Dozen Acre Farm
Our Icelandic Sheep
Icelandic sheep are one of the world's oldest and purest breeds that have a triple purpose: milk, fiber and meat. Their ancestry is traced back to the time of Vikings and they are an easy sheep to maintain on pasture. They reach maturity quickly (typically 5-6 months), are medium sized. Multiple births for the ewes are common and they are good mothers..
Icelandic sheep are one of the world's oldest and purest breeds that have a triple purpose: milk, fiber and meat. Their ancestry is traced back to the time of Vikings and they are an easy sheep to maintain on pasture. They reach maturity quickly (typically 5-6 months), are medium sized. Multiple births for the ewes are common and they are good mothers..
One
of the most wonderful thing about the Icelandic is their fiber. The
fleece has a duel coat, with a fine undercoat (thel), and a long
coarser outer coat (tog). Fall fleeces are typically 2-4 inches for the
tog, and 4-8 inches for the thel. The fleece is usually spun together.
The wide range of colors and patterns of the Icelandic fleece truly is
a spinners delight!
Icelandic
sheep come both polled (non-horned) and horned. Our flock at Dozen Acre
Fiber Farm is completely horned. Horns make great handles when trying
to catch our crew :)
