Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southeast

Raising Alpacas in Tennessee

Tennessee has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 88°F in July and winter lows average 28°F in January, with about 55 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)
88°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
28°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~30Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~68Frost nights per year (state average)
55 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
7Barber pole worm months (state average)
12Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.655°3.172°4.790°6.2Jan: 4.6 inJanFeb: 4.9 inFebMar: 5.2 inMarApr: 5.1 inAprMay: 4.8 inMayJun: 4.7 inJunJul: 4.7 inJulAug: 3.8 inAugSep: 3.9 inSepOct: 3.6 inOctNov: 4.2 inNovDec: 5.4 inDecJan high: 47°FFeb high: 52°FMar high: 61°FApr high: 70°FMay high: 78°FJun high: 85°FJul high: 88°FAug high: 87°FSep high: 82°FOct high: 72°FNov high: 60°FDec high: 50°FJan low: 28°FFeb low: 31°FMar low: 38°FApr low: 46°FMay low: 55°FJun low: 63°FJul low: 67°FAug low: 65°FSep low: 59°FOct low: 47°FNov low: 37°FDec low: 31°F°Fin

Average of 95 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 — 55 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Johnson County — 77/100
  2. Unicoi County — 69/100
  3. Carter County — 65/100
  4. Benton County — 61/100
  5. Carroll County — 61/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Anderson County — 55/100
  2. Bedford County — 55/100
  3. Bledsoe County — 55/100
  4. Blount County — 55/100
  5. Bradley County — 55/100

All 95 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
Anderson County862822727Apr1255
Bedford County892938667Mar1255
Benton County892839667Mar1261
Bledsoe County852816697Mar1255
Blount County872925657Mar1255
Bradley County893038587Mar1255
Campbell County842613847Apr1255
Cannon County882831707Apr1255
Carroll County892939647Mar1261
Carter County82257997Apr1465
Cheatham County892840687Mar1261
Chester County902945597Mar1255
Claiborne County852617887Apr1261
Clay County882733777Apr1261
Cocke County862821737Apr1261
Coffee County872828707Apr1255
Crockett County903045567Mar1261
Cumberland County842711797Apr1259
Davidson County902941637Mar1261
DeKalb County882833717Apr1255
Decatur County902944637Mar1255
Dickson County882835737Apr1261
Dyer County902943577Mar1261
Fayette County903149487Mar1255
Fentress County842613867Apr1259
Franklin County872928637Mar1255
Gibson County902941607Mar1261
Giles County892939657Mar1255
Grainger County872724787Apr1261
Greene County872824767Apr1261
Grundy County842814737Apr1259
Hamblen County872827737Apr1261
Hamilton County883034557Mar1255
Hancock County852618857Apr1261
Hardeman County903046547Mar1255
Hardin County903046597Mar1255
Hawkins County862723787Apr1261
Haywood County903047527Mar1261
Henderson County902942637Mar1255
Henry County892836677Mar1261
Hickman County892836727Apr1261
Houston County892836717Apr1261
Humphreys County892837707Apr1261
Jackson County882835737Apr1261
Jefferson County882831697Apr1261
Johnson County812441117Apr1477
Knox County882931647Mar1261
Lake County902941607Mar1261
Lauderdale County903046497Mar1261
Lawrence County892936687Mar1255
Lewis County882833707Apr1255
Lincoln County892939617Mar1255
Loudon County883034617Mar1255
Macon County892734757Apr1261
Madison County903045587Mar1255
Marion County862923597Mar1255
Marshall County892941687Mar1255
Maury County892839707Apr1255
McMinn County882936637Mar1255
McNairy County903046577Mar1255
Meigs County882936627Mar1255
Monroe County872925677Apr1255
Montgomery County892838707Mar1261
Moore County882934647Mar1255
Morgan County852716807Apr1255
Obion County892837647Mar1261
Overton County862721777Apr1255
Perry County892939677Mar1255
Pickett County862721817Apr1261
Polk County872927667Mar1255
Putnam County862823747Apr1255
Rhea County872924647Mar1255
Roane County882932657Mar1255
Robertson County892836697Mar1261
Rutherford County892940657Mar1261
Scott County842613907Apr1255
Sequatchie County852816677Mar1255
Sevier County852815777Apr1255
Shelby County913254417Mar1255
Smith County892838697Apr1261
Stewart County892836707Mar1261
Sullivan County862720857Apr1261
Sumner County892835687Mar1261
Tipton County903148467Mar1261
Trousdale County892839687Mar1261
Unicoi County82256957Apr1469
Union County862723787Apr1261
Van Buren County852816717Mar1255
Warren County872827717Apr1255
Washington County862723807Apr1261
Wayne County892937667Mar1255
Weakley County892838647Mar1261
White County872823727Apr1255
Williamson County892838697Mar1261
Wilson County892938657Mar1261

Typical alpaca care calendar for Tennessee

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

January 47° / 28°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 52° / 31°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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).

March 61° / 38°F

Meningeal wormCria season
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 70° / 46°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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).

May 78° / 55°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 85° / 63°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 88° / 67°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 87° / 65°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 82° / 59°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 72° / 47°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 60° / 37°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 50° / 31°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 Tennessee

  • Shearing: April.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Mar–Apr (breed in Apr–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: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Tennessee

Landmark Farm Alpacas
Grassy Creek

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Tennessee?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Tennessee 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 Tennessee is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Johnson County, Unicoi County and Carter County; the most challenging are Anderson County, Bedford County and Bledsoe County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–Apr. For births then, breed females in Apr–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 30 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

ArkansasKentuckyMississippiNorth CarolinaAlabamaIndiana

See how these guides are calculated.