Climate snapshot for alpacas
95/100Alpaca climate comfort score
85°FAverage high, Aug
46°FAverage low, Dec
~18Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~2Frost nights per year
13 inAnnual precipitation
3Barber pole worm months
17Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Dry climate — only 13 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 95/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Hot semi-arid (Köppen BSh).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 47°F | 2.9 in | 148 · ok | worms, grass |
| Feb | 67°F | 47°F | 3.3 in | 148 · ok | worms, grass |
| Mar | 69°F | 49°F | 1.9 in | 145 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 72°F | 51°F | 0.8 in | 144 · ok | — |
| May | 74°F | 55°F | 0.3 in | 128 · ok | — |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 0.1 in | 114 · ok | — |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 0.0 in | 112 · ok | — |
| Aug | 85°F | 63°F | 0.0 in | 117 · ok | — |
| Sep | 84°F | 62°F | 0.1 in | 123 · caution | — |
| Oct | 79°F | 57°F | 0.5 in | 121 · caution | — |
| Nov | 73°F | 51°F | 0.9 in | 136 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 67°F | 46°F | 2.2 in | 147 · ok | worms, grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for Orange County, California
January 68° / 47°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 67° / 47°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
March 69° / 49°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Secure winter hay: about 17 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 72° / 51°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
May 74° / 55°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 78° / 58°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 83° / 63°F
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 85° / 63°F
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 84° / 62°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 79° / 57°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 73° / 51°F
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 67° / 46°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Jan–Apr (breed in Feb–May).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Dec–Feb — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Nov–Mar (about 5 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
- Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Orange County, California are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Orange County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Orange County, California scores 95/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Orange County, California?
Plan shearing for March, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Orange County, California?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Jan–Apr. For births then, breed females in Feb–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Orange County, California?
With roughly 7 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 833 lb (378 kg) — around 17 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 33.676, -117.777 · land area 793 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.