The Sheep
History and Facts
Hello there. I just want to share with you how excited I am to talk about these little sheep! I consider them to be the perfect sheep. Because of their small stature, they are easy for me to handle by myself and their endearing personalities keep me laughing all the while when doing chores. Of course a BIG bonus is their gorgeous soft fleece that comes in a large variety of natural colors...all shades of grays to black and all shades of brown to white; as well as many patterns and spots!
When you read that Shetlands are considered a primitive or unimproved breed, in general it means that they have maintained their natural hardiness, thriftiness, survival instincts, are easy to lamb, are good mothers and adapt well to new situations, all of which make them easier to care for and do well in comparison to many of the more "modern" breeds seen today. Did you know that the roots of the Shetland Sheep go back more than 1000 years? They are said to be sheep that arrived to the Shetland Islands by the Viking Settlers. They are considered a heritage breed of sheep and although their existence is no longer endangered, they are still listed in The Livestock Conservancy . As a member of the Livestock Conservancy we participate in their "Shave 'em to Save 'em" program. By buying 2 or more ounces of our Shetland fiber you will receive a Livestock Conservancy passport and a sticker to track and support heritage breeds.
The Shetlands have not been in the United States a very long time as they were not introduced to North America (Canada) until 1980. Since that time they have certainly gained popularity, mainly due to their wool, (which is fine, soft and durable) being prized. Each fleece will average up to 4lbs and may vary in crimp. As a heritage, unimproved breed, Shetland sheep have one of three different kinds of fleeces: kindly/single-coated,(which are the majority of Shetlands that I raise) long, and double-coated. The kindly/single-coated is the finest and shortest of the fleeces at only about 2-5 inches in length; it is used for fine knits such as lace, shawls and finely worked socks. The long fleeced Shetlands with soft and long staple wool between 4-8 inches in length are the most common these days, and much of the available yarn on the market is spun from their fleeces. The double-coated Shetland sheep are even more versatile than that of either of the other types, having a remarkably soft undercoat of wool and long and lustrous outercoat of wool that can reach lengths between 6-10 inches or more. The coats of the double-coated sheep can be separated, or spun together. Generally, Shetland wool has a thickness of 23-25 microns, but it can be even finer or thicker depending upon where it is gathered from the sheep. Wool between 10-20 microns can be gathered from the neck and shoulders, while wool between 25-30 microns can be gathered from the britches. Like Merino, many people who find wool to be irritating to their skin discover that wearing clothing made from the wool of fine fleeced Shetland sheep to be quite comfortable and not itchy at all. The wool is graded from Fine at its smallest diameter of 10 microns to Medium at its largest diameter of 30 microns, making it a very comfortable wool to wear. It is said that several Shetland Sheep would provide a family with their fine knitware like scarfs and shawls, their medium knitware like hats and mittens as well as their durable knitted or woven rugs. Britch wool can also be spun for excellent (strong) yarn to warp looms.
What an interesting history these little sheep have!
My Breeding Program
The focus of my breeding program is to preserve the importance of correct conformation and a kind, easy going disposition in a healthy sheep that is carrying a soft, durable gorgeous fleece.
My sheep and I have been honored several times by winning awards at at various fairs and fiber festivals in the Pacific Northwest and Montana; the most recent in October of 2022 at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival where we won Grand Champion Shetland and Best Shetland Fleece with our yearling ewe followed by Reserve Grand Champion Shetland with our ewe lamb. I am totally humbled by that honor.
Along with this well balanced breeding program, I strive to preserve all the beautiful colors and patterns in a lovely fine, soft, yet durable fleece to be prized by hand spinners.
Shetland wool is a premier hand spinners fiber and not only do I enjoy spinning my own fleeces into yarn but I can attest to Shetland wool being soft, fine, silky and durable; as well as being a delight to spin, knit, crochet, weave or felt. I've used their wool for many projects and I know you will enjoy discovering the merits of this wonderful wool too.
In addition to selling our fiber at all the steps in the process (raw fleece, milled roving, spinning batts and finished yarn) we have individual sheep and starter flocks available. When I place starter flocks I like to spend time with the prospective shepherd and/or shepherdess, making sure our sheep are a good fit for their situation and then supporting them in their sheep journey. Please contact us if you would like to talk about starting a flock or making an addition to an existing one.
Available Sheep
I will be happy to assist you in selecting lambs or breeding stock that will best fit your needs and desires for your herd and fiber flock.
OUR 2023 LAMBS HAVE STARTED TO ARRIVE!
RESERVING SHETLANDS
- After we have discussed the options and you have made your selection, you will receive an invoice. Your deposit is due at time of receipt and will be half of the agreed upon purchase price. The remainder of the purchase price is due upon possession of the animal.
- If you are requesting a lamb that has not yet been born a deposit is required at the time of reservation and holds you choice of stock.
- Lamb deposits are $125
- Adult deposits are $200
- Your paid deposit will be applied to the total amount of your invoice.
- Deposits are not refundable.
If now is the time for your homestead/farm to take a closer look at the colorful Shetland Sheep, you can get additional information by visiting the official website of the North American Shetland Sheepbreeders Association to learn about where many of my sheep are also registered with The Fine Fleeced Shetland Sheep Association.