[Jacob-list] Re: New jacob owner

[Mary Ellen Hansson]

Hi,

Hi Newbies,

I was incredibly lucky to find a flock early on with simply incredible
fleeces.  I also met people who had varying tastes (every spinner has
their own favorite fleece and will argue vehemently about the matter)
and got the chance to sink my hands into fleeces on living animals at a
number of farms.  I asked questions---often the same questions of 4-5
different people.  These questions led to more questions, but also
provided the solid foundation and knowledge that everybody out there has
their own opinion on "fact".  In the 9 years since I got my first sheep,
I have learned lots and know there is so much more unknown than known
right now.

Get what you LIKE when you purchase sheep.  I don't recommend picking a
sheep on sight---been there and done that a few times with some
incredible results (not good ones necessarily).  Breeders proud of their
sheep will get their sheep up and go through the flock with you feeling,
learning, asking questions, etc.

Price varies from place to place, farm to farm, etc.  Don't expect that
the farm that sends beautiful flyers around the country with high prices
necessarily has the best sheep.  Then again, don't expect the first
person you speak with to have all the answers or maybe even the right
sheep for you.  Look....Learn...Ask questions....and LISTEN to the
replies and digest them.  Discuss health management programs and get to
know about sheep diseases.  Decide what is relevant to your situation.

Study the breed association standards, as those will tell you what the
breed association says it registers.  You don't want to pay for animals
that you THINK are purebred/registerable and then be disappointed.  If
breeders are registering their sheep (probably the ones you should
purchase from, although there are many out there that know what they are
doing that don't), EXPECT them to handle the paperwork and request that
you have it in a timely fashion.  4-6 weeks would be acceptable----4-6
months denotes a problem (sometimes outside the breeder's control and
that problem would be in the association).

People seem to want to start out with lambs.  If I were starting again,
I would start with proven ewes and rams (not ones that have already been
mated to each other to produce more of the same genetic pie though).
These animals will already be registered....and there goes the problem
mentioned in the above paragraph :o).  You also know their temperament,
their history (ask for lambing records on both rams as well as
ewes....pictures of all offspring are helpful, birthing behaviors of
ewes, etc.).  You may pay anywhere from 200-350 for a great ewe -- and
you will know what you are paying for--instead of a similar price for a
lamb with none of these advantages.  There are sheep priced up to 500
--- and some breeders have come asking even little old me WHY.....often
there is no known reason other than the breeder probably doesn't want to
sell that particular sheep.

Mary Ellen Hansson
ISeeSpots Farm www.iseespots.com
Jacob Sheep, Fiber, Spinning equipment,
Books, Patterns, Knitting/Crochet/Tatting