I know that when I bought my first camels I had a lot of questions. Luckily I also had a support group of knowledgeable people that were willing to help me. I hope that this article will help you in the same way, by answering some of your questions.
Is a camel right for you?
Finding your camel
When to look? - Camels are born in the winter. If you are looking to buy a young camel this is a good time to find out what is available (who has pregnant camels) and put down a deposit.
Older camel VS young camel- Of course it is less expensive to buy a young camel. But, young camels are NOT easier to train. Camels fully mature by the age of six. If you want a camel that will be more consistent, relaxed and easier to work with buy an adult camel!
Buying your camel
Contract-Whenever large sums of money are exchanged it is important to have a contract. For a sample contract refer to http://www.cameldairy.com. The contract shows that money has or is expected to change hands. It clearly states what the expectations are on behalf of the buyer and seller. Make sure to take the time to be very clear when writing it.
Documents- Health Certificate, Tuberculosis and Brucelosis test results. These documents are required by some states. Even though California requires only a Health Certificate I ALWAYS get the other tests done as well.
Meeting the owner and camel
Ask questions- you want to know as much about the camel as you possibly can before you commit to buying it.
The more you ask, the more you will know! Don’t be shy, know as much as possible before the money changes hands.
OBSERVE as much as you can. Have the seller take the camel out.
Taking your camel home
Payment- Most sellers will appreciate a money order or cash rather than a check. When you pay for the camel make sure to pay for a few extra bails of hay as well. You will need them to acclimate your camel to the hay that you offer.
When to bring your camel home- Make sure the camel doesn’t experience extreme climate changes. For example a camel raised in the desert should not be moved to Ohio in the dead of winter.
Insurance- you might consider insuring such a valuable animal before it is hauled. Especially if someone else is hauling it for you.
Hauling- every action should be taken to make sure that the camel is comfortable and safe during transportation. The trailer should be tall enough to allow at least a foot of clearance between the camel’s hump and the roof. The camel should be able to turn easily within the trailer. Since camels usually cush while in transport, the floor should be padded. I put down a regular rubber horse trailer pad and cover it with a foot of straw.
Make sure that there aren’t any objects that can move around or poke the camel while in route. Double-check your hitch. Make sure all the doors are securely latched. Make sure your brakes and lights are working. When driving, accelerate and brake slowly. Take corners slowly, even if it means that traffic will have to wait for you.
Plan your return route ahead of time. I go out of my way in order to use smoother roads. Even though camels travel well I always try to have them in the trailer as little time as possible. Once you have loaded the camels waste no time in getting them home.
Preparing the camel’s new home in advance - You want to have everything in place before the camel arrives. This includes -paddock, shelter, fencing, salt block, water, and hay. Make sure that there are no sharp objects in the paddock for the camel to hurt or catch itself on!
Companionship for your camel- camels are very social and demand a lot of attention. It is important to friends for your camel. A Llama, Donkey, Horse or even a sheep will do.
Veterinary care- Find a vet will be willing to care for your camel. Doing this in advance will give the vet time to prepare for this new patient.
Transitioning
Camels are very sensitive, it is important to provide them with a smooth transition. It is best to put the camel in its new paddock during the daytime so it can become familiar with it before dark. Watch the camel closely for the first few days, problems and dangers will show up quickly.
Food - It takes camels at least two weeks to get used to a new type of hay or a similar type grown in a different area. During this period Make sure to feed some of the hay you purchased from the seller in combination with your own hay.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email me at info@cameldairy.com.
Good luck!
Gil Riegler
Bio- Gil Riegler has been working with exotic animals over the past fifteen years. Seven years ago he started to work with camels and was hooked for life! He now owns America’s first camel dairy, producing wonderful camel milk soap and camel-hair yarn. If you are interested in camel training workshops or more information on camels you can contact Gil at
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