Statewide snapshot
71/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
80°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
11°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~2Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~167Frost nights per year (state average)
48 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
Average of 10 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
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan–Feb
- Low selenium — regional soils and hay tend to be selenium-deficient
Most alpaca-friendly counties
- Rockingham County — 73/100
- Belknap County — 71/100
- Carroll County — 71/100
- Cheshire County — 71/100
- Coos County — 71/100
Most challenging counties
- Grafton County — 68/100
- Hillsborough County — 70/100
- Belknap County — 71/100
- Carroll County — 71/100
- Cheshire County — 71/100
All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap County | 81 | 12 | 3 | 164 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Carroll County | 79 | 9 | 2 | 175 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Cheshire County | 80 | 12 | 3 | 161 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Coos County | 75 | 4 | 0 | 190 | 4 | May | 17 | 71 |
| Grafton County | 78 | 7 | 1 | 181 | 5 | May | 16 | 68 |
| Hillsborough County | 82 | 14 | 4 | 156 | 5 | May | 14 | 70 |
| Merrimack County | 81 | 12 | 4 | 163 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Rockingham County | 82 | 15 | 5 | 149 | 5 | May | 14 | 73 |
| Strafford County | 82 | 13 | 4 | 157 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
| Sullivan County | 79 | 10 | 2 | 172 | 5 | May | 16 | 71 |
Typical alpaca care calendar for New Hampshire
Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.
January 30° / 11°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 33° / 12°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 41° / 21°F
- 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).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 54° / 31°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.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 67° / 42°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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 75° / 52°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 80° / 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.
- 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 78° / 55°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 71° / 48°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 58° / 37°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 16 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 46° / 28°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 35° / 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 for New Hampshire
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 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 New Hampshire
Skyeview Alpacas
ElkinsWebsite
ElkinsWebsite
Vermont Alpaca Store
QuecheeWebsite
QuecheeWebsite
Alpaca Habitat
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 New Hampshire?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. New Hampshire scores 71/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of New Hampshire is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Rockingham County, Belknap County and Carroll County; the most challenging are Grafton County, Hillsborough County and Belknap County.
When should alpacas be shorn in New Hampshire?
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 New Hampshire?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Jun. For births then, breed females in Jun–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in New Hampshire?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in New Hampshire?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 2 days a year above 90°F (32°C).