A heritage breed that originated in the late 1700s from the South Downs of Sussex County, England, Babydoll Southdown Sheep were imported to the United States in the early 1800s. Over the years, they grew in popularity in England and America, thanks to their cute faces, small size, sweet temperament and hardiness, with a lifespan of 12 to 16 years.
Typically, you'll often see lambs available in white or black. As the black Babydoll sheep grow, they may appear browner as the sun can lighten their coloring. Such is the case with my ewe, Coco. Babydoll sheep are commonly referred to as “smiling sheep” because they always look like they’re smiling.
Babydoll sheep offer organic grass and weed control, and with their small size, they’re much easier to handle than many other farm animals. Nitrogen-rich Babydoll pellets don’t create brown patches in the grass, too.
This breed makes great family sheep, especially if your kids want to get involved in 4-H. Once trust has been established, the sheep wil eat treats right out of your hand. My family’s flock especially loves the occasional animal cracker. With their gentle temperament, Babydoll sheep can easily become prey. Most of their injuries result from an attack, thus proper predator protection is key!
While they require annual shearing, their wool is one of the finest of all British breeds — short (typically 11⁄2 to 21⁄2 inches) with a micron count ranging from 24 to 29. Many sheep owners use the wool for needle-felting, but we typically send our wool to America’s Natural Fiberworks, a full-service fiber-processing mill in Somerville, Ohio, to have it blended and turned into various types of yarn.
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Denne historien er fra May - June 2023-utgaven av Hobby Farms.
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Denne historien er fra May - June 2023-utgaven av Hobby Farms.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The RISE of Opportunist WEEDS
Be prepared to see increasing changes in weeds we fight, such as poison hemlock and poison ivy, and in the crops we grow.
LIVESTOCK Health
Prepare yourself for how to spot symptoms of illness in your farm animals so that you can get them help before it's too late.
CUT FLOWER Farming
If you're considering growing flowers for sale, brush up on these five key things to know before diving in.
WINTER Survival
Keep your land, animals and yourself in good shape this winter with this helpful advice.
COVERAGE CONCERNS
Avoid common insurance mistakes for rural and hobby farm businesses.
FARMER'S GUIDE Berries
Set the stage for tasty strawberries, blueberries and brambles with these soil-boosting garden tips.
Preconditioning CALVES
Follow our step-by-step guide to get more money for your calves.
Soil Conservation
Often, outside of having a specific problem that needs to be addressed, soil conservation isn't something every farmer readily thinks about. Yet conserving the soil should be at or near the top of every farmer owner or manager's list of concerns because absent the prevention of soil erosion, we have the opportunity for another dust bowl.
Year-Round Lettuce & Salad Mixes
It's easy to think of salad greens as just a spring- or fall-garden crop, but it's possible to enjoy freshly harvested lettuces, mustards and more from your own garden year-round.
Barn Improvements
Days are never long enough for a farmer. From dawn to well into the night, tasks arise that often require immediate action. Having to search for tools or equipment is an enormous time waster and incredibly frustrating when you can't find what you need, especially when you know you have it.