Climate snapshot for alpacas
100/100Alpaca climate comfort score
86°FAverage high, Aug
37°FAverage low, Dec
~16Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~29Frost nights per year
20 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 100/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Warm-summer Mediterranean (Köppen Csb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 38°F | 4.6 in | 141 · ok | grass |
| Feb | 60°F | 38°F | 5.1 in | 141 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 3.5 in | 138 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 66°F | 42°F | 1.1 in | 138 · ok | grass |
| May | 71°F | 46°F | 0.5 in | 125 · ok | — |
| Jun | 78°F | 52°F | 0.1 in | 114 · ok | — |
| Jul | 84°F | 57°F | 0.0 in | 112 · ok | — |
| Aug | 86°F | 57°F | 0.0 in | 118 · ok | — |
| Sep | 82°F | 54°F | 0.1 in | 121 · caution | — |
| Oct | 74°F | 48°F | 0.8 in | 117 · ok | — |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 1.3 in | 130 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 60°F | 37°F | 3.2 in | 140 · ok | 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 Ventura County, California
January 60° / 38°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- 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 60° / 38°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).
March 63° / 40°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).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 66° / 42°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).
- Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
May 71° / 46°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° / 52°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 84° / 57°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 86° / 57°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 82° / 54°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 74° / 48°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 66° / 42°F
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 60° / 37°F
- 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: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Nov–Apr (about 6 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 Ventura 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 Ventura County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Ventura County, California scores 100/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in Ventura 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 Ventura 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 Ventura County, California?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 34.359, -119.133 · land area 1,841 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.