Local alpaca guide · Georgia

Raising Alpacas in Turner County, Georgia

Turner County, Georgia has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 92°F in July and winter lows average 38°F in January, with about 49 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.

Climate snapshot for alpacas

58/100Alpaca climate comfort score
92°FAverage high, Jul
38°FAverage low, Jan
~66Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~16Frost nights per year
49 inAnnual precipitation
9Barber pole worm months
8Hay bales / alpaca / year

Main 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
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Advantages

  • Practically frost-free winters
  • A long grazing season (12 months of grass growth)

Overall rating: 58/100 — Fair on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa).

Month-by-month climate

Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.465°2.982°4.3100°5.7Jan: 4.5 inJanFeb: 4.3 inFebMar: 4.6 inMarApr: 3.7 inAprMay: 3.0 inMayJun: 4.9 inJunJul: 5.0 inJulAug: 4.7 inAugSep: 3.8 inSepOct: 2.8 inOctNov: 3.0 inNovDec: 4.3 inDecJan high: 60°FFeb high: 64°FMar high: 71°FApr high: 78°FMay high: 85°FJun high: 90°FJul high: 92°FAug high: 91°FSep high: 86°FOct high: 79°FNov high: 69°FDec high: 62°FJan low: 38°FFeb low: 41°FMar low: 46°FApr low: 52°FMay low: 61°FJun low: 68°FJul low: 71°FAug low: 70°FSep low: 65°FOct low: 55°FNov low: 44°FDec low: 40°F°Fin
MonthHighLowPrecip.Heat-stress indexNotes
Jan60°F38°F4.5 in130 · okgrass
Feb64°F41°F4.3 in129 · okgrass
Mar71°F46°F4.6 in140 · okworms, grass
Apr78°F52°F3.7 in139 · cautionworms, grass
May85°F61°F3.0 in157 · highworms, grass
Jun90°F68°F4.9 in151 · highworms, grass
Jul92°F71°F5.0 in168 · highworms, grass
Aug91°F70°F4.7 in158 · highworms, grass
Sep86°F65°F3.8 in161 · highworms, grass
Oct79°F55°F2.8 in142 · cautionworms, grass
Nov69°F44°F3.0 in144 · okworms, grass
Dec62°F40°F4.3 in130 · okgrass

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 Turner County, Georgia

January 60° / 38°F

Meningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • 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.

February 64° / 41°F

Meningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).

March 71° / 46°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 78° / 52°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.

May 85° / 61°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.

June 90° / 68°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 92° / 71°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 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.

September 86° / 65°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.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 79° / 55°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria season
  • 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.

November 69° / 44°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.

December 62° / 40°F

Meningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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).

Key recommendations

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Oct–Jan (breed in Nov–Feb).
  • 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.

Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.

Alpaca farms & shops nearby

No alpaca farms near Turner County, Georgia 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 Turner County, Georgia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Turner County, Georgia scores 58/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in Turner County, 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 Turner County, Georgia?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Oct–Jan. For births then, breed females in Nov–Feb (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Turner County, 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 Turner County, Georgia?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 66 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Nearby counties

Coordinates 31.725, -83.620 · land area 285 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Georgia.