Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Great Plains

Raising Alpacas in Kansas

Kansas has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa): summer highs average 91°F in July and winter lows average 20°F in January, with about 30 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat and barber pole worm.

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

Statewide snapshot

76/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
91°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
20°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~44Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~120Frost nights per year (state average)
30 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
7Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.032°1.255°2.578°3.7100°5.0Jan: 0.8 inJanFeb: 1.0 inFebMar: 1.9 inMarApr: 2.8 inAprMay: 4.3 inMayJun: 4.2 inJunJul: 3.9 inJulAug: 3.6 inAugSep: 2.6 inSepOct: 2.4 inOctNov: 1.4 inNovDec: 1.1 inDecJan high: 42°FFeb high: 47°FMar high: 58°FApr high: 67°FMay high: 76°FJun high: 86°FJul high: 91°FAug high: 89°FSep high: 82°FOct high: 69°FNov high: 56°FDec high: 44°FJan low: 20°FFeb low: 23°FMar low: 32°FApr low: 41°FMay low: 52°FJun low: 62°FJul low: 67°FAug low: 65°FSep low: 56°FOct low: 43°FNov low: 31°FDec low: 22°F°Fin

Average of 105 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 (Apr–Oct)

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Sherman County — 89/100
  2. Cheyenne County — 85/100
  3. Greeley County — 85/100
  4. Logan County — 85/100
  5. Thomas County — 85/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Barber County — 72/100
  2. Harper County — 72/100
  3. Kingman County — 72/100
  4. Lincoln County — 72/100
  5. McPherson County — 72/100

All 105 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
Allen County892234967Apr1273
Anderson County8922321007Apr1273
Atchison County8818271177Apr1477
Barber County9422611077Apr1272
Barton County9219481236Apr1478
Bourbon County902336927Apr1273
Brown County8817251247Apr1481
Butler County9122421037Apr1273
Chase County9020371107Apr1373
Chautauqua County912346937Apr1273
Cherokee County912543827Apr1273
Cheyenne County9117391514May1485
Clark County9421631174Apr1378
Clay County9118401227Apr1476
Cloud County9118391257Apr1476
Coffey County9021351037Apr1373
Comanche County9421601136Apr1274
Cowley County912346957Apr1273
Crawford County902439877Apr1273
Decatur County9116401495May1480
Dickinson County9220451147Apr1376
Doniphan County8818251187Apr1481
Douglas County8920331077Apr1373
Edwards County9220511236Apr1378
Elk County902241987Apr1273
Ellis County9318511316Apr1474
Ellsworth County9220481207Apr1476
Finney County9318551384May1478
Ford County9320531276Apr1374
Franklin County8921331037Apr1373
Geary County9019381177Apr1473
Gove County9218491414May1478
Graham County9218471375Apr1480
Grant County9419591344Apr1381
Gray County9319551324Apr1378
Greeley County9218441494May1485
Greenwood County9021381037Apr1273
Hamilton County9318531414May1481
Harper County942361977Apr1272
Harvey County9221491077Apr1376
Haskell County9319561334Apr1378
Hodgeman County9319551294Apr1378
Jackson County8917291227Apr1477
Jefferson County8919301137Apr1477
Jewell County9016361377Apr1480
Johnson County8820291057Apr1377
Kearny County9319551384May1481
Kingman County9322541057Apr1272
Kiowa County9220511186Apr1378
Labette County912443857Apr1273
Lane County9318511394May1478
Leavenworth County8920301097Apr1477
Lincoln County9319501247Apr1472
Linn County892233977Apr1273
Logan County9218471464May1485
Lyon County9020351107Apr1373
Marion County9121431107Apr1376
Marshall County8916301307Apr1477
McPherson County9220501127Apr1372
Meade County9420611214Apr1378
Miami County8921301027Apr1377
Mitchell County9218441306Apr1478
Montgomery County912446877Apr1273
Morris County9020351157Apr1473
Morton County9421591293Apr1383
Nemaha County8816251307Apr1477
Neosho County902339927Apr1273
Ness County9319521324Apr1478
Norton County9116421455May1480
Osage County9020341087Apr1373
Osborne County9218471336Apr1478
Ottawa County9219471197Apr1476
Pawnee County9220501246Apr1374
Phillips County9217431415May1480
Pottawatomie County9018331237Apr1477
Pratt County9221511147Apr1372
Rawlins County9117391515May1483
Reno County9321531117Apr1372
Republic County9017331327Apr1480
Rice County9220491177Apr1372
Riley County9018371217Apr1473
Rooks County9218491356Apr1474
Rush County9319521285Apr1476
Russell County9319511286Apr1474
Saline County9320521147Apr1372
Scott County9218501434May1478
Sedgwick County9222531007Apr1272
Seward County9420611244Apr1378
Shawnee County9019351147Apr1473
Sheridan County9217431445May1480
Sherman County9117371534May1489
Smith County9116391396Apr1478
Stafford County9220491197Apr1376
Stanton County9419591363May1383
Stevens County9320591284Apr1381
Sumner County932358957Apr1272
Thomas County9117411524May1485
Trego County9318501344Apr1478
Wabaunsee County9019331167Apr1473
Wallace County9118421474May1485
Washington County9017331287Apr1480
Wichita County9218471464May1485
Wilson County902341937Apr1273
Woodson County902237997Apr1273
Wyandotte County8920301067Apr1377

Typical alpaca care calendar for Kansas

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

January 42° / 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 47° / 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 58° / 32°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 67° / 41°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria 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.
  • 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 76° / 52°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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 86° / 62°F

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

July 91° / 67°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 89° / 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.

September 82° / 56°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 69° / 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.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.

November 56° / 31°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 44° / 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).

Key recommendations for Kansas

  • Shearing: April.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–May (breed in May–Jun).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Feb — 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: This area is at the western edge of the meningeal worm range. Risk is real where deer and snails share wet, wooded pastures.
  • Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Kansas

No alpaca farms in Kansas are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Kansas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Kansas scores 76/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
Which part of Kansas is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Sherman County, Cheyenne County and Greeley County; the most challenging are Barber County, Harper County and Kingman County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Kansas?
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 Kansas?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–May. For births then, breed females in May–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Kansas?
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 Kansas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 44 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

ArkansasNebraskaNew MexicoOklahomaArizonaColorado

See how these guides are calculated.