What do you need?
The first thing will be secure fencing. Alpacas won't challenge a fence like a horse might so you're not going to need to electrify it but alpacas are vulnerable to predators such as your neighbors dog or cougars. "No Climb" is the most common fence used, weld wire will work but isn't as long standing. I do have a radio wire around my fencing but that is to keep my livestock guard dogs from wandering. Also you will want to keep brush and tall grass down and away from both sides of the fence. Alpacas are curious creatures and are prone to snake bites. Once your fencing is up, scrutinize it carefully for sharp or poky places. Alpacas like to rub up on things and anyplace that sticks out could wound your animal.
Water Bucket. After acquiring many buckets to put extra water out during the summer months, I finally broke down and bought the self refilling ones. This was one of the best things I ever did. No more worrying about water when I have to be gone all day.
Cleaning Brush. Water buckets get dirty and need to be scrubbed out regularly. I found that a wheel brush from the car cleaning department of your local All-In-One store does a great job of scrubbing the rounded bottom and sides of the buckets.
Feed. A bucket, container, or other device for feed. Putting their grass in this container doesn't mean that they won't pull it out, roll in it, and eat off the ground anyway but when the weather is bad, it's good to have something to put it in.
Pellet bowl. Something with a flat bottom. Alpacas love their pellets and get very excited about feed time, sometimes they will wolf down too much and choke. A flat bottomed bowl keeps the pellets spread out so they can't down too much at one time. If you are still experiencing "choke" try putting some rocks in the bowl that will cause them to eat around the rocks and not eat too hurriedly.
Shelter. Someplace they can go to get out of the elements. Whether it's hot, cold, windy, or wet every creature needs a place to be comfortable. This can be a separate place from where they sleep at night or the same. This is also a good place to feed them so that their food doesn't go to waste in bad weather. If the shelter is the same as where they bed at night it should be a place that you can secure against predators.
Clean up. I use a trash catcher from Home Depot and a small plastic rake. I rake into the catcher and then dump into a wheel barrow. If you only have a few animals the wheel barrow is probably not necessary. Decide ahead of time where you are going to dispose of your manure. Alpaca is excellent for gardens.Toe nail trimmers. Nearly the only maintenance your animals need aside from annual shearing and vaccinations, this $20 item is a must.
Good fitting harness and lead for each animal.
Extras:
We use these recycled, plastic street cleaners, stood on end over pressure treated posts for scratching posts.
If you live in an area that freezes, these frost free water bibs are a must. They turn off underground and the above ground pipe drains out. Make sure it is lead free.
A chute. There are a number of ways to manage your herd and if you have someone else to help you this may be unnecessary, but for a difficult animal or working on your own this contraption is wonderful. It secures the animal while you manage it's needs. This can be as simple as toe nails or as complicated as treating a wound.Speaking of wounds, they happen. Alpacas rub their faces on everything, can't always see where they are stepping, get curious about dangerous things and just occasionally find themselves in trouble you cannot imagine.
A few things are important to have on hand:
Triple antibiotic ointment
Sterile saline (contact solution is fine, it's for rinsing out wounds or washing out eyes)
Vet wrap (lots of it)
Non-adhering gauze pads
And finally and MOST IMPORTANTLY the number to your vet and vet hospital preprogrammed into your phone. Email is good too. These are the days where we can take pictures of our pets wounds, email them to our vets and get more immediate advice on the action to take.
This is a good basic list to get you started. You'll hone in on your own specific needs as experience teaches you.
If you are raising your alpaca with plans to utilize it's fleece, take a good look around at your pasture. Alpacas love to roll and take dust bathes. If your designated area is full of weeds and plants that have sticky seed head you can count on all that getting stuck in your fleece and needing to be cleaned out. Not a fun project. The cleaner your pasture, the nicer the fleece will be.
Do you have a low to the ground sprinkler head? In the summer time they love to play in the water. A low sprinkler placed just outside the fence is a great way to help them cool off and a lot of fun to watch. Make sure it stays low so that it only sprays their under belly and legs. Water gets trapped in their coats and the hot sun will steam them to death.
As with anything before you bring home alpacas make sure you research carefully, visit other ranches, ask lots of questions and make sure there is a local vet competent with camelids. Make sure that the ranch you purchase from is going to support you post purchase. If you are purchasing young males that will need to be castrated in the future, keep in mind the cost for that, and mark on your calendar when you need to think of such things.
"Luck favors the prepared Darling.". -Edna from The Increadibles
