Statewide snapshot
77/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
82°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
19°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~4Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~131Frost nights per year (state average)
48 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
Average of 14 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–Sep)
- 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
- Barnstable County — 79/100
- Nantucket County — 79/100
- Bristol County — 77/100
- Dukes County — 77/100
- Essex County — 77/100
Most challenging counties
- Berkshire County — 71/100
- Franklin County — 74/100
- Hampshire County — 74/100
- Bristol County — 77/100
- Dukes County — 77/100
All 14 counties
Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.
| County | Peak high | Lowest low | Days ≥90°F | Frost nights | Worm months | Shear | Hay bales | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County | 79 | 24 | 2 | 101 | 4 | Apr | 13 | 79 |
| Berkshire County | 80 | 13 | 2 | 159 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Bristol County | 83 | 21 | 7 | 120 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
| Dukes County | 80 | 24 | 3 | 99 | 5 | Apr | 13 | 77 |
| Essex County | 82 | 18 | 4 | 133 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
| Franklin County | 82 | 14 | 5 | 154 | 5 | May | 14 | 74 |
| Hampden County | 83 | 16 | 6 | 145 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
| Hampshire County | 82 | 15 | 6 | 149 | 5 | May | 14 | 74 |
| Middlesex County | 84 | 17 | 8 | 140 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
| Nantucket County | 76 | 26 | 1 | 90 | 4 | Apr | 13 | 79 |
| Norfolk County | 84 | 19 | 8 | 131 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
| Plymouth County | 83 | 21 | 6 | 119 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
| Suffolk County | 83 | 20 | 7 | 122 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
| Worcester County | 82 | 16 | 5 | 148 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
Typical alpaca care calendar for Massachusetts
Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.
January 36° / 19°F
- 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 38° / 20°F
- 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 45° / 27°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- 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.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 57° / 36°F
- 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 67° / 46°F
- 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.
June 76° / 55°F
- 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 82° / 61°F
- 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 80° / 60°F
- 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 73° / 53°F
- 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 62° / 42°F
- 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.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 51° / 33°F
- 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 41° / 25°F
- 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 Massachusetts
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–Mar — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- 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 Massachusetts
Grass Hill Alpaca Socks
HaydenvilleWebsite
HaydenvilleWebsite
Bear, Lion, Alpaca, and Goat House
Alpaca Habitat
Island Alpaca Company
Harvard Alpaca Ranch ShopWebsite
Harvard Alpaca RanchWebsite
From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Massachusetts?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Massachusetts scores 77/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Massachusetts is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Barnstable County, Nantucket County and Bristol County; the most challenging are Berkshire County, Franklin County and Hampshire County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Massachusetts?
Plan shearing for May, 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 Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 4 days a year above 90°F (32°C).