What do llamas eat for treats

Talk to your veterinarian about Copper toxicity and how to provide the right balance for your residents. Free-choice salt feeding is the easiest method to provide salt, especially for llamas eating pasture. If using a salt block, be sure to provide loose salt as well and be sure that it is protected from weather. This is particularly important if you are relying solely on trace mineral salts to meet nutritional requirements. Offering both may result in some residents only consuming white salt and not receiving the necessary minerals.

Generally, llamas will do well with a Calcium : Phosphorus ratio of to The ratio must be carefully provided, as an excess or deficiency of either can result in serious health issues like bone loss or slowed growth. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of both minerals.

Also, remember how alfalfa is generally way higher in Calcium than grass hays, up to times higher? That could be a ratio of ! Bones and teeth in llamas have a ratio of You have to maintain a ration within to for a healthy llama resident. Copper is an important trace mineral and intake must be carefully monitored as llamas have a low threshold for Copper and can die from Copper toxicity and also cause issues if they are deficient in copper. Generally the toxicity is due to an inappropriate ratio of Copper to a mineral called Molybdenum.

Concentrations of Zinc , Sulphur and Iron can all affect the availability of Copper for llamas. Selenium is also important, and levels of Selenium in the soil at your sanctuary should be analyzed to prevent Selenium deficiency.

You should discuss these, and other mineral requirements, such as Magnesium and Potassium , with your veterinarian for proper supplementation, as deficiency and excessive amounts of minerals are capable of causing serious health issues and even death. In addition to the above minerals and others , vitamins are important for good health. For example, Vitamin A deficiency can result in slowed growth and lessened resistance to infection, among other things. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to bone issues, such as rickets.

Vitamin E deficiency can result in eye, skin and liver issues. The B Vitamins, B1 , B2 , B3 , and B12 all similarly play a role in a healthy body, each important for different aspects of bodily health. Consulting with your veterinarian will help ensure your residents are receiving the proper amounts of each vitamin and mineral. They may suggest certain supplementation. However, you should never provide supplements without knowing the amounts of these nutrients contained in their diet and without consulting with your veterinarian!

Water is an important part of keeping resident llamas healthy. In general, llama residents will consume between gallons of water a day. However, when faced with little access to water something their ancestors adapted to in the drier, arid regions in which they originated , they can go with less water without ill effect, for a time. However, llama residents should always have continuous access to clean water sources.

It is advisable to have water heaters during freezing temperatures, as it allows continuous access to water and also encourages them to drink more. A llama may refuse to drink if the water is very cold. This can cause a number of health issues, in spite of their evolutionary adaptation.

Test Your Water! It is a good idea to have sanctuary water tested in order to ensure resident health. Tests are inexpensive and can tell you if there is bacteria or high levels of certain minerals in the water that could negatively affect the health of your residents.

Below is information we have acquired through experience or the experience of others. We will update this section as we continue to research and provide solid information as we find it. Below are brief lists of what can be a safe treat or dangerous to give to llama residents. Treats can be an enriching and yummy experience for residents. Below is a list of safe treats and another list of foods to avoid. Feed these frozen slices to llamas. Bananas are easy to chew and best for llamas with dental issues.

There are different treat mix options that are also available with bananas. Bananas contain potassium, vitamins, and fibers. However excessive feeding can cause colic issues in llamas. Bananas are even good for senior llamas as they can easily chew them. Definitely, watermelon is a tasty treat for the Camelidae family. Alpacas or llamas love to eat watermelon as a treat.

Watermelon is not only a tasty but a healthy treat for llamas as we know llamas need water in their diet so if you can not, watermelon is a great replacement for them. I was thinking about their similarities and how to take care of them. For alpacas, apples are a common treat, but can llamas have fruit too?

I did some research to find out. Llamas can have some fruits as treats, but they normally get most of their food by grazing on grass. So, while llamas can eat some fruits, if they eat too many they can bloat and potentially develop gut issues. Also, some fruits can be poisonous to them. Should they even be eating fruit in the first place? In the wild, llamas ate many plants such as lichens, tree foliage, and shrubs. Now, most llamas eat greens, pellets, and hay. Some llamas and alpacas are especially picky when it comes to treats they will accept.

If your llama is one of the picky ones that turns its nose up at every treat you have tried, this simple snack might be the one they will finally accept.

As the weather cools, you can start offering warmer treats for your camelids. Wintertime is the best time of year for comfort foods. Your llamas will like a wintery treat now and then to help them get through the boredom of not being able to go outside as often as they did during the warmer months. Create a garland of edible fruit for your alpacas!

Hang it where they can have easy access to it! Hang this edible decoration in your barn and let your llamas and alpacas munch on the apples at their leisure. This provides a simple and healthy treat and gives them something to play with to prevent boredom. Since camelids only have bottom teeth, they will spend more time playing with the apples than eating through them. This provides some added entertainment on a dreary winter day. But, be sure to remove the garland when the uneaten apples start to spoil.

Take 1 to 2 cups of your normal camelid pelleted feed and grind or blend the pellets until they become powder. You can even choose to garnish it with carrot shavings, sea salt, or alfalfa pellet crumbles. Pumpkin seeds are a speedy snack you can keep in your pocket and offer to your alpacas throughout the day.

You can also cut additional holes in the sides to give your llamas and alpacas more ways to see and get to the treats. Set the pumpkin out for your llamas and alpacas to inspect and watch them try to figure out how to get the treats from inside! This treat should be fed sparingly because of the higher calorie count. Still, it can help provide a nice boost of warmth on cold winter days. Sometimes the best treats come out of the oven. If you love to bake snacks and treats for your own family, consider baking a few for your llamas and alpacas.

Feel free to adjust to fit your needs and the preferences of your llamas and alpacas. Cool and offer snacks to your llamas and alpacas during training or when getting their toenails trimmed. Not all types of honey are safe for llamas and alpacas. So, if you bake this recipe, make sure you use clover honey, which is considered safe. Never use honey that includes unknown flowers or mountain laurel flowers. This recipe is quick and simple, but your llamas and alpacas will love it!

Since this recipe uses vegetable oil, it is a high-calorie, and fattening treat for llamas and alpacas, so feed it on special occasions only. Llamas and alpacas enjoy a wide variety of fruits, so you can prepare an assortment of fruit to give them a selection of tasty treats. Once cooled, these roasted fruits are a great snack for you and your llamas and alpacas.

Beet pulp is an excellent snack option for llamas and alpacas.