Statewide snapshot
71/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
86°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
23°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~15Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~104Frost nights per year (state average)
48 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
6Barber pole worm months (state average)
13Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
Average of 21 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–Sep
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Oct)
- 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
- Sussex County — 81/100
- Morris County — 77/100
- Passaic County — 77/100
- Warren County — 77/100
- Bergen County — 75/100
Most challenging counties
- Camden County — 69/100
- Gloucester County — 69/100
- Atlantic County — 71/100
- Burlington County — 71/100
- Cape May County — 71/100
All 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic County | 86 | 25 | 15 | 92 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Bergen County | 86 | 22 | 15 | 106 | 6 | Apr | 14 | 75 |
| Burlington County | 87 | 25 | 20 | 96 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Camden County | 87 | 25 | 20 | 91 | 7 | Apr | 13 | 69 |
| Cape May County | 85 | 27 | 12 | 81 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Cumberland County | 86 | 26 | 16 | 89 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Essex County | 86 | 23 | 16 | 104 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Gloucester County | 87 | 26 | 20 | 88 | 7 | Apr | 13 | 69 |
| Hudson County | 86 | 26 | 16 | 86 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Hunterdon County | 85 | 20 | 13 | 122 | 6 | Apr | 14 | 75 |
| Mercer County | 87 | 24 | 19 | 103 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Middlesex County | 87 | 24 | 19 | 101 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Monmouth County | 86 | 24 | 17 | 97 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Morris County | 84 | 20 | 9 | 125 | 5 | Apr | 14 | 77 |
| Ocean County | 86 | 24 | 15 | 97 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Passaic County | 84 | 20 | 9 | 122 | 5 | Apr | 14 | 77 |
| Salem County | 87 | 26 | 19 | 86 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Somerset County | 86 | 22 | 17 | 113 | 6 | Apr | 14 | 71 |
| Sussex County | 83 | 18 | 7 | 138 | 5 | May | 14 | 81 |
| Union County | 86 | 24 | 17 | 100 | 6 | Apr | 13 | 71 |
| Warren County | 84 | 19 | 9 | 133 | 5 | May | 14 | 77 |
Typical alpaca care calendar for New Jersey
Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.
January 40° / 23°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 43° / 25°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).
March 51° / 31°F
- 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 63° / 40°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- 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 72° / 50°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.
- 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 81° / 60°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 86° / 65°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 84° / 64°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 77° / 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 66° / 45°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.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 55° / 36°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 13 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 45° / 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).
Key recommendations for New Jersey
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Sep.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Oct — 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–Nov (about 8 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 Jersey
Graceful Glen's Alpacas
Scotia Acres Alpacas
LumbertonWebsite
LumbertonWebsite
From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in New Jersey?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. New Jersey 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 Jersey is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Sussex County, Morris County and Passaic County; the most challenging are Camden County, Gloucester County and Atlantic County.
When should alpacas be shorn in New Jersey?
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 New Jersey?
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 New Jersey?
With roughly 4 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 632 lb (287 kg) — around 13 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in New Jersey?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Sep. We estimate about 15 days a year above 90°F (32°C).