{"id":8506,"date":"2022-10-09T09:11:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-09T09:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=8506"},"modified":"2022-10-14T09:36:58","modified_gmt":"2022-10-14T09:36:58","slug":"how-smart-are-alpacas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-smart-are-alpacas\/","title":{"rendered":"Alpaca Fun Facts And FAQ: How Smart Are Alpacas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alpacas are the cute, smaller alternative to llamas<\/a>. Many small homesteaders and farmers looking for profitable stock<\/a> to keep on small acreage consider investing in them. What\u2019s it like to keep alpacas<\/a>? How smart are alpacas? In this article, we present interesting facts and frequently asked questions and answers about these charming creatures. Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alpaca Basics For New Owners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Alpaca<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. How smart are alpacas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Alpacas are actually quite intelligent, and they are also very easy to handle and train. These bright, alert animals have a great deal of personality, and each one is unique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to being intelligent, alpacas are also calm and quiet. In their herds, they communicate with each other through subtle body postures, ear and tail positioning and quiet sounds, such as humming during quiet times and \u201corgling\u201c<\/em> during mating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Can you keep one alpaca as a pet?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Relationship is very important to these herd animals, and they should never be kept alone. If you’re going to have an alpaca, you need to have at least two more to keep it company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alpacas need to have some other animal as a friend. Alpaca may bond with a llama, but it’s much better to keep alpacas in trios of all the same gender. If you’re just keeping them as pets, three neutered males would be a good combination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Do alpacas get along with other animals?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can keep alpaca with llamas and with other ruminants such as goats and sheep that are of a similar size and temperament. A few alpaca kept with a herd of sheep or goats can act as protection against small predators such as foxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When kept as pets, alpaca may learn to get along with gentle, quiet small or medium sized dogs, but it’s always a good idea to supervise these interactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not advisable to run alpacas with large animals, such as horses, donkeys or cattle as the small, gentle alpaca may be injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Is it safe to handle alpacas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These small, gentle animals are very safe and pleasant to deal with. They have soft, padded feet with nails rather than claws. They don’t have horns, and they don’t have top front teeth, so they cannot bite you and they won\u2019t butt you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Do alpacas ever bite or kick?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A well raised, humanely kept alpaca is unlikely to aggress. Sometimes the animals may kick back if you’re handling their hind feet, but since they don\u2018t have hooves, they are unlikely to do much harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An alpaca that is kept as a spoiled pet rather than as livestock may develop the bad habit of nipping or nibbling to get your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Do alpacas spit like llamas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, alpacas do spit occasionally. Most of the time, alpacas only spit at each other and not at people. They have very few other ways of defending themselves, so if they feel threatened they may spit their cud (partially chewed, regurgitated grass and feed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is smelly and unpleasant, but it will not hurt you. The best way to avoid it is to raise and treat your alpaca right so that it doesn’t ever feel threatened by you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. How old can alpacas get?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, a well kept alpaca can live to be about 20 years old. Some have lived to be nearly 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Are alpacas dirty and smelly?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When properly kept, alpacas are very tidy, and they do not have a strong odor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. How many breeds of alpaca are there?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two breeds, they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n