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Useful Items To Get Started With There are a number of alpaca books that are
invaluable although not generally available in a bookstore. Some of our
favorites are: Organizations: You may want to subscribe to the Alpaca Weekly and read parts of the ARI Registry Journal. The following list is not a complete list, so each year new items will be added to it. If you know of items that should go on this list, please send me an email so I can add it to the list. Fields, Fences, Barn, Shelters: Selecting the right fence really depends on your geographic location so there isn't much advice we can give other than to say that we use 5' no climb fence and we are very satisfied. Be certain to think through your layout very carefully. This is hard to do in advance but the more you think through all the possibilities of how you will work with your animals, the more you will save in money and effort. You'll want several internal containment pens (catch-pens) as well as large grazing pastures. Trailer: Prior to investing in a trailer, you may be able to use a van to transport one or two alpacas at a time. We have a Honda Element and it works very well - so far! Alpaca feed: We use the Agway formulations, "designed" by Dr. Norm Evans. Again, the “correct feed” is really based on your geographic area and so you will need to understand your local requirements. We use the "Grower" or "Growth and Lactation" formula for crias until they are a year old and for pregnant and lactating females. Use "Maintenance E" for alpacas over one year of age. Using “crumbles”, not pellets, helps to prevent "choke." Hay: This is a local issue and one that we cannot give advice on, other than to say that alpacas love the “2nd cutting”. General Supplies: Useful Lama Items 800-635-5262; Useful Farm Items 888-771-3276; Steven LamaTique 800-469-5262. There are others but these have a good inventory. Feeders, Feeding Bins: One per animal and one extra. You can also use long troughs at which more than one alpaca at a time can feed. You can get these troughs at Frey's, 800-399-3739. Water buckets and wall mount brackets: If you do not have automatic electric waterers, you may want to get an electrically heated bucket from Useful Lama Items. For the summer, you'll want a 5-gallon plastic bucket and metal bracket. The buckets are flat on one side to hang against a wall or fence. Green paddock panels: These are about 9 feet in length and about 5 feet high, with 5 or so bars between the top and the bottom. They're interlocking, so you can use 4 of them as a small paddock or catch-pen. You can get them from Useful Lama Items, although the shipping is rather expensive. You may also be able to order them from Useful Lama Items or Stevens Llama Tique and pick them up at one of the alpaca shows held in the spring of every year. You may want to cover the panels in 2"x4" no-climb fencing to keep crias from squeezing out between the bars. We did not initially have anything like this, but came to realize that portable fencing is invaluable for “emergency” situations as well as training. Halters and leads: You should get at least two sizes: weanling and adult. Get the adjustable halters from Zephyr 607-243-4282. If you plan to show your animals, get black halters. The judges do not like animals that are "improperly presented" when wearing other colors. Fly Control: Cylence pour-on for the animals, fly traps or fly paper for the barn (from Useful Farm Items). The Solar Fly Traps are terrific, but they are awfully messy and need to be cleaned out occasionally during the summer. Diatomaceous Earth is good for parasite control, but has an effect on composting. Tick/Flea/Lice Control Cylence- pour-on for the biting insects, ivermectin or doramectin (injectible) for the sucking insects. Pour-on ivermectin/doramectin doesn't work. Toenail Clippers: they should be very sharp. Buy a plastic holder so that you can store it safely in between clipping each animal's nails. Diatomaceous Earth: to help with parasite control. Gate latches that can be operated with one hand. Agricultural Lime or Sweet PDZ for odor control. Don't get "hot" lime. Manure Removal: wheelbarrow (manure cart), bean rake, and shovel. We use a small shrub rake. Minerals: Stillwater 800-255-0357and Cache le Poudre 800-758-0825 are two good brands. Hay feeder boxes these are helpful for keeping the hay from getting all over the grass or paddock. Chase Tavern Farm stocks a good feeder. 877-283-7222 (877-CTF-PACA). Extra bucket - we use a 3 gallon heavy plastic pail. Scale - A good brand is Arlyn's 22x44" scales 800-645-4301. Fans or air conditioning for summer temperatures over about 70 degrees. Straw or hay for winter bedding. Shearing equipment, if you intend to do your own shearing. Livestock Guard Dog. Great Pyrenese, Anatolian, and other breeds are specifically bred to guard - NOT to herd - livestock and can (and have) saved many, many alpaca lives. You might also consider a guard llama. Herd Health Records - you can get forms on paper or you can get software to keep track of things like vaccinations, weight, breedings, worming, etc. Or you can just use a notebook and pen, as long as you keep records. Alpacaease is a good program for either Mac or Windows. Film Cannisters or empty medication (pill) bottles for fecal samples and for dipping umbilical cords. Birthing Supplies: You can get most of these things plus some of the items listed above in the Cria Care Kit from Useful Lama Items. The colostrum in the Cria Care Kit is powdered rather than frozen, and it doesn't contain some of the items listed here. - Hair dryer These items will be used relatively routinely, but should probably go into a First Aid Kit. Please consult your vet on the appropriate
medications for your area. The Alpaca community generally uses the
following items: You'll also want to keep these items in a First Aid Kit. For more extensive covering of emergency medical supplies visit Dr. David Anderson, D.V.M., MS, International Camelid Institute, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, The Ohio State University: (http://www.internationalcamelidinstitute.org)
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