Thursday, August 9, 2018

Ever Thought about Getting Pet Alpacas for Fun and Profit?


Alpacas Are Fun and Useful Pets
Alpacas look like miniature camels. These camelids are native to South America but are growing in popularity in the United States and Canada. 

Where Did Alpacas Come From?
Three million years ago, members of the camel family (camelids) were native to central North America.  During the Ice Age, the camelids migrated south and never returned to North America.  As the centuries passed, the original camelid became the vicuna and guanaco, roaming wild in Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.  Inhabitants in these areas domesticated the vicuna and bred them for their soft, thick coats.  The vicuna developed into the alpacas of today.
Alpacas Are Gentle and Easy Going
Alpacas make wonderful pets because of their gentle and easygoing nature.  They’re very cooperative and submissive, making them ideal as a family pet.  Alpacas love to be around the family members and become attached to them.  They never spit at people unless they’re teased, but they will spit at other alpacas.
They communicate by moving their ears and tails into different positions.  Alpaca owners soon learn what the different positions mean.  Alpacas also hum and make a shrill scream if they’re frightened.
Adult alpacas are usually three feet tall to the shoulder or four and a half feet to the top of the head.  They weigh about 16 pounds when they’re born, and they can grow to 150 to 175 pounds as adults.
You Can Train Alpacas
Alpacas are smart animals, making them easy to train.  Repeating a behavior four of five times is all the alpaca needs to learn the desired skill.  Training an alpaca is very similar to training a dog.  They learn how to walk with a lead and halter and how to get into a vehicle.  You can bring your alpaca in a station wagon, SUV or a minivan.
Alpacas Don’t Cost Much to Feed
Feeding alpacas is much cheaper than feeding most pets.  They have three stomach compartments, just like sheep and cattle, chewing their cud.  Alpacas require only two or three bales of hay every month.  A veterinarian may recommend vitamin and mineral supplements for pet alpacas.
Best Weather for Alpacas
Pet alpacas thrive in almost any climate.  When the weather is very hot, alpacas should be sheared and placed in a shady area with water sprinklers.  Alpacas also do very well in cold weather, but you have to keep them in an enclosed barn, so the alpacas aren’t out in the wintry conditions. For all other weather conditions, pet alpacas only need a three-sided shelter.
Raising Alpacas Is a Good Side Hustle
Pet alpacas are not only fun but are profitable, as well.  It’s soft, dense fleece is used for making yarn, fabric, and even stuffed animals.  Raising alpacas for fleece or breeding is an expensive venture but can be profitable over time.  If you’re raising alpacas for profit, you’ll need a small herd for both breeding and shearing. Most people have one or two alpacas, if they’re only raising them as pets.
How Much Does an Alpaca Cost?
The cost of alpacas depends upon their qualities, and if you’re raising them for fleece, breeding, or stud.  A gelded alpaca male can cost as little as $500.00, while a female used for breeding can cost as much as $20,000. Pet alpacas usually range from $500 to $1500.  Take a look at several alpaca farms before purchasing your pet. That way, you’ll find just the right alpaca for your family.

If anyone has any tips on buying or raising alpacas, please leave any comments that could help someone starting out with alpacas. Thanks.
Resources:
Photo Credit: By Kyle Flood from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Alpaca) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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