How to Feed a Pet Llama

The feeding and care of your pet llama is fairly simple, since llamas are such hardy animals by nature. Llamas can thrive on a variety of natural grasses, fresh water and not much else. They are relatively easy to feed in comparison to more common types of livestock. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Corn
• Salt or mineral block
• Fresh water
• Hay

Feed Your Pet Llama

1. Provide a clean, fresh supply of hay for your llama, unless you are keeping him in a pasture where he has access to plenty of grasses. Avoid feeding llamas grains and seeds unless you have a female llama that is either pregnant or lactating. Llamas will eat about 10 to 12 pounds of hay per day, or about 2 to 4 percent of their body weight.
2. Make sure your llama has plenty of fresh water every day. While llamas do not drink as much water as other types of livestock, an unlimited supply is essential for optimum health.
3. Avoid overfeeding your llama. Like many animals, a llama will gorge itself if it has access to unlimited supplies of food, especially grain.
4. Supplement your llama's diet with a salt or mineral block. Look for free choice or pelletized mineral supplements as opposed to large blocks, since llamas cannot lick. The mineral block should contain plenty of selenium, calcium, phosphorus and salt.
5. Add corn to your llama's diet, especially if the weather turns colder. This will help your llama to maintain its energy levels through the winter.
6. Use the body scoring scale to determine if your llama is receiving the right amount of food, since one of the most common health problems with pet llamas is obesity. Body scoring uses a 1 to 9 scale, with 1 representing an emaciated llama, and 9 representing an obese llama. Scores from 4 to 6 are optimal, so check your llama's score at the Llamapaedia website (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Use protective eyewear and sturdy shoes when you are in close proximity to llamas, especially when you feed them. Llamas have a tendency to step on toes and occasionally spit when humans are nearby. For more tips about feeding llamas, check out the Sutter's Mill Llama Farm website (see Resources below).