When winter rolls around, many people who own outdoor animals fret about their wellbeing, llamas being no exception. While it’s natural and good to want to help your llama in winter, it may put you at ease to know that llamas are well-suited to winter weather and that many livestock animals prefer being outside to being locked in a barn. Llamas have very warm, thick coats, naturally, so they can enjoy the snow in comfort. But you want to ensure that you are doing everything in your power to help your llama in winter.
A healthy, well-cared for llama is a happy llama! Here are some of the ways you can help your llama in winter, to ensure that they stay happy and healthy.
#1. Give Them Shelter
Just because llamas like being outside doesn’t mean they couldn’t benefit from having a shelter to retreat to when they wish it. A great way to help your llama in the winter – and all year round – is to give them a shelter. A barn or a shelter gives them somewhere to get out of the wind and snow and other elements, making them more comfortable. Llamas like to know where they can ‘escape’ from a building, so try to only close the windows and doors of your barn where the snow blows from.
#2. Add A Layer Of Bedding
Adding an additional layer of bedding to your barn will increase the comfort and make it easier for you to clean.
#3. Give Them Grassy Hay And Grain
An absolute must when you help your llama in winter is giving them grassy hay and grain. You don’t want to give them any moldy hay, as this could make them sick. You may also want to help your llama in winter by giving them a ration of grain, since there is likely not going to be grass for them to graze on. You want to be careful with the grain in order to avoid any choking situations. You may also consider giving your llama beet pulp or cracked corn or pellets of alfalfa.
Every llama is different, and what works for one may not work for another. If you have any questions or concerns about your llama’s diet, contact your local vet, and they’ll be able to give you personalized advice for your llama.
#4. Offer A Salt Block
Llamas can’t stick their tongues out to lick a salt block like a horse can, but they do enjoy ‘gumming’ on salt blocks in order to get their daily salt intake in. To help your llama in the winter, offering a salt black along with a mineral mix will ensure that they can meet their daily intake.
#5. Consider A Coat
Most llamas are fine being out in the snow without a coat, but this isn’t the cause for all. If your llama is old or frail or sick or young, one way you can help your llama in winter is through providing them with a coat. Llamas who don’t have a lot of body fat are susceptible to the cold even if they have a naturally thick, woolly coat. For some llamas, coats are a necessity in the winter, while for others, they are fine without them.
If you have any questions about whether or not your llama needs or could benefit from a coat this winter, contact your local vet and they’ll be able to advise you on the best course of action for you.
#6. Ensure They Have Clean Water
Hydration is essential for everyone, and llamas are no exception. A key way to help your llama in winter is to ensure that they always have access to fresh, clean water. Eating snow won’t keep your llama hydrated, and if water freezes over or is too cold, it can be difficult for them to stay hydrated. Investing in an automatic waterer, like Bar Bar A’s llama waterer, will ensure that your llama has water whenever they need it, so that you can rest assured your llama has access to good water at all times.
Help Your Llama In Winter With Automatic Waterers
Bar Bar A has llama waterers to keep your llama happy and healthy and hydrated all year round. We know how essential clean water is for your llama, and how difficult it can be to make sure that your llama stays hydrated when water freezes over or when it’s difficult for llamas to figure out how to use an automatic waterer. Our llama automatic waterers are easy for llamas to learn how to use and ensure that your llama has access to clean water at a comfortable temperature all year long. To learn more about our automatic waterers, please contact us at Bar Bar A today!
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