[in the hills]

Mallow, I understand exactly where you are coming from. Lambed for the first time this year and trying really hard not to get too attached to the wethers ..... so tempting to keep 1 .... or 2 ...... or all of them.    I know all the logical arguments put forward on here but know I'll be in tears when they have to go.  Going to do my best but if I can't do it then just won't breed in future and will keep them as lawnmowers. No shame in that .... not hurting anyone else. If you find it too difficult, could you just not breed in future and keep them as pets/mowers instead?

[Newsheep]

I agree with Yorkshire Lass, if we kept all the rare and primitive breeds as pets and lawnmowers the breeds would soon die out, I keep Boreray which are on the critical list and know that any wethers will have to go for meat as I can't afford to keep them all and we need to create a demand for rare breed lamb or mutton.

I know there is a young lad of 22 who keeps Hebridean Sheep and has made a good business in providing meat to the fancy resturants around his area.  That must be a good thing for the rare breeds.

However,    I do have to admit I have one wether who is not going anywhere as he is such a darling, he comes when I whistle and the others follow plus he is a companion for my tup.   

[Mallows Flock]

Oh I am defo up for the Rare Breeds Breeding/|Meat thing to raise the profiles of the breed - that is why i want to switch to rare breeds. We have a butcher locally called the Thoroughly Wild Meat Co who only take on Shetland and Salt Marsh lambs but he doesn't take Shetlands after June.....Salt marsh lamb time then!
It's my commercial breed  and commerical x but oh so friendly orphan and non-orphan lambs that I need to sell (and one wether Shetland and poss an unregistered Shetland ewe lamb). They can't possibly go to market or a big farmer.
I guess all i can do is try advertising them and see what happens and go from there, maybe!

[woollyval]

Good luck with it all Mallows, but be very careful about selling sheep as pets. I do it but after careful vetting and always sell, never give!
Too many animals, esp farm animals end up in the wrong hands and fall on hard times 

[Mallows Flock]

I want them to go to other Smallholders only really. And definitely people who have sheep/already had them before.  I will be scrupulous with their homes and am going to start taking deposits now for the wethers for abattoir. And maybe keep a wether for my tup as company 

[Fleecewife]

Your    thoughts are crystalising 

[Mallows Flock]

Oh No!!! A smallholder from Devon  has contacted me about 4 of my commercial lambs.... now its all getting far to real! I just love them too much! LOL. Cripes.... they have to go, Lis. THEY HAVE TO GO!

[colliewoman]

Hey Mallows!!!!
 
There is a lass in North Wootten who wants a few pet sheep to keep the grass down in her orchard!
She was told about mine but I aint selling, I'll see if I can get hold of her for you??

[Mallows Flock]

That would be  BRILL Don...
I can deliver them to her if she likes. I have a list for sale on my webby-site
www.mallowsflock.weebly.com - she can look and see ehat she likes )
I can help her with any advice/contacts etc the whole way through her keeping them if she likes.

[Newsheep]

And maybe keep a wether for my tup as company 

My wether is invaluable for just that reason and he is so easy to handle he makes moving the flock so easy, well that is my excuse     Hope you are able to choose which one of yours you will keep!

I have just purchased 5 gimmers who unfortunately are related very closely to my tup    so I am going to have to part company with him next year - now that is going to hurt as I have had him from a couple of months old and he is a darling but that is the problem with keeping such a minority breed

[Mallows Flock]

What are yours newsheep?
I want to keep them all! haven't rang the guy back yet who wants them! He is is Devon... a few counties away! I will see if anyone more 'yokel' rings first. I would love them to go to somewhere where I can home-check!

[Newsheep]

Mine are Boreray which are very rare but growing in numbers.  I am trying to persuade a friend who keeps rare breeds that she too would like Boreray to add to her assortment, just so I could keep an eye on my tup for the same reason