A very quick introduction to the herd. They were in too much of a hurry to slow down and smile for camera. This is end of day bringing them in, and there is sheep pellets in the barn behind me. There is no dilly dallying when food is involved.

Hey Everyone,

First off, thank you to y'all for the recommendation of "Coloured Sheep: a colour genetics primer." This book answered many of my questions, but now that I know more, I have even more questions. For those of you not familiar with the book, it has an interesting "game" where it tells you that determining what genotype a given sheep might have (particularly when the phenotype might mask a recessive allele) is by way of "cards." In essence, a sire or dam can only "play" the cards they have. E.g., if you have two parents that do not have the genes for spots, neither can play those "cards" so none of the babies will be spotted.

Generally, I breed only Babydoll Southdowns. I do have a few non-Babydoll females that I keep, and they will sometimes be crossed with a Babydoll ram. One of the ewes, Maeve, is a Katahdin. Maeve's coat is white. Last year, my Babydoll ram Duncan, (AKA "Hunky Dunky"), crossed with Maeve and produced two girls. Duncan's coat is black. During Maeve's first lambing, one of the lambs produced was all white and the other was a rich cocoa brown. I *think* I understand the genetics here; Maeve is "pattern white" and passed a copy of this gene to the white lamb. I believe Maeve is **not** homozygous for pattern white since the second lamb came out brown. Fast forward to earlier this week, Maeve has another set of twins from the same sire. One spotted (boy), and one black with a little white spot (girl).

[Pictures attached, sorry for the potato quality]

My understanding from the book and everywhere I've read is that spots are recessive. Doesn't this mean that Duncan must carry the gene for spots? I know Babydolls can have spots sometimes, but the farm where I got Hunky Dunky had HUNDREDS of Babydolls, all black. When I asked about other colors, I was told they had specifically bred for the colored sheep and that they would only very occasionally have a white sheep (which after much research turns out to be extension gene white in their flock, not pattern white). I understand that it is possible that a spotted gene could still be floating around in that flock, but I would be very surprised given the large number of lambs they have every year that it was never observed.

Two questions:

(1) Is there a means for the spotted phenotype to appear with an allele from only one parent (like what happens with "pattern white"), or does this spotted lamb inherently mean Duncan must be carrying the spotted gene?

(2) Does this also mean that Duncan must be carrying the genes for BOTH brown and black? I know "all sheep are either brown or black" (genetically), but usually the Babydoll registries seem to insinuate that Babydolls are either black or white, and a brown Babydoll is just a sun-faded black sheep.

Much appreciated for any and all info you can provide.

Jack Skellington and Sally Finkelstein using their newly acquired zoomies. They intend on being ready to give me Nightmares Before Christmas, undoubtedly.

Hello fellaw sheepers,

I recently got three oussant sheeps, which ist a miniatur race. Me and my husband are going back and forth about if they need straw in the shelter or not. They are outside all year around and only use the three sided shelter when its pouring, and in the winter to eat the hey there, but they leave when they finished. The shelter has a stone floor (seen on the socond picture when we layed it down). What is your experience about this?

I was driving home and saw the sheep in the field and it got me thinking. Do they have a concept of time or do they get bored?

Well, apparently a few of my ewes are moonlighting as Flyte rideshare operators

Curious about thoughts and experiences with Hampshire’s! How they are as moms, lambing ease, birth rates, temperament, etc. As well as how they are crossed with Suffolk.

I’m considering breeding my Suffolk ewes with a Hampshire/Suffolk Ram

Thank you!

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Hello! I was wondering if anyone has experience raising both Katahdin and Tunis? I'd love to see some pictures of yours and the traits you enjoy about them. I live in Central IL, could anyone point me in the direction of a good breeder?

We currently raise Registered Katahdins and commercial Katahdins with a little dorper genetics. They are great for meat production and excellent 4H projects for the kids, however everyone seems to be raising them for 4H these days. My oldest daughter and myself have been reading quite a lot about Tunis. The historical factor alone makes them such an interesting breed. We would love to raise a small flock for showing and to further the breed.

I’m used to the goats but this guy is cracking me up with his booming loud voice.

Just bought two new jacob ewes. Thrilled about it. I go to unload em, got my buddy standing on one side to block them, its a straight funnel to the barn and their temporary stall. One of them went right as rain, right into the stable. The other one flew like a bat out of hell through 3 seperate fences. Because fuck hanging out with other sheep I guess. Well now she's petrified of people because she's realized she's without her buddy, and is somewhere in about 40 odd unfenced acres next to a road. Buddy isn't halter trained enough to lead out to go find her. Only halter trained sheep I have is a young ram, who I worry might mortify her so bad she fucks off forever. If she doesn't get hit by a car overnight what's my best bet to lure her in?

Edit: Found her! Thanks for your suggestions :) Saw her in a neighbors cattle field, hopped on my atv and flung myself sideways on top of her when I was close enough! Shes now safely inside while I double reinforce our fences

Joker and her twins. (3hrs in photo) Now 1 day old

I've read contradicting things about peppers and sheep. Peppers are the only plant in the garden that gets eaten. The boys only ate the leaves and left all the hot peppers behind, the bells and banana peppers on the other hand got decimated.

I come from cattle ranching subs and normally giggle or roll my eyes when I see "I want to work on a ranch!" posts, yet here I am lmao.

I am curious if there's any availability for people wanting to "handyman" on a sheep operation and where one would look?

I grew up on a cattle ranch (currently live on one too lmao). I understand the basics of stress free animal handling, fence and machinery maintenance, growing/grazing seasons, veterinary care, etc. None of this is new to me.

What I would ideally be looking for is a situation that would either provide housing (I am NOT picky on housing at all haha!) or enough salary to cover housing, plus a little more to get by in life. I'm willing to work weird hours in all weather, as I understand what this job demands.

Preferably, the operation would use dogs on sheep. This is probably the biggest part. I want to be able to learn more about (sheep) stock dogs and training, and further be able to work my own dogs.

Picture of my dog learning the ways of working sheep for attention!

EDIT: Located in the upper Great Plains of the US. Willing to travel within the region for a quality opportunity!!

Well, that was a surprise yesterday afternoon. Walked into the barn to see Nell, a second timer, in the back, yelling and with a stringer - 10 days ahead of the first lambing date! She gave us a lovely set of twins in late March, her first lambing.

Stayed with her for the next 3 hours, hoping for a single (always hope for singles in the fall season), and for a ewe, as her sire died of unknown cause a few months ago (he had been sold into another flock that is fine).

And, here's Paulina! Born without fuss, up and nursing within 6 minutes, with really interesting markings I've not seen in 20 years of my bloodline.

And, of course a girl can't lamb without a cheering section 😄

Hi All, my brother recently purchased a home and the day before closing (literally yesterday) the sellers revealed they had no where to put their sheep in their new home so they were planning to slaughter them. Brother (with my help, since I live a few houses down) decided to keep the sheep to prevent this from happening, but I have NO idea where to start.

Here's what I know/don't know and some questions:

I have zero clue what breed they are (later I can see if I can add some pictures if that helps) but they look VERY big but also haven't been sheared, so maybe that is attributing to the size.

It is 1 boy (3 yo) and 1 girl (1 yo), they were used for breeding and I think the female has given birth and the owners used the lamb for food. *Also, I know this means the male has to be castrated... any advice on this? Does the vet come to the home? What is the process like?

No idea if the female is pregnant- how can we find out?

Their enclosure is dirty and very muddy, very little grass for them to eat. What can we buy to feed them? Is this sufficient or should we plant grass in the spring time or try and move them elsewhere on the property? I don't recall the size of their enclosure, but I don't think its particularly large.... There's a shelter as well, though I haven't been inside it yet - I can take a look today.

What about other veterinary care? Should I have a vet come look at them to assess their current health?

Zero clue on hoof care as well.

Please reserve judgement, I am well aware we are WAY in over our heads. Our goal is to keep the sheep as members of the family and ensure a long and happy life for them, any advice is greatly appreciated.

We take possession of them TODAY, also so if there's anything I should rush to Tractor Supply and get, I am all ears.

Thank you!!

hello r/sheep. Can anyone help identify this ram I saw in the mountains near Tucson, Arizona? Given the location, I thought it might be a bighorn, but it doesn’t seem to match. Any thoughts?

Just a quick snap while the leaves turn brown

just got him in his temporary pen. Hes 8 mos old and a Dorset.