| For New Owners
Welcome to the wonderful and satisfying world of llama/alpaca ownership. We've been supplying the best products we can find for many years. Our records show that the number of new owners (and new customers of Useful Lama Items!) has been growing faster every year. New owners come with a wide variety of knowledge and needs. Sometimes they have studied llamas or alpacas for years or have relatives with llamas or alpacas and pretty well know what they want. But more often they just acquired their first llama(s) or alpaca(s) and are asking: "What do we need?" Our answer is "everything." Our catalog mission is to provide llama and alpaca owners with the broadest range of supplies and items needed to both start and equip their farm. This page highlights the basics that are most often needed for the new farm.
 Great Halters
Llamas and alpacas require specially designed halters. Many excellent designs have been made and are offered in our catalog. The alpaca and llama head grows rapidly; therefore requiring new sizes on a regular occassion. The following guidelines will give you an idea of what sizes to order for your animals. LLAMAS - Typically starting with baby (0-4 months); or weanling (4-9 months) and growing in to medium (10-24 months), adult (18-months and over) or extra-large halters for the large headed llamas. ALPACAS - Sizes are weanling (0-4 months); yearling (5-12 months); adult (13-24 months) and large halters for the large headed alpaca.
Some ideas we recommend:
- Halter train your alpacas/llamas as early in age as possible. It is easier and the learning will last forever.
- Do not leave halters on llamas or alpacas when not handling them (only bad things can happen - getting snagged somewhere, having a nose or chin grow into the halter, causing skin burns, etc.).
- Another idea that works well for many owners is to color code halters by size, i.e. they purchase large in black, medium in red, weanling in blue, etc.
Go to our Halters & Lead Ropes page.
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Lead Ropes
A wide variety of leads are offered. Many people choose matching colors, others choose cotton for training to avoid rope burns, most choose black for shows. Choose what you like, they all work.
Go to our Halters & Lead Ropes page.
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Toe Nail Clippers
The most essential tool on the farm! These orange handled clippers work especially well. They are small, sharp and easy to use for every handler. Llama and alpacas will offer various degrees of resistance during nail trimming. Therefore it's imperative that you have the right tool in order to accomplish your task. Proper restraint is advised. And the earlier you start handling the legs and feet of your animals, the better off you will be for future grooming and care issues. Even if you just "fake trim" the nails, it's good practice for both you and your animals.
Go to our Grooming page.
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Basic Brushes and Grooming Tools
Most people like to brush and clean-up their llamas and alpacas before taking them off the farm. Some want them looking really nice for fairs, shows, parades, school and hospital visits amongst other events. There are many useful brushes and tools to choose from. If you start with three, we recommend the set (#006SET) which includes our favorites: a soft slicker (used for cleaning), a porcupine brush (usef for general grooming) and a pin brush (used for top grooming and for quick work at shows). The Kwik N Slick grooming set is a real favorite amongst both alpaca and llama owners for getting out deep-rooted dust and debris in wool. These are but a few of the wide variety of brushes available to you and shown on our Grooming page.
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Lama Groom
The groomer's companion product. Lama Groom will soften and condition the wool, making brushing much easier. The other valuable benefit and one we really like is that once you have used Lama Groom you'll find your llamas will stay cleaner and be easier to groom because it helps repel dirt and keep fiber conditioned. Go to our Grooming page.
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Books & Videos
For the new owner we recommend "Caring for Llamas and Alpacas" (#109). It is updated and complete. If you plan on crias (newborns) we recommend "Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care" (#109N). For your own records we recommend a Llama or Alpaca Record Notebook (#104). For initial training and handling choose the John Mallon tapes (#100, #101) or the Marty McGee tape (#102A). For other fine books and tapes go to our Books and Videos page.
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Wormers
Llamas and alpacas are normally healthy but they are quite susceptible to intestinal parasites. Worming should be done based on the needs of your area and your farm. Frequency depends on the number of animals, the amount of heat and moisture present and the target parasite. We carry several wormers at competitive prices. General advice would be to stock and to use wormers frequently and have Corid on hand for any potential coccidia outbreak. Go to our Wormers page.
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Vaccines
Almost all llama/alpaca veterinarians recommend vaccinations for all llamas/alpacas starting at a very early age. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations. Go to our Vaccines page.
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Other
As you equip your farm, numerous items like digital and dial cria scales, utility feeders, buckets, feed pans, gate latches, alligator straps, bungee cords and circuiteer blowers will be necessary. Please view these items throughout the Every Day Care and For New Owners pages.
1-800-635-LAMA (5262)
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