Climate snapshot for alpacas
Main challenges
- Heat & humidity — dangerous heat-stress conditions in Jul–Aug
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Jun, Aug–Oct)
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (12 months of grass growth)
Overall rating: 58/100 — Fair on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa).
Month-by-month climate
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 33°F | 1.2 in | 124 · ok | grass |
| Feb | 64°F | 37°F | 1.4 in | 125 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 71°F | 44°F | 1.9 in | 140 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 80°F | 51°F | 1.8 in | 144 · caution | grass |
| May | 86°F | 61°F | 3.4 in | 162 · high | worms, grass |
| Jun | 92°F | 68°F | 3.0 in | 159 · high | worms, grass |
| Jul | 95°F | 70°F | 1.8 in | 157 · high | grass |
| Aug | 95°F | 70°F | 2.3 in | 148 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 88°F | 63°F | 2.8 in | 151 · high | worms, grass |
| Oct | 79°F | 53°F | 2.6 in | 126 · caution | worms, grass |
| Nov | 68°F | 42°F | 1.6 in | 126 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 61°F | 34°F | 1.2 in | 124 · ok | grass |
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 Concho County, Texas
January 60° / 33°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 64° / 37°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
March 71° / 44°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- 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.
April 80° / 51°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
May 86° / 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.
June 92° / 68°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.
July 95° / 70°F
- Dangerous heat: provide shade, fans and ground-level sprinklers or wading pools; check the herd twice daily and avoid all handling or transport in the afternoon.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 95° / 70°F
- Dangerous heat: provide shade, fans and ground-level sprinklers or wading pools; check the herd twice daily and avoid all handling or transport in the afternoon.
- 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 88° / 63°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 79° / 53°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.
November 68° / 42°F
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 61° / 34°F
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Apr (breed in Mar–May).
- Heat precautions: May–Sep; dangerous heat in Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Jun, Aug–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: year-round (about 12 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: This area is at the western edge of the meningeal worm range. Risk is real where deer and snails share wet, wooded pastures.
- Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Concho County, Texas 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 Concho County, Texas?
When should alpacas be shorn in Concho County, Texas?
What is the best time for crias to be born in Concho County, Texas?
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Concho County, Texas?
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Nearby counties
Coordinates 31.319, -99.864 · land area 984 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Texas.