Climate snapshot for alpacas
79/100Alpaca climate comfort score
91°FAverage high, Jul
16°FAverage low, Jan
~40Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~151Frost nights per year
21 inAnnual precipitation
5Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jun–Aug
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Apr–Aug)
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 79/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Hot-summer humid continental (Köppen Dfa).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 16°F | 0.4 in | 122 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 45°F | 19°F | 0.5 in | 108 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 56°F | 28°F | 1.0 in | 114 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 65°F | 36°F | 2.1 in | 124 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 74°F | 46°F | 3.1 in | 136 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 86°F | 57°F | 3.2 in | 151 · high | worms, grass |
| Jul | 91°F | 62°F | 3.2 in | 153 · high | worms, grass |
| Aug | 89°F | 61°F | 2.9 in | 154 · high | worms, grass |
| Sep | 81°F | 51°F | 1.5 in | 133 · caution | grass |
| Oct | 68°F | 38°F | 1.6 in | 117 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 54°F | 26°F | 0.7 in | 121 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 43°F | 18°F | 0.5 in | 102 · ok | frost |
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 Hitchcock County, Nebraska
January 42° / 16°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 45° / 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).
March 56° / 28°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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 65° / 36°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- 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.
May 74° / 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.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 86° / 57°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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
July 91° / 62°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 89° / 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.
September 81° / 51°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 68° / 38°F
- 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.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 54° / 26°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.
December 43° / 18°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
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May (breed in Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jun–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Apr–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–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 is uncommon this far west but cases occur near the edge of its range.
- Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Hitchcock County, Nebraska 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 Hitchcock County, Nebraska?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Hitchcock County, Nebraska scores 79/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in Hitchcock County, Nebraska?
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 Hitchcock County, Nebraska?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May. For births then, breed females in Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Hitchcock County, Nebraska?
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 Hitchcock County, Nebraska?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 40 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 40.177, -101.044 · land area 710 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Nebraska.