Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southeast

Raising Alpacas in Georgia

Georgia has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 91°F in July and winter lows average 35°F in January, with about 51 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.

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

Statewide snapshot

58/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
91°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
35°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~54Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~26Frost nights per year (state average)
51 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
9Barber pole worm months (state average)
8Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.465°2.882°4.3100°5.7Jan: 4.5 inJanFeb: 4.4 inFebMar: 4.7 inMarApr: 3.8 inAprMay: 3.3 inMayJun: 4.9 inJunJul: 4.9 inJulAug: 4.9 inAugSep: 4.0 inSepOct: 3.2 inOctNov: 3.4 inNovDec: 4.5 inDecJan high: 57°FFeb high: 61°FMar high: 68°FApr high: 76°FMay high: 83°FJun high: 88°FJul high: 91°FAug high: 90°FSep high: 85°FOct high: 76°FNov high: 67°FDec high: 59°FJan low: 35°FFeb low: 38°FMar low: 44°FApr low: 50°FMay low: 59°FJun low: 66°FJul low: 70°FAug low: 69°FSep low: 64°FOct low: 53°FNov low: 42°FDec low: 38°F°Fin

Average of 159 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May–Sep
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Mar–Nov)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 51 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Banks County — 65/100
  2. Catoosa County — 65/100
  3. Cherokee County — 65/100
  4. Gordon County — 65/100
  5. Walker County — 65/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Charlton County — 52/100
  2. Brantley County — 54/100
  3. Brooks County — 54/100
  4. Camden County — 54/100
  5. Clinch County — 54/100

All 159 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
Appling County9338771310Mar856
Atkinson County9339761210Mar856
Bacon County9339781210Mar856
Baker County9238721210Mar856
Baldwin County923565289Mar858
Banks County893236417Mar965
Barrow County893338398Mar964
Bartow County903143488Mar1064
Ben Hill County923869139Mar858
Berrien County9239701210Mar856
Bibb County923565299Mar858
Bleckley County923769209Mar858
Brantley County9339771111Mar854
Brooks County9139681011Mar854
Bryan County9239701010Mar856
Bulloch County923869169Mar858
Burke County923665249Mar858
Butts County913355389Mar958
Calhoun County9238691410Mar856
Camden County924169611Mar854
Candler County933871169Mar858
Carroll County893237468Mar964
Catoosa County893140527Mar1265
Charlton County934081712Mar852
Chatham County924063910Mar856
Chattahoochee County923663229Mar858
Chattooga County893140487Mar1259
Cherokee County883133487Mar1265
Clarke County903343388Mar964
Clay County9138661510Mar856
Clayton County903443348Mar964
Clinch County9340801011Mar854
Cobb County893238418Mar1064
Coffee County9238731310Mar856
Colquitt County9138651210Mar856
Columbia County923559289Mar858
Cook County9239671210Mar856
Coweta County903343389Mar962
Crawford County913462299Mar858
Crisp County923768189Mar858
Dade County873026537Mar1259
Dawson County863022567Mar1263
DeKalb County903341378Mar964
Decatur County9239771111Mar854
Dodge County923869169Mar858
Dooly County923668209Mar858
Dougherty County9238711310Mar856
Douglas County893238418Mar964
Early County9238711210Mar856
Echols County924078911Mar854
Effingham County9238671510Mar856
Elbert County903246438Mar964
Emanuel County923769199Mar858
Evans County9338751410Mar856
Fannin County842813787Apr1263
Fayette County903344359Mar962
Floyd County903246478Mar1064
Forsyth County883229477Mar1259
Franklin County903239428Mar964
Fulton County893338398Mar964
Gilmer County852916677Apr1263
Glascock County923559289Mar858
Glynn County924168611Mar854
Gordon County903144517Mar1265
Grady County9239731111Mar854
Greene County913354379Mar958
Gwinnett County893235418Mar1064
Habersham County873122517Mar1259
Hall County883229447Mar1059
Hancock County923460319Mar858
Haralson County883134508Mar1064
Harris County903451299Mar858
Hart County903241428Mar964
Heard County903245419Mar962
Henry County903348359Mar962
Houston County923668239Mar858
Irwin County9238681310Mar856
Jackson County893338398Mar964
Jasper County923358409Mar958
Jeff Davis County9338741410Mar856
Jefferson County923563269Mar858
Jenkins County923667229Mar858
Johnson County923667229Mar858
Jones County923463329Mar858
Lamar County903452349Mar958
Lanier County9239741111Mar854
Laurens County933770199Mar858
Lee County923869159Mar858
Liberty County934071910Mar856
Lincoln County913455339Mar958
Long County9339771111Mar854
Lowndes County9240701011Mar854
Lumpkin County863018637Mar1263
Macon County923665249Mar858
Madison County903240428Mar964
Marion County913658249Mar858
McDuffie County913455309Mar858
McIntosh County924168611Mar854
Meriwether County903445349Mar962
Miller County9239741210Mar856
Mitchell County9239701210Mar856
Monroe County913459359Mar858
Montgomery County933873169Mar858
Morgan County913353399Mar958
Murray County883034577Mar1259
Muscogee County923662249Mar858
Newton County913351409Mar958
Oconee County903346378Mar964
Oglethorpe County903247419Mar962
Paulding County893238458Mar1064
Peach County923564269Mar858
Pickens County873023557Mar1263
Pierce County9339801111Mar854
Pike County903447339Mar962
Polk County893243478Mar1064
Pulaski County923771199Mar858
Putnam County923360359Mar858
Quitman County923766189Mar858
Rabun County842913707Apr1263
Randolph County913764189Mar858
Richmond County923664249Mar858
Rockdale County903346388Mar964
Schley County913660239Mar858
Screven County923666219Mar858
Seminole County9239781010Mar856
Spalding County903448339Mar958
Stephens County893236427Mar1059
Stewart County923664229Mar858
Sumter County913764199Mar858
Talbot County903453299Mar858
Taliaferro County913353369Mar958
Tattnall County9338771310Mar856
Taylor County913559279Mar858
Telfair County923872149Mar858
Terrell County923767179Mar858
Thomas County9139691011Mar854
Tift County9138661410Mar856
Toombs County9338751510Mar856
Towns County842810807Apr1263
Treutlen County933770189Mar858
Troup County903349379Mar962
Turner County923866169Mar858
Twiggs County923667239Mar858
Union County842811787Apr1263
Upson County903453319Mar858
Walker County883133527Mar1265
Walton County903344398Mar964
Ware County9340821011Mar854
Warren County913455319Mar858
Washington County923564259Mar858
Wayne County9339771111Mar854
Webster County913663229Mar858
Wheeler County933874169Mar858
White County863019617Mar1263
Whitfield County893140537Mar1265
Wilcox County923869169Mar858
Wilkes County913351379Mar958
Wilkinson County933668239Mar858
Worth County913866149Mar858

Typical alpaca care calendar for Georgia

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

January 57° / 35°F

Meningeal worm
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 61° / 38°F

Meningeal wormCria season
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.

March 68° / 44°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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 76° / 50°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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).

May 83° / 59°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 88° / 66°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

July 91° / 70°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 90° / 69°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

September 85° / 64°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 76° / 53°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

November 67° / 42°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 59° / 38°F

Meningeal worm
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

Key recommendations for Georgia

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Apr (breed in Mar–May).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Mar–Nov — 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: year-round (about 12 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (carried by white-tailed deer) is established in this region and is a leading cause of neurological disease in alpacas. Talk to your vet about a prevention plan for the snail season.
  • Selenium: Soils and hay in this state are often selenium-deficient. Use a camelid mineral formulated for low-selenium areas and blood-test a few animals each year.

Alpaca farms & shops in Georgia

L & R Alpaca Haven Farm
DouglasvilleWebsite

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Georgia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Georgia scores 58/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Georgia is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Banks County, Catoosa County and Cherokee County; the most challenging are Charlton County, Brantley County and Brooks County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Georgia?
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 Georgia?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Feb–Apr. For births then, breed females in Mar–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Georgia?
With roughly 0 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 365 lb (166 kg) — around 8 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Georgia?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 54 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

AlabamaSouth CarolinaDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaMississippiNorth Carolina

See how these guides are calculated.