Shelter

• Three-sided shed or barn large enough to easily accomodate herd
• Shelter should be able to provide shelter from winds in the winter and sun in the summer
• Preferably, shelter would allow alpacas to enter and exit on their own
• Have pens set up in the shelter with either moveable panels or gates so that alpacas can be moved around for herd management tasks. Always keep in mind 'flow' of the herd
• A 10' x 10' pen (either permanent or temporary) is ideal for herd management task and training
• Depending on size of herd and composition, shelter will likely need to accomodate different groupings of the herd. Males and females are often kept separate as well there may be times in which having two separate groupings of females (to accomodate different nutritional needs and weaning) and two separate groupings of males (younger males and older males).
• Shelter is also needed for storage of hay and supplemental pellets

Food Containers

• Depending upon where you are located, alpacas may be fed hay for 6 months or more of the year. There are a multitude of ideas for the feeding of hay from expensive feeders to straight off the ground. It is preferrable to have some system for containing the hay as alpacas will use it as bedding and their will be a great deal of waste. As well, the more you can manage the debris that gets in their fleece, the better for processing the fleece.
• If feeding supplements, a trough (plastic gutter works well) or small plastic containers fairly low-down work well. Space them out as much as possible.
• Alpacas should have access to clean water at all times. Give some thought to electricity for de-icers in the winter
• Small containers for free minerals, preferrably near the water. At least one for grouping of alpacas

Fencing

• Good perimeter fencing is necessary for the control of predators and other wildlife. No-climb fencing is often recommended, however, but is also quite expensive. Other alternatives include hi-tensile electric fencing and a combination of smaller farm fencing and electric.
• Again, consider flow of herd and being able to control it with gates. Gateways work best when in a corner of a pasture.
• Numerous, smaller pastures or paddocks allow for better pasture management
• Alternatively (and less expensively), pastures can be managed using temporary fencing that can be moved as needed (temporary fencing is not sufficient to keep males and females separate)

Herd Health Supplies

• Put together a herd health kit (we can help you with this)
• Having a separate 'birthing kit' can be helpful if you will have pregnant females

Other Equipment

• leaf rake, shovel and wheelbarrow for poop clean-up (aluminum snow or grain shovel works well)
• squeeze chute and livestock weigh scale are recommended but not necessary
• camera (you will want to take pictures)