[FarmerJase]

Hi All,
We are looking to buy some Herdwicks (about half a dozen) as the basis of our new 'permanent' flock. We are probably looking to get some ewe lambs with a view of putting them with the ram next year (so we all get used to each other first!). Having only ever bought some white face lambs for the freezer each year from a cousing based on a price of £1 a lb, I've no real idea of what to paying for this type of breed. There are a few herds in the general areas, but not many, so does anyone have any advice on what we should be paying please?
Cheers

[Herdygirl]

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[omnipeasant]

Price of Herdwicks depends what you are prepared to pay! Why Herdwicks FarmerJase? I love them but  find them tricky. They are not put off by a dog (will walk straight through them) they tend to have lambing difficulties that they don't want you to help with and they only have carpet quality wool.

Take no notice of me if you love them. They break my heart.

[Herdygirl]

we have no problems with them lambing, the meat is superb and ours, all 70 odd, will come to the bucket.  i admit the fleece is no use but then there isn't much of it!

why do we have them?  they are totally beautiful and a great sheep for beginners as they are not too big to handle

[SteveHants]

Nothing against Herdwicks, but thats the first time I've heard them described as being great for beginners, but mostly cos they have a reputation of arriving in a field, jumping the fence in the first hour and never being seen again. 

[Fleecewife]

'They' say that about Soay too, and various other breeds, but ours never jumped     As always with sheep, it depends on how your animals were reared and how you handle them 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I guess it might vary if you breed them and raise them or if you are buying them in when they havent had much handling at their original home.
 

[Bramblecot]

Beautiful sheep to look at.  My neighbour has some and they are forever trying to escape if he puts them in a 3 acre field next to ours.  When he lets them run loose on 20 'wild' acres of hillside they seem much more contented.

[FarmerJase]

We've chosen Herdwicks on the basis that they appear to have not a bad caracass, are not too big to handle and are also quite nice to look at!

[Small Farmer]

They are renowned for being being bloody tough while ranging over big distances and living off anything they can find.  'Good for the beginner' probably means that they're impossible to kill because they don't need you for anything.  Deer fencing sounds like it might be needed though.


Let us know how it goes

[Moleskins]

Herdwick are the sheep of choice round here for many of the traditional farmers. One of whom told me when I was going to have them. "You could put a couple on here but you'd never see them again"
They wouldn't be my first thought as suitable for a beginner. They've been bred over hundreds of years to spend time alone on the fells ........... that about sums it up.

[in the hills]

Don't know anything about Herdwicks and we are inexperienced sheep keepers. We bought 7 Soay ewes about 2 years ago and as FW says they have a reputation for jumping/escaping. They had not been well handled or seen people much and when we first had them we could get nowhere near them. However they were following a bucket after a few weeks and have never escaped apart from one lamb who managed to get under a fence. We have normal stock fence but do check it constantly. I think they are well capable of jumping our fences but so far have never seemed inclined to do so. Maybe the Herdwicks would be the same  . Is there a society for them? I spoke to the sec. of the Soay Society about various aspects of keeping the breed including their reputation for escape. Found it very useful.


Good luck 

[princesspiggy]

our first sheep were a mixed bunch of rare breeds. the soays used to jump the stock fence and bugger off. the herdwicks were lovely. we had  2 ewes and a gorgeous tupp, were no bother to catch either.
i was really keen on getting more til the local breeder told me how poor their fleece was. i presume if u get a hill strain they will be wilder than paddock raised sheep, alot is learnt from the parents.
cant help u with prices - except we sell our registered boreray ewe lambs for £100 each.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi,
 in answer to your origional question on price. I have been looking at prices of different registered rare breeds recently and have found that a number of breed societies seem to use the avarage price from the previous years national breed society show and sale as a guide price.
Failing that contacting the breed society for an idea of price would give you a good starting point.
If any have gone through your local auction centre recently the centre may be prepared to give you an idea of price but they may require the lot number so you would need the sale brochure.
Personally I found that the price depended on supply and demand. If someone in the area has the breed that you want then the price is really what you can agree with the seller but to give you an idea, prices ranged from £100 to £200 a ewe depandant on breed, age, area, availability and pedigree if that helps.
 
Hope you find some    

[Bramblecot]

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