Before You Buy...

Buying llamas, like making any other investment is best done with a very close scrutiny of the seller, and the goods.  Although we would hope that everyone in the llama business was honest and forthright and cared about the buyer and the llamas, as in every business there are the good and bad, the honest and dishonest.    You will find people who really care about llamas, and are eager not only to sell you a llama, but to  help you become fully acquainted with your new friends before you buy and even more important after you take your llama home.

But, you might also find those who just want to sell you a llama and let you and the llama "sink or swim" on your own. We hope you will seek out and locate those who are not only honest, but who will help you in your llama adventure.

 So, we provide you below with things you should do before you buy and a checklist of what you want to find out about the llama and the breeder before you buy.  Following these suggestions may make life easier after your purchase.

First Things
 Things to do and consider before buying a llama

Decide why you want llamas and what you are going to do with them.
What is their job at your house?

Remember llamas are herd animals and they need companionship from other llamas.  Don't buy a llama from someone who will sell you a single llama, if you don't already have llamas, unless the llama is going into a "livestock guard" position.

Learn all you can about llamas from books, magazines and by asking questions.  

Visit llamas at several farms and if possible at llama shows.

Ask questions that will allow you to discover if the facilities you have are adequate for raising llamas, and the number of llamas that will be best for you and your situation?  Pasture, Shelter, Water, Hay, Fencing, and Medical Care are all things that must be considered, as well as your own experience with livestock or available help.

Lead several llamas around to see how it is done, how they react to you and how you react to them.  Note how the halter is put on and removed and how the llama reacts.  If you can't lead a llama without dragging them or them dragging you, they are not halter trained or used to people contact.  If the halter cannot be put on easily without a fight, then they are not halter trained and you can expect a bigger problem when you get them home.

Decide what kind of llama you will need for what you plan to do...different llamas have different potentials.  Do you need a pair of males or of females?  Do you intend to breed or to keep your llamas as pets, or yard ornaments?  Don't let someone sell you what you don't need or don't want just because they are cheap or just because you happen to be there and they want to get rid of  a particular llama or group of llamas.  

Never buy a llama site unseen or without walking and handling it, or without knowing it's history.

Llamas do require care.  Learn what the llama needs and don't buy one if you are not physically able to care for it unless you have someone else who can and is willing to care for it.  Many, many llamas and other animals have ended up in rescue situations because buyers failed to take into account the work involved in caring for them.

Llamas live a long time compared to other domesticated animals.  How long will you be able to care for it and what will happen to it when you can no longer do so?  Be sure to plan in your will or health plan the proper disposition of your llamas if something happens to you.  Plan ahead!

Don't buy a llama just because it is pretty or really wooly.  Rather consider the use you have for it.  If you plan to use it as a work animal, for instance, a small wooly is probably not as useful.  It is generally better for a packer to have  light wool and be somewhat athletic, whereas a public relations llama that you would want to take into a school or a  nursing home might be perfectly fine as a small and fuzzy thing that is easy to pet.

A checklist of things to ask and do before buying a llama

Breeders and Facilities

__  Look at the facility from which you are thinking about buying.  Although it may not be fancy, does it demonstrate care for and knowledge about llamas?

__ Does the breeder handle and approach the llama as knowledgeable and caring, or do they appear to be afraid of the llamas or aggressive towards the llamas?

__ Does the breeder appear to know what he/she is talking about or do they come across as just trying to sell their animals?  Can they answer your questions with examples and experience or just what they have been told?  You will fair better if you go in after reading and learning about llamas, so that you can compare the sellers knowledge to what you have learned in reading and studying.

__ Does the breeder allow and encourage you to handle and get close to the llamas?  If not, why not.  Are the llamas not trained? are they not used to being handled? Are they spitty or unruly?

__ Does the breeder answer your question and concerns fully, without hesitation?  Or, do they hem and haw around and fail to give you an answer which is useful in making your decisions or increasing your understanding and knowledge?

__ Does the breeder know the animals well enough to be able to call them by name, tell you their background (genealogy) and history?  If they do not know the birth history or background of the animal, that should raise a red flag.   You should be concerned as to why.  Did they buy the animals recently, just for resell, or at auction, or did they personally raise and care for the llamas?  The history of the llama can tell you a lot about it's future.

__ Does the breeder show you how the animal responds to being caught, haltered and handled.  If not, why not?

__  Does there appear to be proper feed, water and shelter available?  In the summer is there adequate water, shade, fans and have the llamas been sheared and otherwise protected from heat stress.  Long wool, and matted coats in the summer should be a red flag and an explanation should be sought.

Examining the llamas

__ Do the llamas appear to be in good health?

__ Do the llamas appear to be well taken care of? Can the owner explain, scars, injuries, etc. and discuss the health care of the llama?

 __If it is hot, are the llamas shorn, do they have shade and fans?
 
 __Are the toenails, properly cut?

 __Is dead wool or excessive matting removed from their coats?  If not, why not?

 __Are the llamas obviously underweight or overweight?  (It would be worthwhile to know how to bodyscore llamas before getting serious about a particular llama).  You might ask the owner if the llama is under or overweight and how they can tell.

__Are the llamas mangy or do they have sores or other skin problems?  If so, ask about this?  Does the owner volunteer information about obvious skin problems or other problems or try to ignore them?

 __Are there obvious defects in any of the llamas?  If so, ask about them?

__  Are the llamas you are interested in well conformed?  (You may want to learn about the basics of llama conformation before becoming serious about a specific llama).

Questions to ask the breeder

__  How long have you been breeding/raising llamas?  Where did you learn about llamas, and how many have you raised?

__  Where did your llamas come from...that is, how did you get them? If from auctions,
petting zoos, rescues, etc.  proceed with caution!  This is not to say that some rescues and auction animals are not o.k. but if they come from those sources you need to obtain as much information as you can about their history, illnesses, habits, etc.

__ Do you have a specific goal for your breeding program? Personality, size, color, heritage, conformation?  Why this goal (what does he/she hope to achieve)?

__  Do you subscribe to the "Code Of Cunduct To The Transfer Of Camelids"?  Most won't even know what it is!  You can copy the code from this web site and ask the owner if they agree or abide by those principals.  If not, why not?  This is especially important if you are buying a "bred animal" or a breeding animal, or if the history of the animal is in question.

__  What llama organizations do you participate in and in what capacity?  If none, why not?  Where do you learn about llamas if not from organizations?

__  Do you have any special training with llamas, such as conferences, or training courses?

__  What training do you provide your llamas and what are your training goals?

__  Tell me about your feeding program?  What do you feed? Do you use supplements?  Why or Why not? What kind of grass do your llamas get, what kind or hay?

__Why are you selling this/these particular llamas?

__  Is there now, or has there ever been anything physically or behaviorally wrong with this animal?

__  Has this animal ever been bottle fed?  If so, at what age, for how long and why?  If the answer is yes and the llama is a male under the age of three and appears to be very friendly or pushy, be very wary of purchasing it!  It is very likely a liability you don't want.

__  If I find I can't live with this animal, what is your "buy back" policy...what are my remedies?

__  What kind of guarantees do you provide for breeding stock?  For pet quality llamas?

__  What kind of support do you provide after I buy these llamas? 

__ What comes with a llama I buy from you?  (delivery, halter, feed, literature, lead, records, registration, guarantee, organization memberships).  Some sellers offer none of these and what is offered will depend on the type of llama, the quality of the llama, etc.  If you are buying a pet llama generally it will come with a minimum of things.

__  Are you willing to come to my farm and help me if I have a problem with your llama?

__  Can you provide references from satisfied buyers?

__  Do you provide boarding services while I prepare my farm to bring in the llamas?

__  Can you recommend one or more veterinarians in my area who have llama experience?

__  Are your llamas registered and blood-typed?  If not, why not?

__  How often do you vaccinate your llamas/ worm them?  What do you use to vaccinate? to worm?

From aloha llama.com