thinking about getting a few alpacas need some help

[jimmythegoat]

we are thinking about getting a few alpacas in the spring but want to know a little more before i start building pens.first what is the cost for alpacas the woman that wants to sell them to me said she will sell me year old males for around 500$ a piece,is this a good price.if we get them them we will just shave them an sell the fur what do you get for the fur when it is just shaved about what would each alpaca coat sell for.an how big of a pen would i need for a few alpacas?thanks for any help jim

 

[ksalvagno]

It sounds like the woman wants to sell fiber quality males which essentially is pet quality males. You can still get very nice fiber from them. She is asking $500 a piece? You could definitely get them much cheaper. I have 2 males for sale for $300 for both and they have good quality fiber.

The price of the fiber depends on a lot of things. The quality of the fleece, how clean it is, if it has been properly skirted, what kind of crimp, how soft. With the economy the way it is, I'm not sure what raw fiber is selling for. You may not get much more than what you would for sheep. Many people turn their fiber into finished products and sell the finished products. You get more money out of it that way.

If you have say 4 alpacas, then I wouldn't give them less than a 12x16 area in the barn. And that would be strictly the barn area to get out of the elements. I think the general rule is something like 6 square feet of space per alpaca but they need a little more than that. Especially males.

Also you would want to have the males gelded. Once they hit 3 years old, those hormones kick in and they can get aggressive. You want to geld them somewhere between 18 months to 2 years.

If you really just want to own some alpacas and selling of the fleece is secondary, that is fine. If you are looking to make big bucks on the fleece, then you may be disappointed unless you really get into it and heavily market and properly care for the fleece including proper feeding and keeping their area clean.

 

[bella1210]

thanks i am just trying to figure out what kind of money it will cost to get a couple.an if there is is any money in there fleece.i think i will do alot of reserch this winter an if we still want them in the spring i will bring them in.

 

[MrsCountryChick]

It sounds like the woman wants to sell fiber quality males which essentially is pet quality males. You can still get very nice fiber from them. She is asking $500 a piece? You could definitely get them much cheaper. I have 2 males for sale for $300 for both and they have good quality fiber.

Just curious are your males for sale gelded?

 

[ksalvagno]

No. They are too young. They are only 2 months old. They were both born in July.