Icelandic Sheep

Icelandic sheep are a medium-sized primitive breed intensively selectively bred in Iceland to be a superior
wool, meat, and dairy sheep. Although they are realtively rare in the U.S., Icelandics are very hardy, easy
keepers, and easy lambers.

This page on the ISBONA website is a good place to start for basic information about Icelandics. These
sheep are registered with Canadian Livestock Records Corporation since Canada was the breed's point of
ingress to North America.

We'll add pictures of more of the breeding stock after they've settled in at the homestead and we get a
chance to photograph them. Our first impression of the Icelandics is that they're an intelligent and
friendly sheep, and absolutely gorgeous! Our first arrivals, from Salmonberry Farm, had virtually no direct
human interaction before arriving here; they didn't even know how to eat grain from our hands. After
only three days they were approaching us to get deep-wool massages, which has served to create a deep
trust between them and us, not to mention moisturizing our hands!

Meet Henri, or "Hank" as Melissa calls him, our wonderful wether.
Just look at that tog! (outer fleece, comparable to mohair)
Hank's pattern is badger. His poor horns sealed his fate as a wether
(or possibly a teaser ram), but he has found a good forever home
here at Hermit Thrush Hill!

And Katya (the head on the left), Greta, Ursula, and Irina (the butt on the
right). These girls come to us from Salmonberry Farm and will be introduced
to Tobias, our unbelievable ram from Common Threads Farm, this fall.

Here's Tobias (Tobi) lounging with Melissa and enjoying
some scratching. While we may catch hell from the rest of
the sheep world, we have found that friendly, trustworthy
rams are just that, and Tobi is among the best of them!

From l to r we have Ginger (gorgeous moorit), Anya in front (a high-sheen badger), Briggitta in back (white,
spotted), and Millie (short-legged, stout badger). Missing from the picture is Willow, a darling little mouflon girl.
These beautiful girls have just arrived from Common Threads Farm and we expect great things from them!