Culinary Delights
August 21st 2007 22:52
When you have alpacas for a while you tend to forget how exotic they still are to some people. I heard that a new alpaca owner had asked the seller what to feed her new alpacas “something from a can?”
Alpacas are grazing animals so eat grass, like sheep and cows. They also like to munch on other plants as well such as small shrubs, rushes and trees.
- You’ll need to fence off any plants you don’t want munched and be super diligent not to let your alpacas near any poisonous plants.
Generally, alpacas are pretty hardy animals and can do well even on quite poor quality feed, but you’ll want to provide them with the best nutrition you can, so they’ll stay healthy and happy.
In winter when the pasture gets very low, we feed out ordinary grass hay and some lucerne hay. The alpacas come running for the lucerne hay. They will eat the grass hay once they realise that’s all they’re going to get (been a bit pampered I think).
Our alpacas also love a grain blend which we buy in big bags. It’s very entertaining as our alpacas only get this as a treat. They go absolutely nuts when it comes out. (Like little kids at Christmas time).
The mix includes chaff, pellets, maize, sunflower seeds, molasses (and a few other things I can’t remember off the top of my head). It is marketed for horses. You need to be very careful with grain mixes though, as some contain ingredients unsuitable for alpacas. If you want to feed a grain mix, ask an alpaca breeder near you what is the best available in your area.
Our alpacas also get chopped up carrots and apples for treats. Some of the alpacas love these and others aren’t interested at all. The pieces just need to be chopped small enough for them to eat without choking. Alpacas tend to scoff down their food a bit, especially when they have competition. Watch your fingers too!
Alpacas are grazing animals so eat grass, like sheep and cows. They also like to munch on other plants as well such as small shrubs, rushes and trees.
- You’ll need to fence off any plants you don’t want munched and be super diligent not to let your alpacas near any poisonous plants.
Alpacas eating grass
Generally, alpacas are pretty hardy animals and can do well even on quite poor quality feed, but you’ll want to provide them with the best nutrition you can, so they’ll stay healthy and happy.
In winter when the pasture gets very low, we feed out ordinary grass hay and some lucerne hay. The alpacas come running for the lucerne hay. They will eat the grass hay once they realise that’s all they’re going to get (been a bit pampered I think).
Our alpacas also love a grain blend which we buy in big bags. It’s very entertaining as our alpacas only get this as a treat. They go absolutely nuts when it comes out. (Like little kids at Christmas time).
The mix includes chaff, pellets, maize, sunflower seeds, molasses (and a few other things I can’t remember off the top of my head). It is marketed for horses. You need to be very careful with grain mixes though, as some contain ingredients unsuitable for alpacas. If you want to feed a grain mix, ask an alpaca breeder near you what is the best available in your area.
Our alpacas also get chopped up carrots and apples for treats. Some of the alpacas love these and others aren’t interested at all. The pieces just need to be chopped small enough for them to eat without choking. Alpacas tend to scoff down their food a bit, especially when they have competition. Watch your fingers too!
Alpaca carrot treat.
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