Why Buy Your Alpacas from Hideaway Wood Farm?

Although many of our foundation herd of alpacas came to us from respected bloodlines and have show winner pedigree and we’ve had some gorgeous cria, we simply can’t compete with the elite breeders of today but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a valuable place in the marketplace.

Many smallholders, those with small herds looking to grow and those in the market for alpacas as pets in the field don't tend to be that worried about buying elite pedigree animals and would rather come to a farm where they can meet and really get to know the animals they're going to be taking home.

When you buy from us you can come to the farm to meet our alpacas, have a cuppa, head into the paddock and see us herding, handling and interacting.  

We’ll spend time with you, answer your questions, be really honest about what it looks like to keep alpacas and talk you through their temperaments, quirks and personalities.

You’ll also get to have a go at handling them too so you get to know the alpacas you might be taking home with you!  

So you won’t get a lab result fibre micron density certificate and a rosette with your alpaca but you’ll get honesty, time, presence and healthy alpacas to match your requirements (with all the paperwork to boot!).

Healthy, Well-Cared-For Alpacas

The welfare of our herd is always our top priority and as such we go beyond the basics.

We have trained in a consent based, science backed, gentle and respectful handling and training approach for camelids to ensure their lives (and ours!) are as stress free as possible.

We think about their natural behaviours and how we can ensure their environment and routines support this.

We choose to aim for an entirely (unless needed) natural approach to care including medicinal forage, natural gut support and a chemical free approach to flies and mites.

We have kept our herd at a size that allows us to conduct regular health checks and all of our alpacas are vaccinated, shorn yearly and toenails clipped regularly.

And finally - they are outside all year round with shelter from inclement weather getting to graze, socialise and roam even in winter.

Temperament Matters

We believe temperament is just as important as good genetics.

Our focus as breeders hasn’t been to select for particularly desirable traits as we know the trends are always changing and that some traits can end up not being the best for the health of our alpacas.

So instead we breed our animals with a focus on them being healthy, behaviourally well natured and with good conformation that will support their health and longevity. 

Our alpacas have been raised around children, dogs and our farm visitors which means they are incredibly used to human company and as such are curious, friendly and calm in our presence.They are regularly handled using a CameliDynamics approach (read more about this here) making husbandry tasks more efficient, more enjoyable and safer. Many of our routine tasks are conducted with one person without restraint.

As a small farm we know our animals intimately and can advise on their different temperaments, quirks and behaviours which means that we can match our alpacas to your needs whether you simply need pretty pasture companions or something more specific like a therapy animal, walker or an alpaca who would be good with farm visitors or children.

Honesty

Whether you're buying your very first alpacas or adding to an established herd, we're always happy to answer all of your questions, even the difficult ones. We won’t hide the trickier traits of some of our alpacas. We all have our quirks and unique ways of being and we’ll always make you aware of that.  

If we don't think a particular alpaca is the right match, we'll tell you. We'd much rather build lasting relationships than make a sale that doesn't feel right.

Support Doesn't End on Collection Day

Bringing alpacas home is just the beginning. 

We know there can be lots of questions, especially if you're new to keeping them, so we're always happy to offer advice and support after they've left the farm. Whether it's feeding, husbandry, introducing them to your existing herd or simply needing a bit of reassurance, we're only ever a phone call or message away.For local buyers we have travelled to support the first few health checks, for those further afield we can offer training on collection or we can advise on local farms to support you and training courses to attend to improve your skills.

Come and Meet Them

One of the best parts of choosing alpacas is getting to spend time with them. 

We always encourage prospective buyers to visit the farm, meet the herd and see how they're kept. It's a chance to ask questions, get to know their personalities and make sure you're choosing the right alpacas for your needs. Alpacas must be kept in herds of a minimum of three and five is optimum for their wellbeing and social dynamics. Pricing (reasonable!) on enquiry and packages available, get in touch to discuss.

Click here to see our alpacas for sale.

Team Hideaway Wood x