Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southeast

Raising Alpacas in Kentucky

Kentucky has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 87°F in July and winter lows average 25°F in January, with about 50 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

61/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
87°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
25°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~25Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~89Frost nights per year (state average)
50 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
7Barber pole worm months (state average)
12Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.555°2.972°4.490°5.9Jan: 3.7 inJanFeb: 3.8 inFebMar: 4.7 inMarApr: 4.7 inAprMay: 5.1 inMayJun: 4.7 inJunJul: 4.9 inJulAug: 3.6 inAugSep: 3.6 inSepOct: 3.5 inOctNov: 3.5 inNovDec: 4.4 inDecJan high: 43°FFeb high: 48°FMar high: 57°FApr high: 68°FMay high: 77°FJun high: 84°FJul high: 87°FAug high: 86°FSep high: 81°FOct high: 70°FNov high: 57°FDec high: 47°FJan low: 25°FFeb low: 28°FMar low: 35°FApr low: 44°FMay low: 54°FJun low: 62°FJul low: 66°FAug low: 64°FSep low: 57°FOct low: 45°FNov low: 35°FDec low: 29°F°Fin

Average of 120 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 (Apr–Oct)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 50 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. Harlan County — 69/100
  2. Bell County — 65/100
  3. Boone County — 65/100
  4. Kenton County — 65/100
  5. Letcher County — 65/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Adair County — 61/100
  2. Allen County — 61/100
  3. Anderson County — 61/100
  4. Ballard County — 61/100
  5. Barren County — 61/100

All 120 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
Adair County872625877Apr1261
Allen County892737757Apr1261
Anderson County872523937Apr1261
Ballard County892737737Mar1261
Barren County892637817Apr1261
Bath County872523977Apr1261
Bell County842513947Apr1265
Boone County862318987Apr1465
Bourbon County862422987Apr1361
Boyd County8724231007Apr1261
Boyle County862519917Apr1261
Bracken County8623211027Apr1461
Breathitt County862522937Apr1261
Breckinridge County882529917Apr1261
Bullitt County872527877Apr1261
Butler County892737787Apr1261
Caldwell County882633767Apr1261
Calloway County892734707Mar1261
Campbell County862421977Apr1461
Carlisle County892737717Mar1261
Carroll County872422947Apr1361
Carter County8623221077Apr1461
Casey County862519927Apr1261
Christian County882733737Apr1261
Clark County872522937Apr1261
Clay County862520937Apr1261
Clinton County862622817Apr1261
Crittenden County882632787Apr1261
Cumberland County882631817Apr1261
Daviess County882532837Apr1261
Edmonson County892637817Apr1261
Elliott County8624221067Apr1361
Estill County862522897Apr1261
Fayette County862420937Apr1361
Fleming County8624211027Apr1461
Floyd County872623927Apr1261
Franklin County872423937Apr1261
Fulton County892837667Mar1261
Gallatin County862422957Apr1361
Garrard County862520897Apr1261
Grant County862420977Apr1461
Graves County892735707Mar1261
Grayson County882532897Apr1261
Green County882630877Apr1261
Greenup County8624221057Apr1461
Hancock County882528857Apr1261
Hardin County872526917Apr1261
Harlan County82257987Apr1469
Harrison County862422987Apr1361
Hart County882632867Apr1261
Henderson County882532827Apr1261
Henry County862422967Apr1361
Hickman County892737697Mar1261
Hopkins County892635767Apr1261
Jackson County852516947Apr1261
Jefferson County872528877Apr1261
Jessamine County862521907Apr1261
Johnson County8724231007Apr1261
Kenton County862319987Apr1465
Knott County852517957Apr1261
Knox County862619917Apr1261
Larue County872525897Apr1261
Laurel County862518927Apr1261
Lawrence County8724241027Apr1261
Lee County862522917Apr1261
Leslie County852515927Apr1261
Letcher County842512987Apr1265
Lewis County8623211067Apr1461
Lincoln County852517927Apr1261
Livingston County892634757Apr1261
Logan County892735737Apr1261
Lyon County892734737Mar1261
Madison County862521897Apr1261
Magoffin County862522987Apr1261
Marion County872523907Apr1261
Marshall County892736707Mar1261
Martin County872524957Apr1261
Mason County8623201057Apr1461
McCracken County892737727Mar1261
McCreary County852617887Apr1261
McLean County892635807Apr1261
Meade County872426937Apr1261
Menifee County862521967Apr1261
Mercer County862522907Apr1261
Metcalfe County882531887Apr1261
Monroe County882634837Apr1261
Montgomery County872523967Apr1261
Morgan County8724231007Apr1261
Muhlenberg County892735777Apr1261
Nelson County872525887Apr1261
Nicholas County8624221007Apr1461
Ohio County882634827Apr1261
Oldham County872424957Apr1261
Owen County862421957Apr1361
Owsley County862621917Apr1261
Pendleton County862422987Apr1361
Perry County862618937Apr1261
Pike County862621907Apr1261
Powell County872523927Apr1261
Pulaski County862618897Apr1261
Robertson County8624211017Apr1461
Rockcastle County852516917Apr1261
Rowan County8624211027Apr1461
Russell County862623877Apr1261
Scott County862421967Apr1361
Shelby County872423977Apr1261
Simpson County892835727Apr1261
Spencer County872525927Apr1261
Taylor County872524897Apr1261
Todd County892734737Apr1261
Trigg County892734727Mar1261
Trimble County862422967Apr1361
Union County882633817Apr1261
Warren County892738757Apr1261
Washington County872523917Apr1261
Wayne County862619857Apr1261
Webster County882633797Apr1261
Whitley County862618877Apr1261
Wolfe County862522957Apr1261
Woodford County862522917Apr1261

Typical alpaca care calendar for Kentucky

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

January 43° / 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 48° / 28°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 57° / 35°F

Meningeal worm
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 68° / 44°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.

May 77° / 54°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 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.

July 87° / 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 86° / 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.

September 81° / 57°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 70° / 45°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.

November 57° / 35°F

Meningeal wormVitamin D
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Secure winter hay: about 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • 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 47° / 29°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 Kentucky

  • Shearing: April.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr (breed in May).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: Mar–Nov (about 9 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 Kentucky

AlpacaBerry Farm
IrvineWebsite
It holds Alpacas

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Kentucky?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Kentucky scores 61/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Kentucky is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Harlan County, Bell County and Boone County; the most challenging are Adair County, Allen County and Anderson County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Kentucky?
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 Kentucky?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr. For births then, breed females in May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Kentucky?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Kentucky?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 25 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

IndianaMissouriTennesseeWest VirginiaArkansasIllinois

See how these guides are calculated.