Climate snapshot for alpacas
89/100Alpaca climate comfort score
90°FAverage high, Jul
17°FAverage low, Jan
~32Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~158Frost nights per year
17 inAnnual precipitation
4Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 89/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 17°F | 0.3 in | 117 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 46°F | 19°F | 0.4 in | 115 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 56°F | 27°F | 0.8 in | 127 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 64°F | 34°F | 1.7 in | 122 · ok | grass |
| May | 73°F | 44°F | 2.6 in | 126 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 85°F | 54°F | 2.5 in | 128 · caution | worms, grass |
| Jul | 90°F | 60°F | 3.1 in | 138 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 87°F | 58°F | 2.8 in | 141 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 80°F | 50°F | 1.2 in | 132 · caution | grass |
| Oct | 66°F | 36°F | 1.1 in | 118 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 54°F | 25°F | 0.5 in | 123 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 44°F | 18°F | 0.4 in | 112 · ok | frost |
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 Kit Carson County, Colorado
January 44° / 17°F
- 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.
February 46° / 19°F
- 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 56° / 27°F
- 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 64° / 34°F
- 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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
May 73° / 44°F
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 85° / 54°F
- 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).
July 90° / 60°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 87° / 58°F
- 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.
September 80° / 50°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 66° / 36°F
- Secure winter hay: about 14 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 54° / 25°F
- 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 44° / 18°F
- 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).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Kit Carson County, Colorado 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 Kit Carson County, Colorado?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Kit Carson County, Colorado scores 89/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in Kit Carson County, 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 Kit Carson County, Colorado?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Jun. For births then, breed females in Jun–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Kit Carson County, Colorado?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Kit Carson County, Colorado?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul. We estimate about 32 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 39.305, -102.603 · land area 2,161 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Colorado.