| Concord Hill Icelandics Icelandic Sheep and Wool uPDATED 8/2/10 |
Concord Hill Icelandics |
Welcome to our farm. We
aren't very fancy, in fact I am
always telling people that we
will never be on "Better
Barns and Living" magazine
as a cover feature. We have
plans to do some major
changing this year, so it's
likely to be a pretty exciting
time for us.
We'd really love to meet you
and welcome farm visits.
Please call ahead to schedule
visits because we are a
working farm and are often
pretty involved in a project of
some sort or the other.
As usual, we find ourselves
constantly running more and
more behind by the day.
There are so many major
projects that we are in
desperate need of starting
(and finishing!) that we
hardly know where to begin.
Summer has met fall once
again, and it seems that we
will never get done what
needs doing before the
miserable cold winds
arrive...and the snow and ice
of winter slip up on us too
soon once more.
Fall is a very exciting time for
us as we get the sheep
sheared and begin another
breeding season. I am
already anticipating the
wonderful little lambs that we
will be welcoming into the
world in the spring of 2010,
and have lists of which ewes
we will breed to which ram.
That's one of my very
favorite things to look
forward to while the winter
snow flies...that and my
garden. We spend an
unbelievable amount of time
pouring over seed catalogs
during the winter months.
We now have a new litter of
Great Pyr pups which
arrived in early October,
and we are amazed at how
big they have gotten so
quickly. We loved our other
pups and really had been
looking forward to those
sweet, future sheep
guardians to arrive.
Life on the farm always gives
us plenty of things to look
forward to in each season,
and more than enough to
enjoy each day!
aren't very fancy, in fact I am
always telling people that we
will never be on "Better
Barns and Living" magazine
as a cover feature. We have
plans to do some major
changing this year, so it's
likely to be a pretty exciting
time for us.
We'd really love to meet you
and welcome farm visits.
Please call ahead to schedule
visits because we are a
working farm and are often
pretty involved in a project of
some sort or the other.
As usual, we find ourselves
constantly running more and
more behind by the day.
There are so many major
projects that we are in
desperate need of starting
(and finishing!) that we
hardly know where to begin.
Summer has met fall once
again, and it seems that we
will never get done what
needs doing before the
miserable cold winds
arrive...and the snow and ice
of winter slip up on us too
soon once more.
Fall is a very exciting time for
us as we get the sheep
sheared and begin another
breeding season. I am
already anticipating the
wonderful little lambs that we
will be welcoming into the
world in the spring of 2010,
and have lists of which ewes
we will breed to which ram.
That's one of my very
favorite things to look
forward to while the winter
snow flies...that and my
garden. We spend an
unbelievable amount of time
pouring over seed catalogs
during the winter months.
We now have a new litter of
Great Pyr pups which
arrived in early October,
and we are amazed at how
big they have gotten so
quickly. We loved our other
pups and really had been
looking forward to those
sweet, future sheep
guardians to arrive.
Life on the farm always gives
us plenty of things to look
forward to in each season,
and more than enough to
enjoy each day!
Concord Hill Icelandics, located 35 miles north east of
Lexington, Kentucky, is pleased to offer purebred,
registered and unregistered Icelandic sheep.
We carry both horned and polled sheep and lambs in
our flock. Icelandic sheep, with their beautiful fleeces,
generate such a wide variety of superior quality
products that anyone (including women and children)
interested in a home business in farming, will find them
quite useful, as do handspinners, felters, and crafters.
Our home business page has many ideas for
marketing homemade items using Icelandic sheep milk,
fleece, and pelts. In addition to our sheep, we have a
luscious range of Icelandic fleeces sure to please the
most discriminating handspinners.
Felters are pleased with the ease that Icelandic
wool/fiber works into a wide variety of high quality,
valuable items. Working from home, one can begin a
wonderful adventure using Icelandic fleeces. See our
home business page for a short sampling of ideas from
which one can draw. With a little thought, time, and
creativity, working from home does not have to be
merely a dream for women as well as children and men.
Lexington, Kentucky, is pleased to offer purebred,
registered and unregistered Icelandic sheep.
We carry both horned and polled sheep and lambs in
our flock. Icelandic sheep, with their beautiful fleeces,
generate such a wide variety of superior quality
products that anyone (including women and children)
interested in a home business in farming, will find them
quite useful, as do handspinners, felters, and crafters.
Our home business page has many ideas for
marketing homemade items using Icelandic sheep milk,
fleece, and pelts. In addition to our sheep, we have a
luscious range of Icelandic fleeces sure to please the
most discriminating handspinners.
Felters are pleased with the ease that Icelandic
wool/fiber works into a wide variety of high quality,
valuable items. Working from home, one can begin a
wonderful adventure using Icelandic fleeces. See our
home business page for a short sampling of ideas from
which one can draw. With a little thought, time, and
creativity, working from home does not have to be
merely a dream for women as well as children and men.
Icelandic Sheep Spinner's Flock
For those wishing to start or add to their
existing spinner's flock, or for those who dream
to experience the excitement of being a
shepherd to purebred Icelandic sheep we offer
purebred Icelandic lambs, wethers, and adult
ewes. Lambs are usually only available early in
the spring and summer. You can visit our lamb
page where we have pictures. Not only women,
but also men and children can become
handspinners.
For those wishing to start or add to their
existing spinner's flock, or for those who dream
to experience the excitement of being a
shepherd to purebred Icelandic sheep we offer
purebred Icelandic lambs, wethers, and adult
ewes. Lambs are usually only available early in
the spring and summer. You can visit our lamb
page where we have pictures. Not only women,
but also men and children can become
handspinners.
Icelandic Sheep Wool for Spinners,
Crafters, and Felters
Let us put together for you an Icelandic lamb
flock suitable for felters and spinners. With a
wide variety of wool/fiber, colors, and patterns,
we would be happy to help you pick out several
lambs to start or add to your felter's/spinner's
flock. For those who are not quite sure they are
interested in a breeding flock, you might
consider a wethered ram.
In addition to their wonderful, soft fleeces, and
gentle temperaments, wethered ram lambs
will make good, safe companions for you and
your children.
Any way you look at them, Icelandic sheep are a
fantastic investment!
Crafters, and Felters
Let us put together for you an Icelandic lamb
flock suitable for felters and spinners. With a
wide variety of wool/fiber, colors, and patterns,
we would be happy to help you pick out several
lambs to start or add to your felter's/spinner's
flock. For those who are not quite sure they are
interested in a breeding flock, you might
consider a wethered ram.
In addition to their wonderful, soft fleeces, and
gentle temperaments, wethered ram lambs
will make good, safe companions for you and
your children.
Any way you look at them, Icelandic sheep are a
fantastic investment!
Icelandic Sheep for Grass Based Farmers and
Commercial Farmers
If you have bought any type of commercial feed, you
realize that the prices have been going up with each trip
to the feed store. Fortunately, you can have a flock of
Icelandic sheep and never have to purchase ANY
grains or commercial feeds to keep them growing and
gaining. Icelandic sheep are truly low input sheep in
every way!
There is a good reason that many farmers are
interested in grass based farming. Not only is it better
for the animal involved, but it also means healthier
products for the consumer. The farmer can also
produce these higher quality goods with less expense
and labor. Icelandic sheep are quickly gaining notice
from those interested in a totally grass based farming
operation. Sheep do best on a field rotation system,
as do most types of livestock, however, unlike other
types of livestock, they fertilize a field evenly and their
hooves almost till it into the ground. Grass based
farming is the naturally healthy way to grow! I do not use
ANY corn or feed (except for an occasional treat or
bribe) with our sheep except grass and good quality
grass hay, as Icelandics tend to gain weight easily.
Obesity contributes to health risks and causes huge
lambing problems. Unnaturally large lambs cause many
avoidable problems. Grain causes many more problems
with Icelandic sheep than it prevents! Icelandic sheep
also do not require alfalfa hay prior to lambing,
although I have recently discovered that alfalfa hay
does not seem to cause overly large lambs at birth. If
your hay is good quality, alfalfa is not necessary and it
costs more...but is actually very nutritious and gives the
ewe and lamb a healthy start...if you have the excess
money to spend. We have often had 200% lambing
records and lost no lambs to health problems at birth
after feeding only grass hay all winter. We have now
had literally hundreds of lambs born here, all healthy
and spunky on grass hay and grass alone.
Also of interest; by purchasing an Icelandic ram lamb,
commercial sheep farmers can add to their flock the
many qualities Icelandic sheep are noted for: lively
lambs, unassisted in-field lambing, fast weight gain,
and finishing on mother's milk, grass or grass hay alone-
without the lost profits that come from expensive
graining and creep feeding.
Commercial Farmers
If you have bought any type of commercial feed, you
realize that the prices have been going up with each trip
to the feed store. Fortunately, you can have a flock of
Icelandic sheep and never have to purchase ANY
grains or commercial feeds to keep them growing and
gaining. Icelandic sheep are truly low input sheep in
every way!
There is a good reason that many farmers are
interested in grass based farming. Not only is it better
for the animal involved, but it also means healthier
products for the consumer. The farmer can also
produce these higher quality goods with less expense
and labor. Icelandic sheep are quickly gaining notice
from those interested in a totally grass based farming
operation. Sheep do best on a field rotation system,
as do most types of livestock, however, unlike other
types of livestock, they fertilize a field evenly and their
hooves almost till it into the ground. Grass based
farming is the naturally healthy way to grow! I do not use
ANY corn or feed (except for an occasional treat or
bribe) with our sheep except grass and good quality
grass hay, as Icelandics tend to gain weight easily.
Obesity contributes to health risks and causes huge
lambing problems. Unnaturally large lambs cause many
avoidable problems. Grain causes many more problems
with Icelandic sheep than it prevents! Icelandic sheep
also do not require alfalfa hay prior to lambing,
although I have recently discovered that alfalfa hay
does not seem to cause overly large lambs at birth. If
your hay is good quality, alfalfa is not necessary and it
costs more...but is actually very nutritious and gives the
ewe and lamb a healthy start...if you have the excess
money to spend. We have often had 200% lambing
records and lost no lambs to health problems at birth
after feeding only grass hay all winter. We have now
had literally hundreds of lambs born here, all healthy
and spunky on grass hay and grass alone.
Also of interest; by purchasing an Icelandic ram lamb,
commercial sheep farmers can add to their flock the
many qualities Icelandic sheep are noted for: lively
lambs, unassisted in-field lambing, fast weight gain,
and finishing on mother's milk, grass or grass hay alone-
without the lost profits that come from expensive
graining and creep feeding.
Home Business Possibilities with Icelandic
Sheep
How to enjoy working from home!
In this day and age many families long for the
simplicity of days gone by. Days when families
grew together, instilling the basic values
necessary to develop more traditional character
traits in their children. With Icelandic sheep,
women and even children can own and manage a
farm which promotes family unity and
responsibility. Even young children can pitch
in, washing buckets, raking out stalls, and
contributing in a meaningful and useful way.
Icelandics with their manageable size and many
marketable qualities, make them a profitable
home business venture. Working from home,
parents and children, making memories together.
The following are just a VERY brief sampling
of some ways. Our home business page will
have more ideas:
Icelandic Dairy Sheep, Homemade
Cheese, Homemade Soap
Those interested in using sheep milk can also
turn to Icelandics to meet their needs. Icelandic
ewes are often very milky (many times raising
triplets without any additional pampering) and
they possess the intelligence necessary to train
easily to the milking stand. This is a benefit for
those wishing to own a sheep dairy, make
homemade cheese, enjoy their own fresh yogurt,
or make an endless supply of homemade soap.
Icelandic sheep milk produces desert quality
yogurt, naturally sweet without added
sweetener. Our home business page lists a
sampling of the possible marketable products
from Icelandic sheep. Homemade is still best;
especially straight off your own farm!
Icelandic Sheep Meat
To those who find sheep meat not to their taste,
the flavor of Icelandic sheep meat is mild and
does not have a strong, muttony flavor. In fact,
Icelandic sheep have won international taste
tests for several years. With gourmet flavor,
restaurants and specialty stores are eager to
offer Icelandic meat. Within the Icelandic breed,
there are certain blood lines which are naturally
more meaty than others. They tend to be
shorter and more stocky than some of the other
bloodlines. Icelandic sheep dress out well,
leaving more meat per lb. than some other breeds,
all on grass and milk alone!
Sheep
How to enjoy working from home!
In this day and age many families long for the
simplicity of days gone by. Days when families
grew together, instilling the basic values
necessary to develop more traditional character
traits in their children. With Icelandic sheep,
women and even children can own and manage a
farm which promotes family unity and
responsibility. Even young children can pitch
in, washing buckets, raking out stalls, and
contributing in a meaningful and useful way.
Icelandics with their manageable size and many
marketable qualities, make them a profitable
home business venture. Working from home,
parents and children, making memories together.
The following are just a VERY brief sampling
of some ways. Our home business page will
have more ideas:
Icelandic Dairy Sheep, Homemade
Cheese, Homemade Soap
Those interested in using sheep milk can also
turn to Icelandics to meet their needs. Icelandic
ewes are often very milky (many times raising
triplets without any additional pampering) and
they possess the intelligence necessary to train
easily to the milking stand. This is a benefit for
those wishing to own a sheep dairy, make
homemade cheese, enjoy their own fresh yogurt,
or make an endless supply of homemade soap.
Icelandic sheep milk produces desert quality
yogurt, naturally sweet without added
sweetener. Our home business page lists a
sampling of the possible marketable products
from Icelandic sheep. Homemade is still best;
especially straight off your own farm!
Icelandic Sheep Meat
To those who find sheep meat not to their taste,
the flavor of Icelandic sheep meat is mild and
does not have a strong, muttony flavor. In fact,
Icelandic sheep have won international taste
tests for several years. With gourmet flavor,
restaurants and specialty stores are eager to
offer Icelandic meat. Within the Icelandic breed,
there are certain blood lines which are naturally
more meaty than others. They tend to be
shorter and more stocky than some of the other
bloodlines. Icelandic sheep dress out well,
leaving more meat per lb. than some other breeds,
all on grass and milk alone!
Kentucky's Peaceful Past Revisited with
Icelandic Sheep
Many years ago, the hills and fields of Kentucky were
dotted with sheep. They added a peaceful air to the
Bluegrass landscape that had nearly vanished. With
the decline of tobacco, Kentucky is in the process of
searching for ways to diversify. Once again, when
driving down a country road, sheep are returning,
quietly grazing in the fields. Icelandic sheep add a
totally new dimension to the picture, without many of
the problems traditional sheep have come to be known
for. Icelandic lambs are born very lively, often having
eaten their first meal before the arrival of their twin.
Lambing season is no longer a time of worry and
exhaustion due to loss of sleep. It's a time of
excitement and anticipation as those fluffy little
lambs enter their new world, usually with no assistance
from their shepherd. Our flock is expected to lamb
on grass in the spring and, although we try to keep
an eye on them 'just in case', it's almost always
unnecessary. Lambing difficulties are truly rare
within the Icelandic breed which makes them much
more manageable for women dreaming of working from
home. Becoming a shepherd is a peaceful alternative
to the world's frantic pace.
Icelandic sheep are truly remarkable,
producing gourmet quality meat, milk, and an
exceptional fleece all on grass or good quality
grass hay alone. We believe you'll be favorably
impressed- we sure have been!
Concord Hill Icelandics
Mary Anne Smith-Vice
email: Concordhill2003@yahoo.com
Dyeing Icelandic Sheep
Wool
Although there are many
chemical dyes available on
the market to dye your
Icelandic wool, nature has
provided many dye materials
probably growing in your
own back yard! Others can
be planted in the spring to
provide you with your very
own wool dyeing garden.
Icelandic wool takes dye well
and spins almost effortlessly
and Icelandic fleeces come in
a wide range of colors
naturally, so dyeing is
unnecessary for many
projects! Icelandic fleeces
contain less lanolin, so they
don't require as much
washing to get the fleece
ready to accept your favorite
dye!
Wool
Although there are many
chemical dyes available on
the market to dye your
Icelandic wool, nature has
provided many dye materials
probably growing in your
own back yard! Others can
be planted in the spring to
provide you with your very
own wool dyeing garden.
Icelandic wool takes dye well
and spins almost effortlessly
and Icelandic fleeces come in
a wide range of colors
naturally, so dyeing is
unnecessary for many
projects! Icelandic fleeces
contain less lanolin, so they
don't require as much
washing to get the fleece
ready to accept your favorite
dye!
French Angora Rabbit Wool
and Bunnies
My youngest daughter began
raising French Angora Rabbits
in 2006 and has really grown to
love their unbelievable wool! If
you can imagine touching a
cloud, then you have an idea
what Angora rabbit wool feels
like. Although it can be spun
alone, Angora wool blends very
well with Icelandic wool and
makes a wonderful yarn for
baby items and adult sweaters
in a variety of lusciously soft
colors. Check out Chloe's
Angora rabbit page for more
information on the Angora wool
available and get your name on
her waiting list for the next litter
of baby bunnies! If you don't
have space for a large fiber
animal, then an Angora rabbit
might be perfect for you!
and Bunnies
My youngest daughter began
raising French Angora Rabbits
in 2006 and has really grown to
love their unbelievable wool! If
you can imagine touching a
cloud, then you have an idea
what Angora rabbit wool feels
like. Although it can be spun
alone, Angora wool blends very
well with Icelandic wool and
makes a wonderful yarn for
baby items and adult sweaters
in a variety of lusciously soft
colors. Check out Chloe's
Angora rabbit page for more
information on the Angora wool
available and get your name on
her waiting list for the next litter
of baby bunnies! If you don't
have space for a large fiber
animal, then an Angora rabbit
might be perfect for you!
Our New Icelandic Sheep
Additions
In the spring of 2008 we added
some fantastic new blood lines to
our flock. Four new ewes came to
live with us and they have each
raised some dandy lambs! Lots,
and lots of milk, silky exceptionally
nice fleeces, nice meaty
confirmation, perfect lambs and a
beautiful set of triplets to round
out the picture...Well, I just can
not say enough about these girls!
Although we would really like
to keep several of our ewe lambs
from them this spring, we are firmly
committed to keeping our
sheep/acre numbers down. This
is hard for us to follow through
with, but is great for others
wishing to add new genetics to
their flock.
I think they promise to add some
superb characteristics to what we
have to offer!
Additions
In the spring of 2008 we added
some fantastic new blood lines to
our flock. Four new ewes came to
live with us and they have each
raised some dandy lambs! Lots,
and lots of milk, silky exceptionally
nice fleeces, nice meaty
confirmation, perfect lambs and a
beautiful set of triplets to round
out the picture...Well, I just can
not say enough about these girls!
Although we would really like
to keep several of our ewe lambs
from them this spring, we are firmly
committed to keeping our
sheep/acre numbers down. This
is hard for us to follow through
with, but is great for others
wishing to add new genetics to
their flock.
I think they promise to add some
superb characteristics to what we
have to offer!
Our 2010 Icelandic
Lambs
We had several very lovely
Icelandic lambs last spring
and are looking forward to
fulfilling the dreams of
handspinners, crafters, and
fiber artists by providing the
start to your own fiber flock
in 2010. The idea of owning
one's own small, manageable
flock of Icelandic sheep to
supply wool that can make
every project imaginable a
reality, is just something
that makes me feel excited!
Icelandic sheep are typically
shorn twice per each year,
with each ewe giving 2 lbs. or
more of wool per shearing.
This could give a fiber artist
plenty of wool to work with
and possibly share with their
friends while maybe leaving
some to swap or sell.
If your 'craft' is more along
the lines of cheese making,
Icelandic sheep are one of
the milkiest breeds around.
Another wonderful quality
about Icelandic sheep milk is
its natural sweetness. When
making your own goodies
such as yogurt, you can feel
great because the milk itself
is actually sweet enough so
you can use it without adding
any sugar to your recipe!
Icelandic sheep dairies are
beginning to become more
common in various areas
across North America.
Not only is Icelandic sheep
milk a naturally sweet treat
when making cheeses,
yogurts, and such, but it is
also fantastic when making
homemade soap.
If you are considering the
addition of some new
Icelandic sheep to your
pasture, be sure to visit our
2010 Lambs page...but be
warned, Icelandic sheep can
become an addiction!
There is more information
about the uses of Icelandic
sheep on our home business
page if you are interested.
Lambs
We had several very lovely
Icelandic lambs last spring
and are looking forward to
fulfilling the dreams of
handspinners, crafters, and
fiber artists by providing the
start to your own fiber flock
in 2010. The idea of owning
one's own small, manageable
flock of Icelandic sheep to
supply wool that can make
every project imaginable a
reality, is just something
that makes me feel excited!
Icelandic sheep are typically
shorn twice per each year,
with each ewe giving 2 lbs. or
more of wool per shearing.
This could give a fiber artist
plenty of wool to work with
and possibly share with their
friends while maybe leaving
some to swap or sell.
If your 'craft' is more along
the lines of cheese making,
Icelandic sheep are one of
the milkiest breeds around.
Another wonderful quality
about Icelandic sheep milk is
its natural sweetness. When
making your own goodies
such as yogurt, you can feel
great because the milk itself
is actually sweet enough so
you can use it without adding
any sugar to your recipe!
Icelandic sheep dairies are
beginning to become more
common in various areas
across North America.
Not only is Icelandic sheep
milk a naturally sweet treat
when making cheeses,
yogurts, and such, but it is
also fantastic when making
homemade soap.
If you are considering the
addition of some new
Icelandic sheep to your
pasture, be sure to visit our
2010 Lambs page...but be
warned, Icelandic sheep can
become an addiction!
There is more information
about the uses of Icelandic
sheep on our home business
page if you are interested.
Icelandic Wethers Anyone?
What on earth could one possibly
want with an Icelandic wether?
Wethers are altered rams.
So...what good are they anyway?
Wethers have a wonderful
disposition, don't have a 'ram
scent', and make wonderful pets
for children to learn to care for.
Rams should NEVER be kept
as pets, however, wethers are
perfect for this purpose.
Spinners often don't want to deal
with all that goes along with
breeding animals...they just want
an available source of wonderful
Icelandic wool in their back yard
to create with. A wether, in many
cases, is the perfect answer for
them! Not only are they usually
more friendly and gentle than many
breeding sheep, but in most cases
their fleeces are softer than one
that is capable of breeding.
Since rams should be kept
separate from the ewe flock for
most of the year, they need
companionship. Wethers make
the ideal companion for a ram.
They are not competition, so the
ram should view a wether as a
friend rather than a rival.
If one is so inclined, a wether is a
good addition to the table. I
almost cringe to say that, but it is
true. They don't have any 'ram
flavor' and their meat is tender
and mild. I am not very tempted to
eat my friends, so I will probably
only order my 'sheep meals' from
other Icelandic breeders. Maybe,
someday, I will become more
practical, but for today... well, I'm
just not!
What on earth could one possibly
want with an Icelandic wether?
Wethers are altered rams.
So...what good are they anyway?
Wethers have a wonderful
disposition, don't have a 'ram
scent', and make wonderful pets
for children to learn to care for.
Rams should NEVER be kept
as pets, however, wethers are
perfect for this purpose.
Spinners often don't want to deal
with all that goes along with
breeding animals...they just want
an available source of wonderful
Icelandic wool in their back yard
to create with. A wether, in many
cases, is the perfect answer for
them! Not only are they usually
more friendly and gentle than many
breeding sheep, but in most cases
their fleeces are softer than one
that is capable of breeding.
Since rams should be kept
separate from the ewe flock for
most of the year, they need
companionship. Wethers make
the ideal companion for a ram.
They are not competition, so the
ram should view a wether as a
friend rather than a rival.
If one is so inclined, a wether is a
good addition to the table. I
almost cringe to say that, but it is
true. They don't have any 'ram
flavor' and their meat is tender
and mild. I am not very tempted to
eat my friends, so I will probably
only order my 'sheep meals' from
other Icelandic breeders. Maybe,
someday, I will become more
practical, but for today... well, I'm
just not!
| Can anyone still afford to raise sheep? Last summer I spoke with someone who farms. He told me that the price of grain was forcing many farmers to sell their cattle or, at the very least, cut their numbers down significantly. Of course, this was making the price of cattle hit very low market prices (for the time being) due to the high numbers going to the stock yard at the same time. Who can afford to raise livestock and grain them even when grain is not unbelievably expensive? Well, since we raise a fair number of chickens, I could certainly sympathize with the situation. I even considered (very reluctantly) selling many of my laying hens because the price of their feed was getting to the point where I could hardly justify having them at all. I am quite certain that it's the same situation with those who raise the more common breeds of sheep. Other breeds generally don't thrive on grass and hay alone and are going to cost more to raise than they will be worth. Not so with Icelandic sheep! Although the rising price of hay is definitely a problem to address, there is no need to give Icelandics any grain or commercial feeds at all. If you have a nice pasture, and can put your hands on some good quality grass hay, you can keep sheep during this frustrating time in history for the American farmer. Yes, the initial cost of a nice starter flock of Icelandic sheep is fairly expensive in comparison to a flock of commercial sheep, yet, if you deduct the cost of graining those same commercial sheep over a year...well, you do the math! If the idea of sheep is something that sounds like the perfect farming venture, check into the Icelandic breed. The eventual savings over the commerical sheep breeds will show up pretty soon! |
| Our Icelandic Sheep~ We have been very blessed with some exceptional sheep over the past years. We began raising Icelandic sheep in March of 2003 and have had so many very happy moments with them. We have chosen to select our sheep for parasite resistance, easy lambing, lamb vigor, feed efficiency on only grass and good quality grass hay (no grain), fleece quality, and milkiness. It's our hope that we will be able to have lambs to offer that are superior in quality in every way! |
Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian Dogs
We are offering our most recent pups for sale at this
time. They were born on May 26, 2010 and are really
growing quickly. We have been very pleased with our
past litters as they have learned quickly and have
always been good guardians. Our pups are trained by
their mother in our field with sheep, turkeys, guineas,
and chickens constantly around.
We also have a working pair of 8 month old Great
Pyrenees females (Willa and Duchess) who are ready
to go to a good home and earn a living. They are very
aware of any 'suspicious' activity in the field and will be
great predator protection for your valuable flock!
We are offering our most recent pups for sale at this
time. They were born on May 26, 2010 and are really
growing quickly. We have been very pleased with our
past litters as they have learned quickly and have
always been good guardians. Our pups are trained by
their mother in our field with sheep, turkeys, guineas,
and chickens constantly around.
We also have a working pair of 8 month old Great
Pyrenees females (Willa and Duchess) who are ready
to go to a good home and earn a living. They are very
aware of any 'suspicious' activity in the field and will be
great predator protection for your valuable flock!
If you try to e-mail us and get no reply within 24 hours, please call 859-473-1406 or try to e-mail us again. Thanks for visiting us! |
Welcome to our farm.
We'd really love to meet you
and welcome farm visits.
Please call ahead to schedule
visits because we are a
working farm and are often
pretty involved in a project of
some sort or the other.
As usual, we find ourselves
constantly running more and
more behind by the day.
There are so many major
projects that we are in
desperate need of starting
(and finishing!) that we
hardly know where to begin.
Summer has arrived again
and we, as usual, never get
done what needs doing
before fall finds us wishing
we'd worked harder while we
were able to without getting
cold.
We waited very late to
expose out ewes last fall, and
we are just now starting to
lamb! So far we have 3 lovely
little lambs...actually, big
lambs because they are
growing like weeds!
We now have a new litter of
Great Pyr pups which
arrived on May 26, 2010,
and we are truly having a
great time watching them
sleep, yawn, cry, and laze
around. We really had been
looking forward to these
sweet, future sheep
guardians to arrive. In fact,
we think we have another
litter on the way from Sugar,
our old matron of the farm.
This is quite a surprise for
us, but we are really excited
for her to have another litter
to train...she does SUCH a
great job with pups.
2009 was a time of great
decisions for us. It had
become more than clear that
we needed to cut back our
number of sheep. The lack
of pasture for our sheep was
causing so many
unnecessary problems. Time
to grow up and take the
mature route came, and it
was very difficult. Many of
our sheep were sold and
went to good, new homes.
We still miss them more than
even we had thought
possible, but now we are
reaping a bunch of
wonderful rewards! The
field does not look much like
it ever has in the past (we
lose lambs in the clover it's so
high!), we haven't had any
parasite problems so far (by
the last of May we normally
are having real parasite
problems).
Life on the farm always gives
us plenty of things to look
forward to in each season,
and more than enough to
enjoy each day!
We'd really love to meet you
and welcome farm visits.
Please call ahead to schedule
visits because we are a
working farm and are often
pretty involved in a project of
some sort or the other.
As usual, we find ourselves
constantly running more and
more behind by the day.
There are so many major
projects that we are in
desperate need of starting
(and finishing!) that we
hardly know where to begin.
Summer has arrived again
and we, as usual, never get
done what needs doing
before fall finds us wishing
we'd worked harder while we
were able to without getting
cold.
We waited very late to
expose out ewes last fall, and
we are just now starting to
lamb! So far we have 3 lovely
little lambs...actually, big
lambs because they are
growing like weeds!
We now have a new litter of
Great Pyr pups which
arrived on May 26, 2010,
and we are truly having a
great time watching them
sleep, yawn, cry, and laze
around. We really had been
looking forward to these
sweet, future sheep
guardians to arrive. In fact,
we think we have another
litter on the way from Sugar,
our old matron of the farm.
This is quite a surprise for
us, but we are really excited
for her to have another litter
to train...she does SUCH a
great job with pups.
2009 was a time of great
decisions for us. It had
become more than clear that
we needed to cut back our
number of sheep. The lack
of pasture for our sheep was
causing so many
unnecessary problems. Time
to grow up and take the
mature route came, and it
was very difficult. Many of
our sheep were sold and
went to good, new homes.
We still miss them more than
even we had thought
possible, but now we are
reaping a bunch of
wonderful rewards! The
field does not look much like
it ever has in the past (we
lose lambs in the clover it's so
high!), we haven't had any
parasite problems so far (by
the last of May we normally
are having real parasite
problems).
Life on the farm always gives
us plenty of things to look
forward to in each season,
and more than enough to
enjoy each day!
