Alpaca Etiquette (2024)

FAQs

Alpaca Etiquette? ›

Don't touch or feed alpacas without asking first. Don't touch an alpacas head, hindquarters, tail, or toes. Don't grab or hug an alpaca. Grabbing frightens alpacas.

' The truth is most llamas and alpacas are aloof and don't like to be touched.” This is called The Way Things Are. The moment you become an alpaca or llama owner you begin to get the “real” scoop on what llamas and alpacas don't like, what they can do, what they won't do, and how you—the human—must do things.

Talk and Sing Them – This is probably one of the most important lessons I've learned. The more I talk to the alpacas, the more comfortable they are with me. And I don't just talk to the herd as a whole. I patiently walk around and talk to each and every one of them.

' For the most part, alpacas do not like to be hugged, even if you want to hug them! They are very cute, their eyes are huge and they do have a way of looking into people instead of at you. They display affection by gently bringing their noses to you — and they may briefly kiss or nuzzle certain people.

Speak kindly to your alpacas at all times! They may not understand or care about everything you're saying but they will sense your intentions. Daily interactions like this help develop trust. If you do any herd management tasks, just tell them exactly what you are doing each step of the way.

Approach slowly and calmly. Keep your hand FLAT when touching an alpaca and pat with the back of your hand. Grabbing them or their fiber makes them think you are a predator.

While normally almost soundless, the alpaca can emit a piercing alarm scream when aroused to potential danger, alerting their herd and property owners. Alpacas are normally gentle toward humans and other animals that are not seen as threatening but they have an innate dislike for canines and foxes.

Firstly, they hum. Each alpaca's hum is distinct and allows others to recognize and respond to individual calls. The humming sound is soft and gentle. A happy alpaca has a relaxed body posture, their necks may be extended, and their heads held high.

6) Alpacas' tails are used to express feelings to each other. If they're bothered by something they will twitch it back and forth. If an animal is being submissive it will raise its tail over its body and crouch down.

Abnormal signs to look out for are an unwillingness or inability to stand as well as general depression and holding the head and neck back over their chest.

What do alpacas love? ›

Alpacas love treats in the form of carrots, apples, pumpkin, raisins and broccoli stalks. While broccoli stalks are safe and provide great nutrients for alpacas, it's important to define the nutritious stems from the florets - which if fed to your alpacas can be dangerous.

Berserk llama syndrome (usually shortened to BLS), aberrant behavior syndrome, or berserk male syndrome (as it is more pronounced in males) is a psychological condition experienced by human-raised camelids, particularly llamas and alpacas, that can cause them to exhibit dangerously aggressive behavior toward humans.

For the most part, no. Hugging is not natural behavior to an alpaca and to them it is actually quite scary!

Pronking is a behavior that shows that the alpaca is happy and excited. Pronking kind of looks like a mix between running and jumping.

It is said that just watching them will lower your blood pressure. The babies, called cria, will steal your heart instantly. The older ones might give you “kisses”. Their soft, velvety nose gently touches yours in the traditional alpaca greeting custom.

Bonding can take some time.

Both llamas and alpacas will become accustomed to the people that hang around them, but it won't usually happen right away. "We notice that as we go to the farm more and more, the llamas are more comfortable with us," Hatley says.

For the most part, no. Hugging is not natural behavior to an alpaca and to them it is actually quite scary!

They are happy to be stroked on their necks and shoulders, but do not like to be touched on their face or head. Take Geoffrey for example (pictured above), he's our oldest alpaca at 19 years and is nothing but a responsible and sweet gentle giant, especially around children.

Affection can be shown by nuzzling your hand, running towards you when you walk over to the alpaca pen, or even when the alpaca actually kisses you. It depends on the alpaca how they want to show affection. In addition to physical behaviors, alpacas can express behavior through sounds.