Climate snapshot for alpacas
89/100Alpaca climate comfort score
26°CAverage high, Aug
2°CAverage low, Jan
~2Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~26Frost nights per year
950 mmAnnual precipitation
6Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Oct)
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (9 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 89/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Oceanic (temperate) (Köppen Cfb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C | 2°C | 60 mm | 130 · ok | — |
| Feb | 11°C | 3°C | 46 mm | 130 · ok | — |
| Mar | 13°C | 5°C | 96 mm | 132 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 15°C | 6°C | 72 mm | 134 · ok | grass |
| May | 19°C | 10°C | 105 mm | 143 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 24°C | 14°C | 117 mm | 147 · caution | worms, grass |
| Jul | 25°C | 16°C | 68 mm | 148 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 26°C | 16°C | 52 mm | 149 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 23°C | 14°C | 74 mm | 144 · ok | worms, grass |
| Oct | 20°C | 11°C | 116 mm | 145 · ok | worms, grass |
| Nov | 12°C | 6°C | 82 mm | 139 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 9°C | 3°C | 60 mm | 134 · ok | — |
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: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at 46.6°, 2.4°, elevation 231 m.
Alpaca care calendar for France
January 8° / 2°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 11° / 3°C
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 13° / 5°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- 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.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 15° / 6°C
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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 19° / 10°C
- 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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
June 24° / 14°C
- 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.
- 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 25° / 16°C
- 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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 26° / 16°C
- 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.
September 23° / 14°C
- 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.
October 20° / 11°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 12° / 6°C
- Secure winter hay: about 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 9° / 3°C
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Mar–Jun (breed in Apr–Jul).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: Mar–Nov (about 9 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 250 km. Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpagas de la suavidad | farm | 169 km | Visit |
| Les Alpagas de la Paneterie | farm | 176 km | — |
| Alpaca Farm · Thenon | visitor farm | 191 km | — |
| Argenton Alpacas | visitor farm | 219 km | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in France?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. France scores 89/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in France?
Plan shearing for March, 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 France?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–Jun. For births then, breed females in Apr–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in France?
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.
Coordinates 46.600, 2.400. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.