We do sell alpacas to caring homes. Should you think alpacas may be for you, please contact us so that you can come along and meet some and gets hands-on. We can support you with your land and the requirements of the alpacas and also with on-going husbandry support for as long as you may need it. We sell alpacas in the £600-£3,000 range.
New owners will need to have three alpacas as this is the smallest herd; the herd instinct in alpacas is very strong and they will not thrive without friends. With alpacas, you have all boys or all girls, not a mixed group unless they are split girls in one paddock and boys in another.
All our alpacas are registered with the British Alpaca Society are microchipped and have complete husbandry records. They are all offspring of top stud males.
People buy alpacas for different reasons:
primary reason historically, is for their fine fleece which can be spun or felted. Our finest in 2019 was 15 micron.
to keep paddock grass short with attractive and inquisitive animals.
as fox guards for sheep, chickens, geese etc.
as therapy animals (for individuals, schools, care homes etc.).
for business purposes such as walking or taking alpacas to events.
Alpacas are easy to look after, requiring around an acre for 3 alpacas or possibly less, with good management. They need a shelter with clean water and hay available at all times but do not need to be kept in a barn in the winter. A warm stable however would be an asset should you have an alpaca who needs attention. Alpacas usually have one baby, called a cria, after 11.5 months gestation; babies weigh 15-20lbs at birth and are as cute as all other animal babies. Females can have babies to about 18 years of age.
Alpacas:
do not continually try to escape
do not get foot problems like sheep
need to be seen every day
are relaxing to be around
are hardy; vet bills for us have been minimal (a lot to do with husbandry and knowing your animals)
are not expensive to feed; grass is their main diet
live for 18-25 years in the UK (15-20 years on the Altiplano)
Steve and Sally