What
sort of fencing do Alpacas need?
Although inquisitive and able to jump they rarely do
so and fencing them in is a simple matter.
Alpacas have limited appetites, eating as needed but content with what is at hand rather than determined to get what is on the other side of the fence, they seem to know that this is no greener than what they have. Thus fencing them is easy.
It is also made easy by the fact that their defence strategy is a clear view of all that is around them, followed by flight, thus they would rather be centre field than next to the edges.
A
simple fence of sheep wire (standard medium stock
fencing) with a top strand at four feet is generally
sufficient.
Barbed wire should not be used as it can get
caught up in the fleece.
Their thick fleece renders electric fencing
of limited use except after shearing, though once
they have learnt to respect it it will continue to
be effective..
Catch areas, about seven feet square, in the corners of fields are
helpful for managing the stock.
Hurdles can also be helpful for this purpose.
Do
Alpacas need special housing?
In the main little or no housing is needed. In the Altiplano that is their home temperatures can range from +15C during the day to -15C at night, all in one twenty four hour period.
Alpacas have a thick and efficiently insulating fleece that keeps them warm through the cold weather and they can be left out all winter – remember they are used to the snow in the Andes – but they do like some shelter from the wind. A tall hedge or a few trees will generally provide this.
In
a large open paddock or if no such shelter is
available you might want to put up a simple
three-sided light shed structure.
