[Graemscifi]

i run a nice safe calm NCC hill flock and am thinking of getting rare breed/primitive breed sheep for hobby flock and the pot. i have experiance with manx and jacob sheep, everybody up here seems to have Jacobs they dont need my help, and the manx ran up the side of my barn with her two lambs in attendence and looked down as some action was plannned for the flock. i really dont want mountin goat like behaviour so i am looking at this breed as a possable. they do have a sweet appearence, but worryingly a possable run up the barn and laugh at you look. am i wrong? how do they handle? any advice thoughts or experiances to share? thanks

[Brucklay]

I have a small flock of Castlemilks and although a couple of the older ewes I bought in have a bit of attitude the ewe lambs once on their own have become quite attentive and certainly come to a bucket and one even likes a fuss. So in your situation I would try and get sociable ewe lambs. I have a couple available but as we're Aberdeenshire we could well be too far from you.

[SallyintNorth]

I had 4 wethers for 10 months and now have two gimmers, which have been mine for a year.  The wethers were from a farm and weren't tame but although nervous they didn't climb walls at any time.  Once they'd settled they'd come up near me when I was bringing food - less standoffish than your NCCs, I suspect

I have found I need dogs that can work at a distance - if you press a primitive, it's going to take flight, and jump like a deer if it has to.  But if you can keep things calm and steady, they are quite manageable.

My two gimmers came from a children's farm and are tame as anything - as you can see.  They are very friendly and I have found them no problem to manage.  Unlike the Manxes and Shetland cross sheep that I also have, the CMs have never to date climbed a wall or jumped a fence.  They have, along with the others, squirmed under a fence to get to better grass, but only when they were on slim pickings; when they've had plenty to go at, they've behaved well.

[sarahdean_66]

there ok they make a good size rare breed meat. my friend has the pedigree cmm's and i have cross shetlands to her ram last yr. the lambs are growing on well and all had multiples. the ram was a bit of a grumpy sod and the ewes although fine to handle and do come for feed not very friendly they come in quick eat and run where as my shetlands and soays come and stay after they eat and hand feed treats. I prefer mine a bit more friendly but i guess it could be lack of handling at a young age as my friend bought hers in 2yrs ago.