I raise purebred registered Shetland sheep. Shetlands are known for their hardiness, engaging personalities, and luxurious fleeces that come in a variety of colors and marking patterns. The breed is naturally healthy, and lamb easily without assistance. Their short tails don't require docking, and their petite size makes them ideal "family sheep." 

The Ewes:

This is Quin, short for Harlequin. Her mother's name is Joker, and when Quin was born, her eye patches were diamond-shaped, like the classic harlequin. Quin is smerslet (mostly dark with white around the nose and neck), with yuglet (eye spots) markings.

Quin, when she was a 2-week old baby

Sweet Poppy is my calmest and steadiest ewe. Her temperament is so endearing that I also bought her twin, Moon. Both of them want for nothing more than chest scratches, in return for sharing their burps with me.

Roobie, short for Rooibus, is a reddish moorit (brown) with gold tips and darker roots. She has yuglet (eye spots) and sokket (socks) markings. Roobie often has a lot on her mind and doesn't hold back from letting me know what she thinks. She has very strong opinions on pumpkins (in favor), hay (the best pieces are always on the bottom and need to be dug up), and chin scratches (keep'em coming). 

This spring, I bought Moon (moorit and Poppy's twin), and two lambs Phoebe (chocolate moorit) and Beatrice (fawn). Believe it or not, Beatrice is actually almost white under all that mud.

The health and well-being of my flock is my top priority. Biosecurity measures include scrubbing my boots (and asking guests to do so too) after visiting another sheep farm, and not travelling with my sheep. To reduce the risk of skin issues, my sheep are not coated. I deworm the flock as needed, and supplement their diets with natural dewormers such as fresh pine needles and pumpkins. 

My breeding goals are to produce sheep that are sound, friendly, and have fine fleeces that are consistent with breed standards. For more information about the history of the Shetland sheep in North America, check out Linda Doane's website, Maple Ridge Sheep Farm. Linda imported the first Shetland flock into the United States in 1986 and her website is a valuable resource for anyone interested in raising a fiber flock. 

LAMBING 2019

The ewes were bred to Maple Ridge Seamus in January, and Lamb Watch begins on May 26. Lambs will be registered, receive veterinary well-lamb checkups, and vaccinated. They'll be weaned no earlier than 12 weeks, and visits are highly encouraged during that time to promote bonding with their new owners. If you're interested in adopting a lamb, please contact me at anne@middlebrookfiberworks.com. 

Middle Brook Bear, born May 2018