Buyer question
How long does a Huacaya live?
Our Animal Library gives the Huacaya a lifespan of 15–20 years.
Source: the Huacaya page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Huacaya in the Animal Library
The detail
Huacaya alpacas grow a dense, crimpy fleece that stands out from the body and gives them their teddy-bear look. Most alpacas are huacayas, bred in the Andes for soft fiber, and they need yearly shearing and the company of other alpacas.
- Hardiness
- 4 out of 5 (Hardy in most climates)
- Origin
- Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Chile
- Best fit
- Fiber hobby, small acreage
- Temperament
- Gentle, herd-bound, wary
What to weigh
Alpacas are herd animals and must never live alone, so plan on at least two or three. Dense fleece means yearly shearing and a real heat-stress risk in humid summers.