5 Surprising Benefits of Having an Alpaca as a Pet
When you think of pets, what comes to mind? Surely dogs and cats are at the top of the list. But have you ever considered an alpaca? If you have not, I would like to introduce you to some reasons as to why you might want to start. While there are many advantages to having an alpaca, let us look at just 5 surprising benefits of having an alpaca as a pet.
1- Fun for the Family
Alpacas are fun for the family. Dogs are a blast, and cats can be quite fun, too, but an alpaca is altogether different in a very good way. When investing in an alpaca, you will gain a whole new pet experience like never before.
Kids love alpacas, and they are generally very friendly and approachable. Watching one graze in the field, pulling grass from the yard to feed your new pet, stroking its furry head and neck, or even giving it a hug can bring countless hours of enjoyment for the whole family. What an awesome way to bring the family together and develop fun memories!
2- Great Fertilizer
If you enjoy gardening, an alpaca will prove to be a great help. Plants need nutrients to grow. After some time, the soil loses its nutrients as the plants use it. Therefore, to grow a desirable garden or flowers, you need some good fertilizer. Alpaca manure is just that – it is an excellent fertilizer.
Not only that, but their manure is easy to collect. This is because alpacas tend to choose the same places when they go to the bathroom. All you need to do is scoop it up, throw it right into the garden, and mix it into the soil.
3- Monetary Considerations
There are also monetary matters worthy of consideration. Believe it or not, if you invest in an alpaca, you could actually make money. Alpacas are not only takers; they are also givers. Each year, you could reap the benefits of sheering your alpaca’s fiber as you would the wool of a sheep. Even better, Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic, unlike sheep’s wool, because it does not contain lanolin. You could sell the fiber immediately after sheering without doing anything to it, or you could weave it into something, spin it, card it, etc., before then selling it.
4- Low Maintenance
Another surprising benefit of having an alpaca as a pet is that they are low maintenance. You do not need a lot of land for an alpaca. With only an acre, you could comfortably home 6 to 8 of them. While they require routine care just like many other animals (such as shearing, deworming, and vaccinations), they are typically easier to care for than most other farm animals.
5- Trainable Animals
Another remarkable benefit of investing in an alpaca is that they are trainable. Investing in an alpaca is not like putting a wild animal into the yard with little to no hope of taming it. On the contrary, by simply using a halter and lead, an alpaca can be trained in a short amount of time to obey its master.
