A loafing shed

We live in North Dakota and the weather here can be quite different. Summers can be hot reaching into the 100's while the winters can be cold -30 to -40 with winds in excess of 40 mph and wind chills of -80.

Shelters can be as elaborate as you want or can afford. The main thing to keep in mind is to provide areas of shade in warm weather and protection from extreme cold and wind.    Three sided shelters (loafing sheds) only open on the opposite side of the prevailing winds work great. We use these most of the time but because of the extreme cold we have added the luxury of a large barn where they can be housed, doors closed, from the wind and cold. Also we have available heaters and heated water.  In the summer we supply them with misters on the extremely hot days.

Well fenced pastures are provided where animals are grouped by sex, age, and temperment. The pastures are rotated to give them time to rebound. Five llamas to about one acre rotated every 2 to 3 weeks seems to work for us.

What we feed our llamas

We give our llamas pasture Hay primarily made up of mixed grasses. We avoid hay with too much alfalfa or with Sudan grass.  In addition we give the pellets.  (A mix of calf mana and pasture creep.)  They each get about 1 cup per day, our pregnant or nursing moms a little more.  It's really makes it easier to get them to the barn.   Since our winters in North Dakota can be a little more exrteme than other places they do get extra rations on  those cold cold days, as well as water.

Site Deisgn by: www.markboatman.com