New girls coming to the farm

The moorit Shetland ewe on the left with the white face markings is Orly.  That's mom in the front.

We're picking up some new girls, with names like Orly, Pandora, Vita and Helena. No, they're not characters from Greek mythology. They're six registered Shetland ewes coming to the farm in about a week.

Shetland sheep will make a nice addition to the farm. They'll help keep down grasses, and there's no better natural fertilizer and soil enrichment than organic sheep manure.

We've been preparing for their arrival for months.  Books on caring for sheep? Check. Sheep minerals and feed for sheep? Check. Winter hay and bedding? Check. Food-grade diatomaceous earth for organically managing intestinal parasites? Check. A few things, like the permanent barn, are works in progress that should be completed by winter. But we're ready.

Fine fleece from one of the Shetland ewes coming to the farm. It felt soft and luxurious.  

The ewes are coming from Littledove Farm, a local farm that's produced Shetlands for wool and meat for nearly two decades. Franny, who owns Littledove, has been a godsend. She hand-picked our starter flock, and more important, showed us how to manage sheep without running ourselves--or the girls--ragged.  When done right, raising Shetlands should be a calm, orderly process, with sheep that live long, productive lives.  We like that.

For the first few weeks, the girls will probably spend most of their time in the main paddock. This will give them a chance to settle into their new home and get familiar with us. Then they'll eventually go into managed paddocks during the day and return to the main area at night. They'll be on a schedule so they know when to go out and when to come back home.

We'll be sharing more stories about the girls. Right now, we're trying to figure out a flock name to register with North American Shetland Sheep Association.  If you've got any suggestions, or if you raise sheep, we'd love to hear from you!

Vita, a two-year-old Shetland ewe coming to the farm in about a week.  That's Tom in the background.