Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Mountain West

Raising Alpacas in Colorado

Colorado has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 82°F in July and winter lows average 13°F in January, with about 19 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are hard winters.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

89/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
82°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
13°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~5Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~189Frost nights per year (state average)
19 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
3Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.050°2.070°3.090°4.0Jan: 1.1 inJanFeb: 1.2 inFebMar: 1.5 inMarApr: 1.9 inAprMay: 2.0 inMayJun: 1.5 inJunJul: 2.2 inJulAug: 2.1 inAugSep: 1.5 inSepOct: 1.4 inOctNov: 1.1 inNovDec: 1.1 inDecJan high: 39°FFeb high: 41°FMar high: 50°FApr high: 56°FMay high: 66°FJun high: 77°FJul high: 82°FAug high: 80°FSep high: 73°FOct high: 60°FNov high: 48°FDec high: 38°FJan low: 13°FFeb low: 16°FMar low: 23°FApr low: 29°FMay low: 38°FJun low: 47°FJul low: 53°FAug low: 51°FSep low: 43°FOct low: 32°FNov low: 22°FDec low: 14°F°Fin

Average of 64 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Dec–Jan

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Delta County — 100/100
  2. Mesa County — 100/100
  3. Montezuma County — 100/100
  4. Montrose County — 100/100
  5. Boulder County — 98/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Morgan County — 79/100
  2. Lake County — 81/100
  3. Prowers County — 81/100
  4. Bent County — 84/100
  5. Hinsdale County — 84/100

All 64 counties

Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.

CountyPeak highLowest lowDays ≥90°FFrost nightsWorm monthsShearHay balesScore
Adams County9016311693May1491
Alamosa County82542130Jun1786
Arapahoe County8916251724May1489
Archuleta County801232013Jun1786
Baca County9219471433May1487
Bent County9317571472May1484
Boulder County811631881Jun1698
Broomfield County8919271561May1494
Chaffee County74802341Jun1889
Cheyenne County9116381584May1485
Clear Creek County711202332Jun1887
Conejos County75802192Jun1887
Costilla County781012122Jun1787
Crowley County9315501612May1688
Custer County761202122Jun1787
Delta County8516101680May16100
Denver County8918291571May1494
Dolores County791421942Jun1890
Douglas County841671803May1695
Eagle County761002200Jun1791
El Paso County8516111773May1495
Elbert County8714171844May1687
Fremont County821451902Jun1690
Garfield County801521871Jun1792
Gilpin County731402192Jun1887
Grand County74802380Jun1891
Gunnison County74702261Jun1789
Hinsdale County68702422Jun1884
Huerfano County831761792May1696
Jackson County74802450Jun1891
Jefferson County821751823May1695
Kiowa County9216471534May1485
Kit Carson County9017321584May1489
La Plata County811431873Jun1792
Lake County69602582Jun1881
Larimer County791522040Jun1794
Las Animas County8819241552May1496
Lincoln County9015301743May1488
Logan County9016321644May1489
Mesa County8617121620May16100
Mineral County70702422Jun1884
Moffat County851291880May1694
Montezuma County8718171620May16100
Montrose County8616141650May16100
Morgan County9014341714May1479
Otero County9318561491May1486
Ouray County781212073Jun1786
Park County74802382Jun1887
Phillips County9016311634May1489
Pitkin County731002261Jun1889
Prowers County9318551464May1481
Pueblo County9118391522May1492
Rio Blanco County831361860May1694
Rio Grande County75602271Jun1889
Routt County771012150Jun1791
Saguache County75702261Jun1889
San Juan County651002441Jun1886
San Miguel County821441851Jun1792
Sedgwick County8916291624May1489
Summit County70802472Jun1884
Teller County76902282Jun1787
Washington County9016321664May1489
Weld County8915281753May1491
Yuma County9017351564May1485

Typical alpaca care calendar for Colorado

Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.

January 39° / 13°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 41° / 16°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

March 50° / 23°F

Frost
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 56° / 29°F

Frost
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.

May 66° / 38°F

ShearingWorm seasonCria season
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • 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.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 77° / 47°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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.

July 82° / 53°F

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 80° / 51°F

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • 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).

September 73° / 43°F

Breeding
  • 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.

October 60° / 32°F

  • Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.

November 48° / 22°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 38° / 14°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

Key recommendations for Colorado

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Aug (breed in Jun–Sep).
  • Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
  • Barber pole worm season: May, Jul–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is uncommon this far west but cases occur near the edge of its range.
  • Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Colorado

The Alpaca Store
Hallmark Ranch Alpacas
SalidaWebsite
Suncrest Orchard Alpacas and Fiber Works
Alpaca Farm
Antelope Alpacas & Fiber Arts Center
Elizabeth
Alpaca Connection
BoulderWebsite

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Colorado?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Colorado scores 89/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are hard winters.
Which part of Colorado is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Delta County, Mesa County and Montezuma County; the most challenging are Morgan County, Lake County and Prowers County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Colorado?
Plan shearing for May, 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 Colorado?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jun–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Colorado?
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.

Neighboring states

NebraskaNew MexicoUtahWyomingArizonaCalifornia

See how these guides are calculated.