.
Fill out our brief questionnaire below. It helps us understand what you're looking for and make sure our animals are going to a home where they'll be well cared for. We also encourage you to come visit the farm by appointment, meet the herd in person, and ask every question you can think of. We want to know our animals are going somewhere good.
Once we've reviewed your questionnaire, we'll be in touch. For an up-to-date list of animals currently available, we'll connect after that.
