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How We Raise Our Sheep
We raise a small flock of Shetland sheep, primarily for fibre and also for a small amount of lamb and mutton. What's the difference? 'Lamb' is generally referring to a sheep under one year of age, but our Shetlands, being small and slower-growing, are rarely processed that young. We prefer to wait until our animals are closer to 2 years of age, at which point, they are technically mutton. We offer registered breeding stock, sheepskins and fibre products from our little flock.
Lambing & Husbandry
Our Shetlands are bred in the fall for spring lambing, ideally April or May as our blustery landscape can stay wet and chilly for some time. That being said, Shetland lambs are hardy, vigorous and well-adapted to our coastal climate, getting to their feet and finding milk in no time! Our ewes typically have twins, although singles and triplets are not uncommon. They are excellent mothers, with great protective instincts, producing ample milk which allows their lambs to grow quickly.
Pasture-Raised & Grassfed
With the exception of illness or injury (which is a very rare occurrence, indeed) our Shetlands are never confined indoors, but have the option of coming into our sheds when they wish. Their luxurious wool coats keep them well-protected from the ocean winds and driving rains we see in the fall and winter, and they are often just as pleased with a bit of tree cover as they are with the fanciest barns. The Shetlands browse as much as they graze, often snacking on tree limbs, spruce tips, young alders, thistles and other weeds, along with the grass. This makes them great assets for farms that have varied landscapes and less than perfect fields. Our sheep have been known to choose seaweed off of the coastline as a snack when given the oppotunity! During the winter months we feed hay, and our market lambs are 100% grassfed!
How to Purchase
Our mutton is available in our farm store, as are our sheepskins and fibre products, when available. Learn more about our fleece and fibre on our 'studio' page. Otherwise sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when we have mutton, fleeces, or yarn available!
