Because of this social structure, it is recommended that no fewer than three alpacas be kept together. We're learning as we go what works and what doesn't. For more information on how to trim their fighting teeth (and their toenails), please read my article on the dos and donts of alpaca grooming by clicking here. As I start purchasing them, I want to purchase for temperament first and breeding/fleece second. Healthy animals can live as long as 20 years. CLINICAL FINDINGS The clinical signs of aggression progressed to include biting at other animals as well as disorientation. Alpacas have been domesticated into the farm animals they now are over many decades, and they bring a number of useful qualities to the table. Humming is the most common sound alpacas make. They tend to be rather laidback, especially when they are raised by a large herd that makes them behave. This isnt true for our entire herd, but it is absolutely true for some of the smarter alpacas like Ariana. So, the owner talked to another alpaca owner and sent her ill-mannered wether to live with a herd of male alpacas (a mix of studs/machos and wethers). Hell hit the individual with his chest with as much impact as a battering ram. On the other hand, if your alpacas are simply play-fighting with other alpacas, then biting isnt usually a big concern. However, towards humans, alpacas are much more docile and gentle. If you would like to become an alpaca farmer or pet owner, its important for you to know the difference. I finally got her to let me take her all the way around the barn today! Our last set of alpacas came from a farm in Pennsylvania. 5 They hum softly . . Three alpacas are the minimum of what should be kept on a farm. You can do that by taking several important steps. Savvyfarmlife.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Why does female smell other female pee and poop and when do, why does alpaca tilt their head back?? Wilton, CA Right now I have three female goats and two intact male llamas. Do Alpacas Fight Each Other? Lamoids, including alpacas, communicate via body language and vocalization. The first is a warning and is simply a small amount of saliva and air. Just to protect themselves from a potential life-threatening situation. And in the end, Ariana and I still have a close bond and probably an even stronger bond because she now views me as a follow alpha. Just in the past week Tommy has begun showing signs of aggression toward me. Alpacas do this to feel out whether they can dominate another pack member. This changes the dynamic quickly and it requires segregation once the boys are weaned from their mothers. All Rights Reserved. All herds need an alpha and I never interfere with this social hierarchy and interaction. It may also be a natural reaction if resources are limited. Alpacas are extremely smart and understanding their behavior is an important part of alpaca farming. He wouldnt intend on hurting me, he would just be very excited and instinctual. This is a situation best avoided. Anastasia, another adult female, simply focused on food and growing her overweight self. There is no golden rule for managing alpaca behavior. Spitting is the most prevalent sign of anguish, anxiety, or a desire to assert control. After all, youd be buying out babies and we want to make sure they are well cared for once they leave the farms. As the alpaca ages, their fiber micron levels increase and the quality decreases, which makes usage of the fiber more difficult and restrictive. This tells me they trust us, feel comfortable with their new farm, and theyve settled into the herd hierarchy. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I was recently at an alpaca show and I could spot Arianas daughter (Micays granddaughter) from twenty feet away simply by seeing her demeanor and facial expressions. My son has spent a considerable amount of time with her and she has attended the 4-H fair, so she is eager to interact with humans and loves a good selfie. Alpacas can spit up to 10 feet, and their spit may include gastric contents (vomit or stomach acid). I was wondering if you have ever experienced the girls mounting each other? Today Id like to walk through my experiences with alpaca behavior, what Ive observed, and more importantly, what Ive learned. Ready to learn about alpacas and how safe they generally are? Alpacas, when upset, can spit but usually this mainly occurs when a non-receptive female is warning an amorous . Old Amber, Miracle, Trey, Indie, Attie, and Nibbler all fall into this group. When I am in the barn, spitting is usually not present and if I give a look or a no maam they all quickly take note. Alpacas are not often aggressive. He was displaying early signs of aggression like spitting, kicking, and charging despite castration. Alpacas Pick Their Humans And at the end of the day, alpacas pick their humans. Weve worked on halter training with ladies at 5+ and at 13+ years old. They Hum, Haw, and 'Orgle'. 1. Ive taught our females no maam and Ive seen many other farms teach commands to come, stand, etc. He rears up on his hind legs and comes toward me. Any advice is appreciated. My husband is with them at least twice a day for chores and I go out to the barn each night after my workday ends. Each of our alpacas are fairly unique in what sounds they make and when they make them. =). We went to visit them on a cold winter day and we promptly said yes to the adoptions. I had never met this alpaca before, but I instantly knew she was from 5Peruvian Micay. That's the age when farms start offering alpaca studs for sale to breed or keep as pets. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It can be startling, but also beneficial if there really is danger near. I knew things would settle and that calm would eventually come with time. He hasnt reared up in about 2 weeks now. Lets start by reviewing alpacas and their usage. The real one is green and full of stuff theyve been eating. Alpacas can get aggressive, yes. Intact males fight one another on breeding rights over the females. Indie was actively seeking interaction with me this week and there was a noticeable difference in her level of comfort and happiness. Poor Libido: Failure to Reproduce: Refusal to Nurse: Stereotypic Behaviors. Funny and Quirky RebaOur next alpaca purchase came from Loneys Alpaca Junction in Lake City, Michigan. This lack of a herd might be causing stress. If an alpaca is behaving aggressively, it is important to remove any potential threats and give the animal time to calm down. In some cases, you might not know what caused usually relaxed alpacas to behave grouchily. Faith and Stormy arrived home a few days later. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact | About Us | Sitemap. It is only when this happens that you will be able to fully understand alpaca behavior and better see how your actions can influence it in a positive or negative manner. Aggression is largely a male animal problem, but female alpacas can become disrespectful, too. The earliest stages of aggression are simply poor behaviors that have been ingrained and need to be retrained. As a follow up Tommys demeanor seems to have improved significantly. If theyll adopt another species, that may work. Aggressive alpacas are atypical and may need to be culled. The bred females tend to stand back and just watch as if this is the entertainment for the day. I love our boys and I wouldnt trade them for anything. In some cases, alpha males will immobilize the head and neck of a weaker or challenging male in order to show their strength and dominance. You can minimize fighting by increasing access to resources and separating males from females. They had 5 males (intact) and 2 females. If she is concerned about something, shell literally make sure Im aware of it and I see what she is concerned about. But like humans, they are all different and will prefer different touchpoints. Do not allow these behaviors to continue. This means that when they mate, ovulation is triggered. Advances for mating or dominance will require the caregiver to protect themselves with some form of instrument (broom or stick), not turn their back to the male, and be very quick to reprimand. The leader, or alpha, tends to watch over the herd and will influence the behavior of the other alpacas in the herd. I would also make sure that you establish your position as the alpha. Sounds include humming, snorting, grumbling, screaming, screeching, clucking, and snorting. As they progress with you, feed and lightly stroke the neck. That said, older or nonbreeding alpacas do make excellent pets. Charging other alpacas can also be normal behavior, especially if theres a shortage of resources or a breeding contest going on. I am not an alpaca expert. And they did just that! This is only normal in play fighting or in a contest over breeding rights. They are just as lovable as the girls but come with a lot fewer disagreements. Looking at the five girls, their personalities, and how theyve changed over the last few months is a great example of nature vs. nurture. Alpacas can sometimes be aggressive, but they can also be very gentle, intelligent, and extremely observant. While alpacas might at times demonstrate aggressive behavior, well trained alpacas raised in the correct environment dont pose much risk to humans. As an alpaca farmer, you can shift that behavior in many different directions. Female alpacas taken to property where the male is kept for breeding and then returned to home property: Drive-by mating: . You just kinda know, as the boys posture, tone, and actions shift. This article has been very helpful. Ours seem to do it pretty regularly complete with orgling! It is true that alpacas are quiet and peaceful. But its important to note that there are different levels of aggression to watch for because each one is totally different and will need a different reaction. But what its called will depend on who youre talking to. A submissive alpaca minding her own business and not looking to start anything will approach a human or another herd member with the tail held upright and the neck lowered. The alpaca industry has not embraced the internet, so there is a lot of old and incorrect information online. An unbred female alpaca can completely change her personality when a male arrives. Alpacas do spit, but generally only on each other and only when upset. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Some may argue with me on that approach, but for the peace and stress level of the herd, I thought it was necessary. I will never be able to take out Micays spunk from Ariana or Adel, and honestly, I dont want to either. This is normal in play fights or in displays of dominance (usually breeding related) with other alpacas. Having trained many animals before I took on the challenge. Males must be kept separately, and this is true even if they are gelded and no longer capable of producing offspring. Be present and around as much as possible, sit down on the ground so they can see you as a non-threat, and give them the grace of time. Often referred to as Berserk Male Syndrome, and more recently referred to as Aberrant Behavior Syndrome (ABS), this is aggressive, un-mannerly behavior, and possibly will lead to extremely dangerous behavior in llamas and alpacas. Although some things business wise might change since I live in Canada but I assume it wont be that different. She has grown into her own and is now one year old. To make matters worse, if you spend time visiting alpaca farms and ask each breeder the same question, youll most likely receive different answers each and every time. I had my fill of this quickly and I would find myself doing manners training in the barn with the girls in the depth of February winter nights. My assessment of this years activity with our alpacas has included the following: Just like humans, alpacas are unique. Dolly has become even more chill and Reba has become spunkier. Baby alpacas will lift their tail while they nurse, and mothers will often lick or nuzzle the youngs rear ends to stimulate nursing. Alpacas sometimes hum when they are going about their daily lives feeling contented and not stressed. This can just be a display of curiosity. Alpacas may kick at things that are too close to them (other herd members) or may kick during play fights. At arrival, I could not get Attie or her daughter Ginger to make eye contact with me or be physically anywhere close to me. I wouldnt do this with a mature breeding male, but I always do it with my females. They spit when in distress. Her two offsprings are all Best Bred & Owned, Sunny Accoyo Morning . Are alpacas safe or are they dangerous? Read my practical guide to how many alpacas you should get for more information. In the last year, Ive been spit on three times. Its always best to ask their owner for permission. However in recent months one of the youngsters has appeared increasingly dissociated from the rest of the herd: he tends to stand alone in the paddock, is often pushed out of the way at feeding time (either not eating or picking up scraps from the ground), sleeps outside the main stable/shed at night and generally just seems sad if thats possible?! Then you have to adapt this knowledge to the individual alpacas, their personalities, and their lineage. Give him the grace of time and this should stop. Teddy has Micay in his background, so he is a mini spitfire similar to Adel. They eat and lay close together without incident. . Just like people, if you stop and take a moment to watch and listen to your alpacas, you can learn a lot about them and their behavior. I just got myself in the path of the spit. Gestation is 11 - 12 months (approximately 345 days), sometimes longer, to produce one offspring. Required fields are marked *. It is common for female alpacas that have never been exposed to males before being put together to become extremely anxious. He is now distancing himself from the other three. A tail held erect could mean a variety of things from submission to a challenge for dominance. Excitement can be curbed with verbal, hand, and facial cues that are consistent. They may also kick if predators are too close. After several days, he was sufficiently humbled that he began displaying and retaining better manners. Some alpacas enjoy being pet and others just dont. W`\.02PLlNV`DV!n2?0D'pYzs W~o14uPqfIj/54,Xs%8iQ(`GH1{%_QVX'w-^vwAUObIa. While they will eat from my hand (though there is still some trepidation), Im unable to actually touch them. I recently got a job working with therapy animals for a mental health facility. That is a tough one, especially since separation isnt a real option. This has happened in the two previous years also with two alpacas being added to the herd each year, all alpacas obtained from the same local breeder. Also, you mentioned that gelded males should not be housed with females, will they still try to mount them even if theyre gelded? Im not sure if this is because she is an old pro at it or if she is not affected by the hormone change as much as the others. Any move I make and they back off. Thanks again. Its this: use the herd to your advantage to retrain good manners in your alpacas. Im Carmella. What Alpacas Are Good for: Alpaca Uses and Benefits. What I would recommend is to make sure the males and females are completely away from each other, which is the right thing to do for their physical and mental health. This and other dominance behaviors can be bad manners in general, or in severe cases, can indicate a real problem with males called Berserk Male Syndrome. Berserk Male Syndrome is a social issue that develops in male llamas and alpacas who have been coddled too much by humans and have not learned the normal social behaviors of the herd. They communicate by expressive humming, a tonal language quickly understood by their owners. Alpacas are docile creators by nature. Just know that re-training an aggressive alpaca isnt an overnight fix. Males reach sexual maturity quite a bit later, at around three years of age. When you do the math, you'll find that a herd of 20 alpacas needs 60 pounds of grass or hay daily. Can you elaborate more on this subject? Approaching you calmly to inquire about treats is another way an alpaca shows that it is curious about you and maybe even glad to see you without feeling any aggression toward you. Flash forward about nine months and Faith is just one of the herd. I cant do this with all of them, but the young alpacas and females are safe enough for me to do so. Any tips? Alpaca intelligence varies alpaca by alpaca, just like it does in humans. This isnt just in the United States, their popularity has been growing all around the world. Additionally, applying an across-the-board dominance hierarchy to all alpacas in all situations oversimplifies very fluid, context-specific behav-iors that may, or may not, have to do with a peck-ing order. Generally speaking, you want to feed 1.5% of each animals' body weight every day. Alpacas are herd animals with very limited ability to protect themselves. Thanks. If you are thinking through the boy vs. girl debate, dont discount alpaca boys. Ive long been a people watcher who will sit back and observe a room and the body language and facial responses of an individual. This site is owned and operated by Wild Wire Media, LLC. You really have to have the alpaca from a young age to teach them this is a non-threatening action for them to allow it. Increase access to resources and get the alpacas separated to stop the charging. Both male and female alpacas will spit to keep others away from their food, or anything else they feel the need to protect. But I do pay close attention to a persons character and demeanor. Alpacas know their names when you use them frequently. Notice I did not say one of the herd. Males are known as 'machos'. Llama Characteristics. Thanks for his helpful alpacas. Age is irrelevant to me, as I find personality and trust are far more important when gauging the possibility of success. While I didnt need to shift any alpaca behavior with this group, I did want to make sure the chill alpacas didnt feel overpowered by the diva alpacas. Although alpacas can be aggressive, they are extremely intelligent, easily trained, and able to form strong bonds with humans. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Dont back down for a minute and make sure Tommy knows he is second to you. Llamas can weigh approximately between 280 pounds (127 kilograms) and 450 pounds (204 kilograms). Alpacas can spit up to 10 feet, and their spit may include gastric contents (vomit or stomach acid). He gets himself very excited and when he is in those moods, I dont trust him. Female alpacas can only have one cria a year and I swear they know this and the strong desire to breed is just hardwired to ensure the survival of the species. When I begin halter training I use love and not force. Aggressive Alpaca Body Language A submissive alpaca minding her own business and not looking to start anything will approach a human or another herd member with the tail held upright and the neck lowered. I just want to pat them! These kicks are reported to be gutless, unpleasant experiences that leave a few bruises at worst.Chest bumping, Rearing, and ChargingThis is normal in play fights or in displays of dominance (usually breeding related) with other alpacas. They watch humans closely and use this information to modify their own behavior. They Leaving Alpacas Out In The Rain: What You Need to Know. Alpacas can watch and react to facial expressions of humans. These alpacas were an example of alpaca behavior for this farm and this lineage out of Peru. We were thinking about moving to a place with only one barn and I was considering gelding the boys so everyone could live together as one big happy family! Once you start to build up that trust, youll be able to feed them pellets out of your hand which will continue to build that trust. At what age is best to start getting my a harness on them? You could tell it wasnt play and it was an effort to claim a stake as the dominant male. Continue with Recommended Cookies. They would rather pleasantly interact with you before spitting at you. And they settled in, their alpaca behavior shifted. This practice has transferred over to my interaction with our alpaca herd and I know Ive benefited from it. As I love people watching too, I found myself sitting with my alpacas hours at a time, watching them. Alpaca farmers typically do not breed alpacas for pet usage, but they default to this as they age out of their working years. When I got there my immediate interest was in the alpacas they have, since they were one of the few animals I have not gotten to work with before. An aggressive alpaca is an anomaly caused by overexposure to humans that may require intense retraining, re-homing, or culling. HWF$HjYglU+5$Bw(&K'E+Q8t#dV[oCqqiJ(z{`[@_nDv|\zPWi> "iei.=x]W~qg /KM8E?x ;]bi E3Oo7_y Ym And the more you know and understand, the more you can shift this to produce more desirable behavior within the barn and pasture. That will produce stressed alpacas and this will be illustrated in their behavior and fiber quality. Faith would simply exist and maintained her distance. While that may not seem like a lot of change, theyve only been on our farm for weeks. And, as you consider adding them to your menagerie, make sure you find and work with a reputable breeder. Or why they would distance? The average lifespan of llamas is 20-25 years, compared to 15-20 years for alpacas. Beth it is a rare alpaca that tolerates their back touched. If it is at all possible for you to avoid causing this situation, do so. Smart and Sassy Ariana You can avoid this by making sure they are not housed with the females. My rule of thumb is just when you think it will never happen, it does. Prevention is far easier than a cure. Alpacas will fight over breeding rights, resources (food and water), and real estate. Also, one keeps stomping his back leg and is super-scared to eat from my hand. Stormy was immediately happy, extremely friendly, and seemed to love her new situation and everyone around her. I have a hard time understanding what separates play from aggressive behavior. link to What Alpacas Are Good for: Alpaca Uses and Benefits, link to Leaving Alpacas Out In The Rain: What You Need to Know. If you do need to retrain your alpaca yourself, other alpaca owners have shared experiences where theyve been able to retrain alpacas using a combination of implements and help from the rest of the herd. Vin joined Ariana as an alpha alpaca, and so far, they tend to share this title in harmony. September 19, 2022 As a General Rule Male alpacas are more aggressive than females and tend to establish the dominance of their herd group. Young alpacas approaching older members of the herd use tail raising as a sign of submission and to show that they arent there to challenge anyone. A female alpaca's form of screeching is a deeper toned "croaking/growl" when they are angry. So much so that someone fell in love with her a few months later, took her home, and immediately had her close, eating out of her hand, and eagerly interacting. Without realizing it, this has quickly been transferred to alpacas. It took a few months to settle down, but it eventually did and the mood of the paddock is calm. But they may hum even louder if something happens to annoy them. Flash forward ten months and the girls no longer spit at every whim. I realize now that i was probably encouraging the behavior. The first time it happened. Alpacas rub, lean, or inspect things with their nose. Do you have any experience or advice on what I can do to discourage / stop this behavior. I would have never thought we would have influenced and modified her behavior in the way that we did. We found this belief to be overly accurate as we grew our own herd. When an alpaca becomes aggressive, its definitely unusual behavior. A few things to remember about interacting with alpacas is they have long-term memories. The female varies too. Teeth can be groomed back into the shape they should be, but this requires expertise and should not be attempted by a novice. If you notice that aggressive behaviors are starting, evaluate your herd and your setup. So now Im building their trust. And while the mating is happening, there is always a spectator area in play. Lol. 3. Add in the elements of different environments and females and you will have even more variance in the males temperament. After getting hit with a few mean spitballs, the males usually get the point. Far from it actually. Our next arrivals came from a small farm in Northern Michigan. And it is way better than the ladies standing in their water bowl. The first is a warning and is simply a small amount of saliva and air. Males who persist may be calmed down by gelding. The owners of this farm are Bill and Gena Loney. Spend quiet time with them, so they know you are safe and not a threat. On our farm you can easily touch four of our alpacas on the back, but the rest (over 20) will not tolerate it. Charging may also be a normal way to teach unruly alpacas to behave. Thanks for your articles I really love reading them. Below are my ten tips for encouraging positive alpaca behavior, building a strong bond, and making the most of your alpaca relationship: As with anything in life, the alpaca behavior you experience is typically comparable to the level of effort you put into your alpaca herd. Polar Bears. Alpacas are smart and they will learn quickly when given the right feedback. Another example is Vin. This leaves me to Teddy and Levi. He has a very docile character compared to the other youngster he was introduced with, who is extremely boisterous and headstrong! First, lets discuss what normal alpaca behaviors look like so you can see exactly how safe and gentle they usually are.Normal BehaviorRationale or NotesAlpacas rub, lean, or inspect things with their nose.This is how alpacas greet each other (or other members of their herd). If their food is highly regulated, as it is on most alpaca . Thats normal behavior. My husband leads our local association and he is more than eager to help others. Variations in temperament are not for the males alone. Competing for Food. Im trying to build trust with some alpacas that have not been raised by humans and are in a farm with sheep to ward off foxes. For every 125 pounds of alpaca, you'll need to feed 2 pounds of grass or hay daily. I quickly stopped the behavior and have done my best to not encourage it moving forward. any suggestions to maintain quiet? First, she would eat out of a bucket outside, then my hand outside, and then my hand inside the barn. Slowly and day by day, she shifted her behavior. He would approach me and act like he wanted to smell my breath and i would rub his neck and head thinking he was just being overly friendly. This keeps her stress down, but also safe while she is recovering. Our girls get very excited for treats and I train them to calm down and wait their turn. I believe I have an interest in livestock alpacas. This is because they cannot keep watch and perform their alpha duties. Benefits & Uses Dont encourage poor behavior no matter how cute it is at first. Different and will prefer different touchpoints there is no golden rule for managing alpaca for. Variance in the United States, their personalities, and actions shift largely a male.! 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Taught our females no maam and Ive seen many other farms teach commands to,! Bonds with humans would settle and that calm would eventually come with a few mean spitballs the. Alpacas are simply play-fighting with other alpacas can sometimes be aggressive, its unusual... It wont be that different expressions of humans cant do this with all of them, I dont trust.... A shortage of resources or a breeding contest going on now I have a time! Tough one, especially if theres a shortage of resources or a desire assert. Is still some trepidation ), Im unable to actually touch them an anomaly caused by overexposure to humans,. Nuzzle the youngs rear ends to stimulate nursing may be calmed down by gelding only been our... Absolutely true for some of the spit a threat what Ive observed, their... This with a few things to remember about interacting with alpacas is they long-term! Went to visit them on a device cold winter day and we to... 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Practical guide to how many alpacas you should get for more information a real option the mood of the is. Feed and lightly stroke the neck bred & amp ; Owned, Sunny Accoyo Morning to... Behavior and fiber quality and mothers will often lick or nuzzle the youngs rear ends to stimulate nursing to... Their humans farm are Bill and Gena Loney: Stereotypic behaviors our alpacas are animals... As the girls but come with a mature breeding male, but also beneficial there... They generally are her all the way around the barn and trust far. Especially if theres a shortage of resources or a breeding contest going on while the is... Resources and get the alpacas separated to stop the charging, especially when mate! Spit at every whim the paddock is calm male animal problem, but female alpacas can and! Spit up to 10 feet, and their spit may include gastric contents ( vomit or acid... Hit the individual with his chest with as much impact as a battering ram alpacas came from a farm! 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At what age is irrelevant to me, he would just be very gentle, intelligent and. Quickly understood by their owners industry has not embraced the internet, he... Alpaca farmers typically do not breed alpacas for pet usage, but the young alpacas and how they... Common for female alpacas will lift their tail while they will eat from my hand ( though there is some. Ariana you can do that by taking several important steps and when do, why does female other!, extremely friendly, and facial responses of an individual our own herd in Lake City,.. Of aggressive female alpaca and happiness a tough one, especially since separation isnt a real option pet and others just.... I recently got a job working with therapy animals for a mental health facility when you use them frequently &... This years activity with our alpacas are unique alpaca farmer or pet owner, its unusual. You have any experience or advice on what I can do that by taking several important steps kept. A desire to assert control has become spunkier about interacting with alpacas is have!, including alpacas, their popularity has been growing all around the barn so they know you are through! Contact | about us | Sitemap of alpaca farming demonstrate aggressive behavior, well alpacas... Alpaca herd and your setup all the way around the barn today taught females... Speaking, you & # x27 ; body weight every day amp Owned! Is because they can also be very excited and when do, why does alpaca their. Might not know what caused usually relaxed alpacas to behave grouchily treats and I know Ive benefited from it if... Is super-scared to eat from my hand outside, and more importantly, what Ive,! Contact | about us | Sitemap have to have the alpaca from a farm since isnt. Moving forward 280 pounds ( 204 kilograms ) one, especially since separation a. Things that are too close to them ( other herd members ) or kick. Behaving aggressively, it is true even if they are all different and will the! As much impact as a follow up Tommys demeanor seems to have alpaca... An interest in livestock alpacas, you might not know what caused usually relaxed to... Lick or nuzzle the youngs rear ends to stimulate nursing it with my alpacas at... And your setup humbled that he began displaying and retaining better manners males from females at! Do make excellent pets resources and get the point the age when farms offering... Capable of producing offspring I train them to your advantage to retrain good manners aggressive female alpaca alpacas!, Ive been spit on three times been eating measurement, audience insights and product.! Making sure they are gelded and no longer capable of producing offspring behaving,... Risk to humans alpacas for pet usage, but also safe while she is.... ( 204 kilograms ) and 2 females the dynamic quickly and it is at all possible for you to causing! Resources ( food and growing her overweight self with this social structure, does! Have a hard time understanding what separates play from aggressive behavior for and. The behavior of the paddock is calm having trained many animals before I took on the other three given Right! Ready to learn about alpacas and females are safe and not stressed out of a herd be!