Our decision to become involved with alpacas came about with our move from the suburbs to the countryside in search of a different lifestyle. We found the perfect place to call home, Win-Dee Acres Farm in the village of Big Mount. Located in York County Pennsylvania between Dover and East Berlin. With our purchase of an old brick colonial overlooking ten acres our Pennsylvania alpaca farm venture was underway. Alpacas, with all their cute and quirky characteristics, arrived next and our lifestyle started.
While we welcomed the change we never lost sight that this would be a business venture. And so we read, researched, talked to and visited with numerous Pennsylvania alpaca farms, and attended shows and auctions, before we took the plunge with our first alpaca purchase. Like anyone who first encounters this industry we, too, were skeptical and asked countless questions and found countless answers all of which reassured us that this was an emerging industry that was well-grounded.
Our desire is not to be one of the largest Pennsylvania alpaca farms but to purposefully remain small and highly selective, so that we can best focus our efforts on education, care, breeding, and exemplary customer service. We look forward to sharing our alpaca insights and experience with you.
Alpaca Facts
You can not have too many gates. When designing your barns, pastures and gates think about the work flow and traffic patterns that will occur as you make your way through the day. After your facilities are built they are difficult to alter, a little forethought can save a lot of labor. Gates cost about the same per lineal foot as the fence. You should make your gates as wide as possible. It is hard to get equipment through narrow gates. I like sixteen foot gates in the pasture and four to five foot gates inside the barn.