HOW TO CARE FOR SHETLAND SHEEP

Caring for the Shetland sheep involves a daily commitment to provide for their nutritional needs. Shetland sheep do well on hay and grass alone. We do provide grain at breeding time and lambing time. They require fresh water daily and access to free choice minerals. Ensure that the mineral mix you use is formulated for sheep as many other mineral mixes contain too much copper.

Our sheep receive annual CD/T vaccinations as well as deworming prior to lambing and as needed throughout the year. The sheep are health checked once a year by our regular vet. In addition the flock is in the voluntary scrapie certification program (VSCP) and is seen once a year by those veterinarians.

Housing needs vary depending on climate. We house our flock in a barn with access to a well-fenced pasture. During warmer months they are outside for most of the day and brought in at night. This practice decreases our chances of loss due to predators. We also have a guard llama, Sam, which watches over "his sheep".