HaSu Ranch Alpacas: barn essentials

Alpaca Bedding

If your farm is located in a cold climate, you will need to have some sort of ground covering/bedding for the alpacas to cush on during the winter. Their thermal zone, where they lose heat most, is around their bellies. So providing a warmer surface than bare soil, clay or concrete is essential.

Grain Bowls

Along with the alpacas daily intake of hay or forage, we also supplement with some grain that has been specifically formulated for our area to include the minerals and vitamin lacking in their diet. We serve this grain in individual bowls spaced around the barn.

Hay Feeder

Almost any 12-18 inch tall by 4-8 foot long box would work for use as a hay feeder. The most important thing about selecting your hay feeder is that it should keep the hay off the ground, but low enough that even the smaller alpacas have access to the hay. We use this10ft Bunk feeder from Tractor Supply.

heated bucket

If you live in a region that has freezing temperature, you will need a way to heat the alpacas drinking water. Heated water buckets are a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to do this.

Muck Boots

One of the most indispensable item you will need, is a pair of waterproof muck boots.

Muck Tools

Well like all living things, what goes, in must come out. And one of the daily chores of the alpaca breeder is to manage what comes out of their herd, meaning, they have to scoop the poop. Not glamorous, for sure, but very critical in maintaining a healthy herd.

Wheel Barrow/Muck Bucket

Poop-scooping is a daily chore on the alpaca farm. And, certainly having a motorized vehicle, such as a gator or tractor and trailer, makes hauling the manure piles away easier and faster. However, you can get by quite well with a wheel barrow.

barn essentials