The level of facilities you need for llamas depends on your environment. Here in California the climate is generally mild. A very basic 3 sided shelter out of the wind and rain that keeps their hay dry is sufficient. The more extreme your climate, the more elaborate the shelters need to be. Auto refill water troughs are a must. Make sure you insulate your water pipes well and may have to use a de-icer in winter.

The next most important part of your ranch is fencing, gates, and corral design. I use 6’ perimeter, and 5’ interior fencing. I use a medium weight fencing generally referred to as deer and rabbit. Horse no climb fencing is fine but lightweight, welded wire or chicken wire won’t last. You will just have to remove it in a few years and redo it. Make sure to construct strong gate and corner bracing gates. You can never have too many gates. Before putting in your fences take a long look at your enclosure and try to envision all the different access gates you are going to need. All of my perimeter gates swing inward with a spring attached. The spring closes the gate against a post so that if you forget to latch it a llama cannot push the gate open. My interior gates are not on springs. Most of my gates are 8’ to 10’. Corral design is probably the most important design feature for new Llama people. The corral is also called a catch pen. Most llamas are naturally resistant to being caught. My best catch pen is rectangular about 8’ to 10’ wide and 30’ long. At one end I have a gate about 8’ from the end so that I can calmly push them to the end then close the gate creating an 8’ square pen to halter them.