What do you consider a good price on gelding alpacas/llamas? Ive seen a couple at actions but they were not friendly. I just want them as pets and for fiber. They'd be an a orchard. My DH will not let me spend a lot on them. Ive seen them at breeders for 1,000. But that's too much plus shipping. Could i have one of each? Any advice on finding friendly kid safe fiber pets?
advice on geldings please
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ksalvagno
Alpaca Master
Alpacas and llamas tend to be curious but standoffish. They don't make a good pet in the sense that you go out there and hug them everyday. They will come for treats. They would rather run from your children so you wouldn't have to worry about them going after kids. If the kids are smaller than they are, they may be curious and want to come up and smell them.
If the male is already gelded, people probably will want at least $300-$500 due to the gelding cost. Depending on your location, you can find very cheap males that you would have to have gelded. You definitely don't want to keep an intact male around if you have children. Their hormones get the best of them and they can get aggressive.
Non breeding females would work but they are hard to find. Usually they are older girls that aren't breeding anymore and their fiber would probably be course.
Definitely anything at auction will not be friendly and more than likely has never been handled. I would not suggest having a male and female as they could reproduce and then once that cria is on the ground, the male would have to be separated out.
If you want to get an alpaca, I would suggest finding an alpaca farm close to you that offers a CameliDynamics clinic with Marty Bennett or a Gentle Spirit clinic with Cathy Spalding. Those are both methods of training that will help your alpaca become easier to handle/less afraid of you and more enjoyable for you.
You can have an enjoyable relationship with alpacas, but you have to work at it more than something like a goat. Also, the alpaca will never want to be hugged or anything. Some love a good neck scratch or back scratch. They don't like hands coming at their face so you want to go for their back or neck.
If the male is already gelded, people probably will want at least $300-$500 due to the gelding cost. Depending on your location, you can find very cheap males that you would have to have gelded. You definitely don't want to keep an intact male around if you have children. Their hormones get the best of them and they can get aggressive.
Non breeding females would work but they are hard to find. Usually they are older girls that aren't breeding anymore and their fiber would probably be course.
Definitely anything at auction will not be friendly and more than likely has never been handled. I would not suggest having a male and female as they could reproduce and then once that cria is on the ground, the male would have to be separated out.
If you want to get an alpaca, I would suggest finding an alpaca farm close to you that offers a CameliDynamics clinic with Marty Bennett or a Gentle Spirit clinic with Cathy Spalding. Those are both methods of training that will help your alpaca become easier to handle/less afraid of you and more enjoyable for you.
You can have an enjoyable relationship with alpacas, but you have to work at it more than something like a goat. Also, the alpaca will never want to be hugged or anything. Some love a good neck scratch or back scratch. They don't like hands coming at their face so you want to go for their back or neck.
mully
Loving the herd life
A lot depends on their age. Around here it is about $150-200 if the male is a year or less and that is if I bring them in. Otherwise there is a field charge of $75. Males over a year will typically cost $250-350 and I would have to bring them in and they stay with the vet a day or two. I would find a capable vet in your area and get some prices. There is no need to keep an intact male if he is for fiber and a family pet... FYI they do better in pairs so see id you can find two buddies that are for sale and they will be happier and it will be easier on you.
MrsCountryChick
Ridin' The Range
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My favorite Llama is my intact male. He's become Alot friendlier since we've had him. He's knows his name well & comes when called, even learned commands like "back" to have him back out of the stall when he steps in & I'm spreading straw or adding hay, etc. & also easily knows "in" as a command to enter his stall or trailer when I want him inside. But there are always exceptions to every rule, as I know intact males generally not as easy to work with. But I have dairy goats that I milk daily, so no matter the weather I spend time with my animals daily. 
It did take some time to train him in commands, but it is WELL Worth it to have him trained. Although he also likes my husband, & listens to commands from him as well, he doesn't like to be petted by him............ I guess he's a "Momma's Boy" 
But he was shy & skiddish when we got him. But healthy treats like sliced "carrot coins" & pinches of hay handfed are Great motivators when training.
We have recently gotten a few alpacas & they're shy, but they're gaining our trust & also getting better.
I think whether at auction or a local breeder you'll find animals that they aren't 'teddy bears' craving attention. But I think any quality animal needs to be given some direction & training to be a quality pet. But especially with a Llama shearing can be a nightmare without some training. My male is a LARGE Llama & I was most concerned about having him trained for easy handling. Llamas are especially known for people having them as Guard Llamas........ so they turn them out in a pasture with goats, sheep, alpacas, horses & just feed them, so they easily get skiddish then around people. I think skiddish animals are the most common ones you'd find at auctions. If they were worked with & trained in commands the owners would just sell them themselves.
It did take some time to train him in commands, but it is WELL Worth it to have him trained. Although he also likes my husband, & listens to commands from him as well, he doesn't like to be petted by him............ I guess he's a "Momma's Boy" But he was shy & skiddish when we got him. But healthy treats like sliced "carrot coins" & pinches of hay handfed are Great motivators when training. We have recently gotten a few alpacas & they're shy, but they're gaining our trust & also getting better.
I think whether at auction or a local breeder you'll find animals that they aren't 'teddy bears' craving attention. But I think any quality animal needs to be given some direction & training to be a quality pet. But especially with a Llama shearing can be a nightmare without some training. My male is a LARGE Llama & I was most concerned about having him trained for easy handling. Llamas are especially known for people having them as Guard Llamas........ so they turn them out in a pasture with goats, sheep, alpacas, horses & just feed them, so they easily get skiddish then around people. I think skiddish animals are the most common ones you'd find at auctions. If they were worked with & trained in commands the owners would just sell them themselves.
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ksalvagno
Alpaca Master
I would not suggest doing that. The alpaca will see you as another alpaca and treat you as such. When he is 200 lbs, a chest butt from him will knock you down. They will have no respect for your space. Plus you really need to have at least 2. One gets too lonely.
The best way to handle them is if you take the Camelidynamic training or the Gentle Spirit training. You want to make sure they will respect you and not treat you like another alpaca. You can have a really nice relationship with an alpaca or llama but you really can't have a relationship with them like a dog or goat.
You really can't geld a llama or alpaca until they are at least 18 months old. They need that time for their bones to grow. Once the testosterone is taken away, their bones grow long and thin. Which can/will result in brittle bones that break easy later on.
The best way to handle them is if you take the Camelidynamic training or the Gentle Spirit training. You want to make sure they will respect you and not treat you like another alpaca. You can have a really nice relationship with an alpaca or llama but you really can't have a relationship with them like a dog or goat.
You really can't geld a llama or alpaca until they are at least 18 months old. They need that time for their bones to grow. Once the testosterone is taken away, their bones grow long and thin. Which can/will result in brittle bones that break easy later on.
mully
Loving the herd life
Sound advice !! I agree Some can be very friendly but they are not cuddly and most do not like their head touched so you have to work with them so they will not be so touchy about being touched on the head or face.ksalvagno said:
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Thats good to know about the gelding. Im thinking of a small fiber farm someday and just want geldings. If if prices ever fell way way down i might get some females but i just can't see spending that much on a critter that just mows the yard, grows fiber and doesn't do much else.
Edited to add: I have four arces. How many alpacas could i have ? Are they grazers or browers? What are some good books to read on them.
Edited to add: I have four arces. How many alpacas could i have ? Are they grazers or browers? What are some good books to read on them.
ksalvagno
Alpaca Master
The titles in bold would be the ones I recommend to start with.
These are the basic books that cover the various aspects of the care and management of alpacas. The descriptions that follow each were written by Jim Cross of the Alpaca Consulting Services .
The Alpaca Book
by Eric Hoffman & Murray Fowler, D.V.M.
This is the first book most prospective breeders purchase. It is broken into four sections. The first covers alpaca history, their behavior and communication, fiber, conformation and form, function and gait. The second section is a primer on alpaca care including nutrition, handling and basic animal husbandry. The third section discusses reproductive physiology and function while the fourth section covers basic medical management. It specifically deals with how to work with a veterinarian, evaluating condition, basic first aid, preventative medicine, neonatology, infectious diseases, parasites and poisoning. Due to its limited publishing it is expensive - usually about $75. It is a good primer but is not detailed enough alone to provide all the information needed to care for alpacas on a daily basis.
Alpacas: A Common Sense Approach
by Julie Musgrove.
Loose leaf bound, self published (available from Quality Llama Products), filled with typos, misspelling and grammatical errors, pages printed out of order, the title speaks for itself. Although one person's view (Ms. Musgrove was the herd manager of the second largest alpaca farm in the U.S.), it nevertheless contains a lot of simple, practical advice on daily practices. Chapters cover the animals' environment, barns, fencing and equipment, pasture and feed, daily care, breeding and birthing, cria care, medical and routine veterinary care, advertising and sales, sample contracts and the future of the industry. Opinionated and quirky, it is reasonably priced and worth reading.
The Camelid Companion
by Marty McGee Bennett
This book helps you learn to "read" your animals and understand their safety concerns while you're handling them. It explains why alpacas are sometimes difficult to get along with and how to correct the problems. Using Marty's techniques, it should take you no more than 15 minutes to teach a fractious alpaca or llama to stand still and/or to move. In addition to handling techniques, Marty discusses herd management and maintenance, animal husbandry, and problem solving. The appendices contain information to help you select and show your alpaca and plans for cria creeps, catch pens, and training pens. This book is a classic and a "must read" for current and would-be breeders.
Caring for Llamas and Alpacas
by Clare Hoffman D.V.M. and Ingrid Asmus
This book begins where The Alpaca Book leaves off - it does provide the basic information for the daily care and management of alpacas. It details how to evaluate them for purchase, transport, restraint, nutrition, health evaluation, first aid, digestion and reproduction. It details basic techniques like stomach tubing, injections, taking a temperature etc. The appendix gives a list of basic supplies for adult and newborns (our own list is an expanded version), a list of toxic plants (a more detailed pamphlet is available from the Greater Appalachian Llama & Alpaca Association) as well as charts of normal values. This book is highly recommended for the new breeder.
Llama and Alpaca Husbandry and Medical Care
by Suzi and Robert J. Pollard, D.V.M.
Robert Pollard is well known in alpaca circles at the national level for his homeopathic approach to lama husbandry. Breeders themselves, they offer an alternative approach to daily, veterinary and medical issues. If you are a member of the Alpacasite email forum on Yahoo, you'll see a lot of homeopathic advice most of which started with Robert.
Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care
by Brad Smith D.V.M, Karen Timm D.V.M. and Patrick Long D.V.M.
If you purchase bred females, buy this book early and read it several times before the first birth - this is the handbook for pre and post birth care for the dam and cria. It begins with a thorough description of female anatomy and the physiology of pregnancy. It moves on to proper care prior to birth (nutrition, vaccinations etc.). The birth process is described in detail including dystocias or difficult deliveries. The final chapter gives detailed instructions on how to evaluate a newborn and dam using flow charts designed to be used in the barn to determine if the newborn is at risk or not. Specific treatments, procedures and recommendations are given in clear language- critical given the stress you're under particularly with an at-risk cria. The appendix gives a list of supplies for a birthing kit. The book is written using terms a non-livestock experienced person can understand and is highly recommended.
Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids
by Murray Fowler D.V.M.
Dr. Fowler is one of the acknowledged camelid vets in the world today. This is the second edition of the volume and is the reference for most camelid veterinarians. It is not for everyone - it is a veterinary textbook and is written in medical jargon. If you have a medical background or are willing to read it with a medical dictionary at your side, it is well worth the $100 investment. Basically, it covers pretty much everything known to date medically about camelids.
As all of these books are in limited publication, they are generally not available in bookstores. Some may be purchase from Amazon.com while others can only be obtained through specialized llama/alpaca suppliers such as the following:
Stevens Llamatique 800-469-5262
Useful Llama Items 800-635-5262
Quality Llama Products 800-638-4689
These are the basic books that cover the various aspects of the care and management of alpacas. The descriptions that follow each were written by Jim Cross of the Alpaca Consulting Services .
The Alpaca Book
by Eric Hoffman & Murray Fowler, D.V.M.
This is the first book most prospective breeders purchase. It is broken into four sections. The first covers alpaca history, their behavior and communication, fiber, conformation and form, function and gait. The second section is a primer on alpaca care including nutrition, handling and basic animal husbandry. The third section discusses reproductive physiology and function while the fourth section covers basic medical management. It specifically deals with how to work with a veterinarian, evaluating condition, basic first aid, preventative medicine, neonatology, infectious diseases, parasites and poisoning. Due to its limited publishing it is expensive - usually about $75. It is a good primer but is not detailed enough alone to provide all the information needed to care for alpacas on a daily basis.
Alpacas: A Common Sense Approach
by Julie Musgrove.
Loose leaf bound, self published (available from Quality Llama Products), filled with typos, misspelling and grammatical errors, pages printed out of order, the title speaks for itself. Although one person's view (Ms. Musgrove was the herd manager of the second largest alpaca farm in the U.S.), it nevertheless contains a lot of simple, practical advice on daily practices. Chapters cover the animals' environment, barns, fencing and equipment, pasture and feed, daily care, breeding and birthing, cria care, medical and routine veterinary care, advertising and sales, sample contracts and the future of the industry. Opinionated and quirky, it is reasonably priced and worth reading.
The Camelid Companion
by Marty McGee Bennett
This book helps you learn to "read" your animals and understand their safety concerns while you're handling them. It explains why alpacas are sometimes difficult to get along with and how to correct the problems. Using Marty's techniques, it should take you no more than 15 minutes to teach a fractious alpaca or llama to stand still and/or to move. In addition to handling techniques, Marty discusses herd management and maintenance, animal husbandry, and problem solving. The appendices contain information to help you select and show your alpaca and plans for cria creeps, catch pens, and training pens. This book is a classic and a "must read" for current and would-be breeders.
Caring for Llamas and Alpacas
by Clare Hoffman D.V.M. and Ingrid Asmus
This book begins where The Alpaca Book leaves off - it does provide the basic information for the daily care and management of alpacas. It details how to evaluate them for purchase, transport, restraint, nutrition, health evaluation, first aid, digestion and reproduction. It details basic techniques like stomach tubing, injections, taking a temperature etc. The appendix gives a list of basic supplies for adult and newborns (our own list is an expanded version), a list of toxic plants (a more detailed pamphlet is available from the Greater Appalachian Llama & Alpaca Association) as well as charts of normal values. This book is highly recommended for the new breeder.
Llama and Alpaca Husbandry and Medical Care
by Suzi and Robert J. Pollard, D.V.M.
Robert Pollard is well known in alpaca circles at the national level for his homeopathic approach to lama husbandry. Breeders themselves, they offer an alternative approach to daily, veterinary and medical issues. If you are a member of the Alpacasite email forum on Yahoo, you'll see a lot of homeopathic advice most of which started with Robert.
Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care
by Brad Smith D.V.M, Karen Timm D.V.M. and Patrick Long D.V.M.
If you purchase bred females, buy this book early and read it several times before the first birth - this is the handbook for pre and post birth care for the dam and cria. It begins with a thorough description of female anatomy and the physiology of pregnancy. It moves on to proper care prior to birth (nutrition, vaccinations etc.). The birth process is described in detail including dystocias or difficult deliveries. The final chapter gives detailed instructions on how to evaluate a newborn and dam using flow charts designed to be used in the barn to determine if the newborn is at risk or not. Specific treatments, procedures and recommendations are given in clear language- critical given the stress you're under particularly with an at-risk cria. The appendix gives a list of supplies for a birthing kit. The book is written using terms a non-livestock experienced person can understand and is highly recommended.
Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids
by Murray Fowler D.V.M.
Dr. Fowler is one of the acknowledged camelid vets in the world today. This is the second edition of the volume and is the reference for most camelid veterinarians. It is not for everyone - it is a veterinary textbook and is written in medical jargon. If you have a medical background or are willing to read it with a medical dictionary at your side, it is well worth the $100 investment. Basically, it covers pretty much everything known to date medically about camelids.
As all of these books are in limited publication, they are generally not available in bookstores. Some may be purchase from Amazon.com while others can only be obtained through specialized llama/alpaca suppliers such as the following:
Stevens Llamatique 800-469-5262
Useful Llama Items 800-635-5262
Quality Llama Products 800-638-4689
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