[DavidandCollette]

Get some lovely golden Guernsey goats. They are always pleased to see you

[SophieYorkshire]

When you move to Cumbria they will probably take off to the first Fell and you wont see them again!

And obviously I will make a massive effort to try and bring them back if they do! 

[SophieYorkshire]

Sounds like your going through what we all do from time to time, although maybe your problem is a bit more terminal.
I think it might be really worth considering what you want from the sheep and whether there is a better breed for your set up and situation.

I think I've decided that the better breed for me is cattle  Will see lambing through, then first opportunity I get they can pack their fleeces and get to market!

Feel like I've failed them and myself, but having done battle for more than three years I think their trial period may well and truly be over!

[waterbuffalofarmer]

As a nice hardy breed why not try swaledale? According yo a lot of farmers easy to handle and they do come for the bucket. Also they were at one point kept by everyone in the north of England. Plus they're hardy and can survive in harsh weather, just make sure you buy them from someone who breeds hardy ones.

[harmony]

Swales - I have one. Can't get near it. And I rescued it so you would think it could be more grateful!


SY - don't worry we still have Shepherds Meets - annual gatherings for handing back strays!

[Marches Farmer]

Try a Down breed - very docile, some to an absurd degree.

[Hellybee]

Get some lleyns!  Once they're trained to the bucket, they ll come runnin g at the drop of a bucket handle lol

[Castle Farm]

Don't get Lleyns, get rid of the sheep you have.

[princesslayer]

Try a Down breed - very docile, some to an absurd degree.

Couldn't agree more! My neighbours ones are lovely, and they don't leap hurdles like my Jacobs...

[SophieYorkshire]

Try a Down breed - very docile, some to an absurd degree.

Couldn't agree more! My neighbours ones are lovely, and they don't leap hurdles like my Jacobs...

And to think I passed some Hampshires up for these bloody Herdwicks 

[Me]

I know I will have warned you... 

[Hellybee]

What's wrong with lleyns ? 

[Castle Farm]

Lleyns are one of the best breeds in the UK.

[Old Shep]

Lleyns can be as flighty as herdwicks!  Get some Texels - OK not popular with smallholders because they are not rare - but they are so docile and will come to a bucket with nothing in it after 6 months of not ever having been fed from a bucket. I can feed several of ours from my hand, have known them to put themselves in the barn into a pen and lamb by themselves and be very proud of themselves in the morning!


PS remember rare breeds are rare for a reason!

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I have lleyns, granted the odd one or two are flighty, but the rest all come to the bucket, in fact they badger me for food when they hear a rustle of a feed bag or bucket. It really depends on what breeder you buy them from. Rare breeds granted are not for everyone, but the reasons why they're rare is because they're not what the market wants, in other words they're not fast growers and tend to be on the flighty side, but hey so are welsh sheep. Its really what will suit your situation and also what you really like. I hope you can sell the herdwicks and keep us updated?