Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Midwest

Raising Alpacas in Indiana

Indiana has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa): summer highs average 85°F in July and winter lows average 20°F in January, with about 44 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

75/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
85°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
20°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~14Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~116Frost nights per year (state average)
44 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
6Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.455°2.872°4.190°5.5Jan: 3.0 inJanFeb: 2.5 inFebMar: 3.4 inMarApr: 4.4 inAprMay: 4.8 inMayJun: 4.8 inJunJul: 4.3 inJulAug: 3.6 inAugSep: 3.3 inSepOct: 3.3 inOctNov: 3.4 inNovDec: 3.0 inDecJan high: 36°FFeb high: 40°FMar high: 51°FApr high: 64°FMay high: 74°FJun high: 82°FJul high: 85°FAug high: 84°FSep high: 78°FOct high: 66°FNov high: 52°FDec high: 40°FJan low: 20°FFeb low: 23°FMar low: 31°FApr low: 41°FMay low: 51°FJun low: 60°FJul low: 64°FAug low: 62°FSep low: 54°FOct low: 43°FNov low: 33°FDec low: 25°F°Fin

Average of 92 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 Jul–Aug
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Oct)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Adams County — 77/100
  2. Allen County — 77/100
  3. DeKalb County — 77/100
  4. Elkhart County — 77/100
  5. Fulton County — 77/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Bartholomew County — 73/100
  2. Brown County — 73/100
  3. Clark County — 73/100
  4. Clay County — 73/100
  5. Crawford County — 73/100

All 92 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 County8419101235Apr1477
Allen County8418101285Apr1477
Bartholomew County8522171067Apr1473
Benton County8417121296Apr1475
Blackford County8419111206Apr1475
Boone County8318101226Apr1475
Brown County8521141117Apr1473
Carroll County8418111246Apr1475
Cass County8418101266Apr1475
Clark County872426967Apr1273
Clay County8620181137Apr1473
Clinton County8418101246Apr1475
Crawford County8723241017Apr1473
Daviess County8722231047Apr1473
DeKalb County841781335May1477
Dearborn County8522161057Apr1473
Decatur County8522131107Apr1473
Delaware County8420111186Apr1475
Dubois County8723241027Apr1473
Elkhart County831781345May1477
Fayette County8420121176Apr1475
Floyd County872425947Apr1273
Fountain County8518141236Apr1475
Franklin County8521141126Apr1475
Fulton County841791305Apr1477
Gibson County882429927Apr1273
Grant County8419111216Apr1475
Greene County8621191107Apr1473
Hamilton County8419111196Apr1475
Hancock County8420121166Apr1475
Harrison County872426967Apr1273
Hendricks County8419101196Apr1475
Henry County8419101206Apr1475
Howard County8418101246Apr1475
Huntington County8418101255Apr1477
Jackson County8622191057Apr1473
Jasper County8417111306Apr1475
Jay County8419111226Apr1475
Jefferson County862320997Apr1473
Jennings County8623181047Apr1473
Johnson County8420131136Apr1475
Knox County872326997Apr1473
Kosciusko County831781325May1477
LaGrange County831771355May1477
LaPorte County831781325May1477
Lake County841791295Apr1477
Lawrence County8622191117Apr1473
Madison County8420111176Apr1475
Marion County8420131156Apr1475
Marshall County831781345May1477
Martin County8621211107Apr1473
Miami County8418101245Apr1477
Monroe County8521151127Apr1473
Montgomery County8418111236Apr1475
Morgan County8420131136Apr1475
Newton County8417121296Apr1475
Noble County831781345May1477
Ohio County862318997Apr1473
Orange County8622211087Apr1473
Owen County8520161147Apr1473
Parke County8519161176Apr1475
Perry County872426927Apr1273
Pike County872327997Apr1473
Porter County831781315May1477
Posey County882531847Apr1273
Pulaski County8417111325May1477
Putnam County8419111206Apr1475
Randolph County841991235Apr1477
Ripley County8522141087Apr1473
Rush County8420121156Apr1475
Scott County8723231017Apr1473
Shelby County8521141116Apr1475
Spencer County882529897Apr1273
St. Joseph County831781345May1477
Starke County8417101335May1477
Steuben County831771375May1477
Sullivan County8722221057Apr1473
Switzerland County862319977Apr1473
Tippecanoe County8418121246Apr1475
Tipton County8418101226Apr1475
Union County8520131176Apr1475
Vanderburgh County882531857Apr1273
Vermillion County8619171176Apr1475
Vigo County8621211097Apr1473
Wabash County8418101245Apr1477
Warren County8417131266Apr1475
Warrick County882430917Apr1273
Washington County8622201057Apr1473
Wayne County8419111216Apr1475
Wells County8419101235Apr1477
White County8417121286Apr1475
Whitley County841791315Apr1477

Typical alpaca care calendar for Indiana

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

January 36° / 20°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.

February 40° / 23°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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 51° / 31°F

Frost
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 64° / 41°F

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

May 74° / 51°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.

June 82° / 60°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).

July 85° / 64°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.

August 84° / 62°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 78° / 54°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 66° / 43°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.
  • Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.

November 52° / 33°F

Vitamin D
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 40° / 25°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).

Key recommendations for Indiana

  • Shearing: April.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–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 (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 Indiana

Kalpaka zāle
White Violet Farm Alpacas
White Violet Farm Alpacas Barn
It holds Alpacas
White Violet Farm AlpacasWebsite

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Indiana?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Indiana scores 75/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Indiana is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Adams County, Allen County and DeKalb County; the most challenging are Bartholomew County, Brown County and Clark County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Indiana?
Plan shearing for April, 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 Indiana?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jun. For births then, breed females in May–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Indiana?
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 Indiana?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 14 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

IllinoisIowaKentuckyOhioMichiganMinnesota

See how these guides are calculated.