Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Safe

Can Alpacas Eat Chicory?

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) — a forb. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — chicory is safe for alpacas.

It is acceptable forage or browse in normal amounts.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus). Photo: Original book source: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Safe
Scientific name
Cichorium intybus
Family
Asteraceae
Plant type
Forb

Feeding notes

Deep-rooted, mineral-rich forb that tolerates drought; palatable and nutritious in mixed pastures.

How to offer it

  1. Introduce any new forage or browse gradually over a week or two.
  2. Make sure it is fresh — avoid moldy, wilted piles or plants sprayed with herbicide.
  3. Keep a balanced diet: grass or hay first, with a camelid mineral available.

About the plant

Common chicory is a somewhat woody, perennial herbaceous plant of the family Asteraceae, usually with bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink. Native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, it has been introduced to the Americas, Australia, and South Africa.From Wikipedia — “Chicory”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 388,248 recorded observations of Cichorium intybus L. worldwide, including 60,795 in the United States. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, together with Cocklebur, Common Groundsel, Rayless Goldenrod, Tansy Ragwort, White Snakeroot. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Can alpacas eat chicory?
Yes. Deep-rooted, mineral-rich forb that tolerates drought; palatable and nutritious in mixed pastures.
How much chicory can an alpaca eat?
As part of a varied diet based on grass or grass hay, it can be eaten freely. Introduce new browse gradually.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q2544599.