There are many different opinions about alpacas needing (or not needing) shelter. We have read that they really don’t need any shelter. After all, they don’t have much on the Altiplano of South America! From states that receive heavy snow falls to more temperate climates we have heard and read that shelter from the sun is about all they need. With the thick, dense fleece they need to be able to stay as cool as possible in the summer months.

We have seen our alpacas sleep outside on the coldest nights, waking up to find them covered with a layer of frost. The cold isn’t too much of an issue except for crias who are not yet able to regulate their body temperatures.

We have visited ranches that are blessed with plenty of “tree coverage”. We have also seen magnificent barns, and shelters as simple as temporary carports.  Lacking trees, at this point, and having winds too strong for the life of the temporary structures (which we found truly did live up to its name of “temporary”!) we have opted for simple 3-sided shelters.

We have found that if given a choice, alpacas do prefer kushing (sitting) under shelter to kushing in the rain. We find them in the barn or shelter when the weather is bad. We are certain that if given no choice they would survive without a shelter. After all, they have for years in the mountains of South America.

We had a rainstorm shortly after bringing our first alpaca’s home. We thought they would be fine since the particular pen we put them in does receive some shelter from a large willow tree and a large cottonwood tree. After feeding and caring for them we went inside to have our own dinner. With a perfect view of the pen from the dinner table we could see 6 alpacas cushed in the rain staring at us with big sad eyes. The barn was soon made accessible to them and we now have a sturdy 3-sided shelter in the pen that doesn’t have access to the barn. We find they enjoy a nice dry place to sleep as much as you and I do!