[Kuler]

In a few weeks time I'm moving into a property that has 3 acres of land.

I'm considering buying half a dozen sheep but in truth know nothing about them. I'm not wanting them for their fleece or particularly their meat, but something completely different.

The two acre field is susceptible to flooding, so most of the time they'll be kept in a one acre garth.
The property is in NW England where rainfall can be on the high side, so any animal will need to be fairly sturdy.

I'd really appreciate positive comments on what to do.

Many thanks

Kuler

[woollyval]

Well in view of what you want them for I'd go for some Ouessants! Good meat IF you want to eat one, good wool if you want to sell some, nice pets if you just want mowers!
All the usual things re sheep keeping apply so you would have to learn about keeping sheep...which whilst not complicated is not simple either! Ouessants are extreemly hardy too.

But then I am biased as I keep them

[goosepimple]

Ouessants are expensive though.  If you don't know much about sheep maybe try Soay - shed their fleece so you don't have to find a shepherd to shear just a few, no fly strike, foot rot, used to west coast scotland islands battering them with everything nature has got and they birth all by themselves without your help and it won't be too difficult to find a soay tup to do the honours in that respect.  They are also registered as a rare breed so you would be doing the breed a favour.  Very pretty too, look like small deer.


Or if you don't want the breeding thing, you could get a whole flock of wethers (castrated boys) - most breeds they look great and won't be a hassle - last Lanark show 14 hebredian boys went for a snip (excuse the pun).  You could pick wethers up easy.


Don't get too big a sheep, the wee primitive breeds are easy to handle - you can train them to the bucket to catch them.

[Brucklay]

Yes - agree with goosepimple  - something primitive, hardy, and wethers if you don't want to breed, Soay or Castlemilk Moorits look very pretty and not too big and just because they don't need hard feed doesn't mean to say they won't mug you for it 

[jaykay]

I have Shetlands, at 1000ft also in soggy Cumbria, and they seem to cope well.

They come in lots of different colours and patterns, are not too big so easy to handle, and some of mine are so tame now they eat out of my hand. They can be a bit wild if you buy adults that are not used to this though, so maybe buying lambs and getting to know them would be a good way forward. Unlike some rare breeds they're not too expensive either.

There's the rare breed sale on at Carlisle this Saturday, maybe go along if you can and see what you like the look of.

[woollyval]

Ouessants do not have to be expensive!!! Many are vastly over priced! In France they are good and also much cheaper. The price here will drop as they become more common....I sell wethers for £50 each and have a waiting list!!!
I would avoid Soays or anything that is a bit wild until you have experience....yes I know some Soays are tame but most have to be observed with binoculars and caught with a net!!!

[in the hills]

Only kept sheep for a couple of years. We went for Soay, because we liked the look of them, and for the reasons detailed by Goosepimple.


You will get lots of different answers, since we all have our favourites ..... as it should be.


Don't want to speak to soon but our girls have been relatively easy to care for so far - no illness, no strike, lambed without problems.


They can be flighty but ours are bucket trained and come when called .... no need for a dog. In fact some are so tame they jump up you like dogs. We haven't spent excessive time in taming them. Their reputation for escape and difficulty in handling did worry us but so far no problems apart from one escaped lamb. They seem content to stay where they are. Being small means that even my 10 year old daughter can catch and hold them.


You could look at the different breeds at shows and sales. Also ring the different breed societies and discuss the merits and otherwise of each breed.

[violet]

Hi,
I agree  I keep Shetlands and they are great. Easy lambing too should you ever be tempted. The Ouessants ( which I know little about) seem similar but smaller and look fab.
Sheep like Soay & Boeray can be a bit on the wild side and difficult to handle - I always thought that they didn't herd but a friend of mine told me that they do...................................but at 60miles an hour  I have some Soay /shetland crosses and they are making it so difficult when gathering the herd that they are going to the next rare & native breed sale near here. And I'm getting a small herd of Ryelands instead , they might be good for you. There are also easy care sheep that are self fleecing, if that appeals.
I'm sure we all have our favourite though, good luck & enjoy  times ahead.   

[SteveHants]

I'd start with something fairly easy and fairly commercial, so if you don't like 'em you can stick them in the mart and get half-decent money back. Lleyns mebbe.


Having said that, I started with Wilts Horns.


What does worry me a bit is your wet ground. Usually you have more grazing for winter and less for summer and not the other way round. I suppose you could make hay on it and feed it back to them in the winter.

[Greenmoor]

There's a rare breed sale at Chelford this Saturday too.  We're in Lancashire and our fields have been saturated all year this year.  My advice would be to buy something with good feet!  We've had no end of problems with our mules and lambs in the wet grass, we just feel like we're winning the battle after months of close attention to their feet.

[country soul]

I would agree with the idea of getting commercial types to start,they will cost you less and produce you more.If you are wanting to breed get some older ewes that have had lambs before,they are less likely to need help.We keep hampshire downs at a 1000 feet in the pennines and they do well,they would be my suggestion.They are quiet easy to handle and capable of producing a marketable lamb off grass.This year are first lambs were sold at 14 weeks and made  an average of £95. They look good too.

[Birdie Wife]

Herdwick sheep are native to NW England and are very pretty looking. The fleece is quite coarse which helps them put up with the worst of the weather.

[Moleskins]

Herdwick sheep are native to NW England and are very pretty looking. The fleece is quite coarse which helps them put up with the worst of the weather.

To quote him again......
Me - could I put Herdwicks on here?
Cumbrian farmer friend - you could but you'd niver see the buggers again.
They climb, they wander, they're hefted.

[thenovice]

I must admit, from my experience id start with a commercial type too. Much calmer, greedier and easier to handle from the start. Local farmers are more inclined to help or show you if you have "normal" sheep. Sorry to all the primitve lovers   

[Castle Farm]

As always on a question like this I'd get whatever you neighbour has. There will always be a market available. You start buying rarer breeds and the market gets limited.