Sheep-

Sally is a herdwick sheep, and again came from the rare breed sale. She was being sold as a "cast ewe", these are older hill sheep who are starting to struggle in a rugged environment, so they get sold as they will still be able to produce good lambs in a more generous area in the lowlands. She had a very sad look and I told Mike, "we're taking her home". She is boss of the herd now, although starting to show her age - she was born in 1997. Over this recent winter she lost a lot of weight, but seems happy in herself. The spring grass should help this but obviously we are going to have to figure out a way of feeding her seperately in the winters to come.

Sheba and Cleo, are sisters and beautiful. They are ryeland cross blue faced leicester and (I think) look like middle eastern queens. They were born in 2004. They came with Sally and now think she is mum!



Foula, is shetland sheep. Foula is black and is always asleep it seems, she's like a big, black slug in the field! Foula were born in 2004.



Mike's Folly, is a black dorset and was, also bought at the rare breed sale. It was the one year we weren't going home with anything, but Mike in a fit of madness bought her- hence the name. Folly was born in 2005



Jacob and Badger, are both jacob sheep and came to us along with the 5 goats (Copper, Conker etc) Jacob, is a wether (castrated male), and was due to have his throat cut in the bath, luckily for him the animals were removed before this happened. Thet were both born about 2003.

In the April of 2009 we took in 5 more sheep, they were born in 2002 and had been pets. When the original owners sold the house the sheep went with it. After having the sheep for 4 years, the new owners decided they did not want the expense of the newly introduced blutongue vaccine, and if a home couldn't be found before the 1st of May, they would have to be PTS. We said we would take them, and unfortunately they were in very poor condition, they were very thin and malnourished, and the small journey to get them home brought on a bought of pneumonia. Under the vet's advice they had to wait before they could be vaccinated. They were wormed and given antibiotics. One in particular caused great concern due to his body condition, we also expected their feet to be too long, but in fact there was no growth at all.

 There were 3 neutered boys and 2 girls, so they have been called Noggin, Issac, Zog, April and Ester. Sadly, Noggin past away on Hogmany 2010.

The funniest thing you'll ever see is big, fat adult sheep playing like lambs, this is the only time Foula wakes up, she just runs around bouncing off everybody, and even Sally still joins in, sometimes.