The frequently asked questions on this page and their answers are based upon our experiences and do not necessarily reflect the behavioural patterns of all Llamas which will to a large degree depend on the how they are reared and kept and in what type of environment.  The table of contents will be constantly updated with additional questions and answers as they arise.

Table of Contents

1. Are Llamas easy to keep?
2. How long do they live for?
3. Do llamas spit?
4. What type of land is suitable for them?
5. What do they eat?
6. How much do they eat?
7. Who often do Llamas reproduce?
8. How soon can a female mate again after giving birth?
9. Do they need shelter?
10. What type of fencing do I need to keep Llamas?
11. What are Guard Llamas?
12. How do Llamas communicate?
13. Do Llamas play?
14. Do Llamas fight each other?
15. Do they get on with horses?
16. Do they get on with dogs?
17. How much do llamas cost?
18. Where should I buy a Llama?

Are Llamas easy to keep?

In general terms Llamas are a relatively easy animal to keep provided that their owners fully understand that like all animals they will need daily care and attention to ensure that their health and quality of life can be maintained and it should also be borne in mind that llamas, like any other animal, can suffer from illnesses which may require veterinary care. 

If they are provided with plenty of good grazing, shelter, food and fresh clean water, Llamas will normally thrive and be quite happy with their lot in life.

New owners tend to find themselves quickly forming a close bond with their llamas and get into a routine of checking them and interacting with them on a daily basis.

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How long do they live for?

Llamas are not short term pets.  A well cared for Llama can expect to live for between 20 to 25 years.

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Do llamas spit?

Funnily enough this is the most commonly asked question we get and the simple answer is Yes, Llamas do spit. However, they do not normally spit at humans.  Llamas use spitting as a warning sign to other Llamas to back off if they are being annoyed or trying to assert themselves within the herd.  If a human decides to continually annoy or tease a Llama then it will spit at them.

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What type of land is suitable for them?

Llamas are ruminants and need access to good grazing.  However, they are extremely versatile climbers and jumpers and will thoroughly enjoy roaming around steep land and rocky outcrops.  They will also enjoy exploring the depths of heavily wooded areas.

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What do they eat?

Llamas are ruminants and graze primarily on grass. However, they will also eat hay during winter when grass is in short supply.  They will also happily eat most types of shrubs, hedging, leaves on trees and weeds.  When being fed hay during winter months many people supplement their diets with hard foods such as Llama mix (now available quite widely throughout the UK), calf mix, goat mix or sugar beet pellets (does not have to be soaked).   Quantities of hard feed are approx 4 or 5oz per llama per day.

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How much do they eat?

Llamas actually eat very little and would not be suitable for grazing large fields in the same way sheep do unless you had significant numbers of them.  In our experience we would estimate that one adult Llama eats about the same amount as a small sheep. 

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Who often do Llamas reproduce?

Llamas give birth to one Cria (Baby Llama) at a time and the pregnancy last for 345 days.

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How soon can a female mate again after giving birth?

Female Llamas are normally ready to mate again just 2 weeks after giving birth.

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Do they need shelter?

Although they are hardy animals, Llamas still like shelter to protect them from very cold high winds and rain.  If you have land with thick hedges and trees these can be an ideal place for them to shelter, alternatively they will need as a minimum a 3 sided lean to with roof that they can shelter in.

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What type of fencing do I need to keep Llamas?

Llamas are very inquisitive and like to explore and wonder around.  They are also very powerful jumpers and we have personal seen an adult clear a 5' fence without touching it.  However, our experience is that if a llama has companionship, shelter, good grazing, food and water, then they will quite happily stay in their paddocks.  We have used both Sheep fencing with a 4' single strand of wire at the top and also double steel electric fencing with the middle strand at 2' and the top strand at 4'.  Both have worked for us successfully for many years with no Llamas going on a walkabout.  If you leave a gate open by accident then the Llama will certainly go an explore what is beyond it.

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What are Guard Llamas?

Guard llamas are not a different breed but simply a Llama which is ideally suited to the protection of other animals, be they sheep, goats, chickens etc.  A guard llama is normally a male Gelding which has shown an ideal tendency towards bonding with and protecting other livestock, the Llama is usually kept totally isolated from other Llamas and monitored closely for his behavioural characteristics.

An entire male Llama should never be used to guard sheep as he may attempt to mate with the ewes and this will kill them. there are many recorded instances of this occurring with the resulting death of 100's of sheep within a single large flock. 

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How do Llamas communicate?

Llamas communicate both physically and vocally depending on the message they wish to send and to whom. 

When all is well Llamas make soft and relaxing humming sounds to each other, when a lama is displeased or annoyed they point their ears back wards and screech at each other (usually followed by spitting if the warning is ignored).  When a Llama spots something untoward which they consider a threat or out of the ordinary, they will stand bolt upright, ears pointed forward, facing the direction of the perceived threat and make a series of high pitched screeching sounds "eeee...eeee...eeee...eeee...eeee" (sounds a bit like a donkey but highly pitched) which quickly alerts the rest of the pack. 

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Do Llamas play?

Our Llamas play quite a lot and during the spring, summer and autumn seasons, many of the younger Llamas can been seen running round the fields at full pelt (Llamas have a surprising turn of speed) as through they are playing tag.  This often becomes infectious and end up with all of the Llamas running round after each other.  Llamas also do what we call "po-go-ing" which is that they will bounce around on all four legs at a time which gives them a very strange but highly comical appearance.

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Do Llamas fight each other?

Llamas do fight but this is normally restricted to adult entire males fighting for dominance of the female herd.  Unless you have significant amounts of land with which to separate adult entire male Llamas we would never advise owning 2 entire males.  When two males are owned it is normal to have one castrated.  When entire male Llamas fight, they are very aggressive and during the fights they can cause each other significant injuries and could even lead to death of one of the llamas.

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Do they get on with horses?

Llamas can co-exist with horses quite easily provided that both the Llama and the horse have been introduced gradually.  Our Llamas share both fields, shelters and food with our horses and there is never a reaction.  However, when being introduced to a horse which has never seen a Llama before we always recommend that they be introduced slowly over the period of about 7 days, ideally with both animals in stables or fields from which they can view and get used to the site and scent of each other.  Once they have fully accepted each other they can then be introduced into the same field.

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Do they get on with dogs?

In their natural environment Llamas would consider any time of canine (fox, wolf or wild dogs) as a threat and possible predator and react as such. However, if the Llamas have been brought up from young to accept dogs then their reaction can be controlled.  We would advocate the same approach as for horses with the dog(s) being introduced the the new Llama(s) slowly but surely.  The only time we would never recommend a dogs going into a field with Llamas is when there are newborn Cria present.  The Llamas natural instinct is to protect its young.  After a few days the Cria can then be allowed to approach the dog(s) in their own time.  Once they see that the mother has no problems with the dog(s) they will normally relax and then start to want to explore and sniff the dog.  During the introduction process everything should be done slowly so as not to spook the Llamas.

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How much do Llamas cost

The price you can expect to pay for a Llama can vary enormously and will depend on a large number of factors which will include some of the following, the sex, age, conformation, fibre quality, markings, temperament, training, show rankings, if it is pregnant, and the list goes on.  So as you can see there are a lot of variables which will impact on the price the breeders asking price.  It must also be remembered that a breeder will also have the financial costs associated with running a registered business.  All official breeders of Llamas in France must be officially registered with the French Chamber of Agriculture and have a valid Siret Number.

If the price of a Llama seems high then you need to ask the dealer why, you must also ask yourself why you want Llamas and make sure that what you buy fits your needs. If you are looking for a Guard Llama or companion llama you will not want to pay the price for a top quality show Llama with a top notch pedigree.  However, if you are looking for a Llama to enter into and win top llama show competitions, then you must expect to pay the price.  Exactly the same logic applies to horses, dogs etc.

As a basic guide a gelded male can start at around 750Euros, an entire male could start at around 1,000 Euros, a proven stud male could cost upwards of 2-3000 Euros, an adult female suitable for breeding from around 2,500 euros and a confirmed pregnant female around 3-4,000 Euros.  These prices are only a guide as a lot will depend on a number of factors including, conformation, colour, fibre quality, size, sex, character and levels of training. 

When considering the cost of a Llama it should be remembered that the professional breeder will have gone through the process and expense of keeping the mother, sometimes paying for stud fees, expending time and effort spent caring for, rearing and training the llama.  There are also registration fees and Veterinary fees that will have been paid if applicable. Basically all the expenses that go with breeding high quality llamas.

Where should I buy a Llama

We would always advise that you purchase your Llamas from a fully registered Breeder and one where they will be able to provide you with ongoing support and advice whenever you need.  Do your background research first, there is a wealth of free and informative information available on the internet or phone a number of breeders and get different views and opinions.  Also make sure that the Llamas you purchase are suitable for your requirements.

There are a number of registered Llama Breeders in France who can advice on purchasing your Llamas.  Also make sure that you both speak the same language as in an emergency the Breeder will be able to provide you with essential advice over the phone and in a language you will understand.

Please beware of buying cheap over friendly young male llamas as these may have been over handled when young and this could result in a llama that can be potentially dangerous to humans when fully grown. Also if you are considering becoming a breeder, beware of llamas that are very cheap, not microchipped and have no registration documents showing their lineage, as there is always the possibility that these have been inbred and can contain genetic deformities.