[Porterlauren]

I'm not sure if this should go in the primitive category or not. . . .

Anyway, I know next to nothing about Shetlands, but a friend of mine fancies a few. She will probably end up running them in and around my commercials, so I need to be careful where they come from, to avoid any nasties. . .

Anyone got any general advice about them? And any idea of any breeders etc in south wales or the west country?

Cheers.

[Thyme]

http://www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/ is a good source of overview info.  I'll likely have a few girls to sell in August.

[Fleecewife]

Shetlands need a lot less feed in the run up to lambing than commercials do.  If they live in with the commercials through lambing they will get too fat, with all its attendant problems.
I was just hearing of someone who put first time lamber Shetland ewes with a Beltex tup - they will manage for their second lambing, but asking for problems for first lambing.

There are plenty of Shetland breeders around, in most areas of the country.  Small and easily handled, friendly and readily bucket trained, can be worked with a dog, gorgeous fleece, mostly.

What more do you want to know?

[Porterlauren]

Nothing here gets fed.

If they stayed here they would probably end up getting a charmoise over them. If they can't lamb one of those. . . . .

To be fair i'll probably try and convince them to get some of these funny bald sheep instead.

What do normal run of the mill shetland ewes / lambs go for normally?

[Thyme]

In my experience £40-£60, higher end if they are registered pedigree.

[SallyintNorth]

We like my Shetlands crosses so much we are considering buying or breeding some Shetland x Cheviot ewe lambs as replacement ewes for the commercial flock.

We like the hardiness, the great fleeces (lovely to spin, most of them, and good and weatherproof), and most of all the good feet.

I love their personalities, but not all commercial farmers like having sheep so wily and headstrong . 

Walls are no barrier, they just treat them like vertical roads.  Good taut stock fencing works fine - but if they are on slim pickings they will find a way to get to better rations.