• Can I have a sheep transported to me? Yes! We have several trusted livestock transportation companies we have used and trust to have your sheep arrive safely anywhere in the continental US. 

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• How much does it cost to transport a sheep? That depends on where you are located. You'll want to contact a couple transport companies as quotes can vary. There is also a Facebook group called "Sheep Transport" which can be helpful, but be careful to watch out for scammers.

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• Are sheep friendly? Sheep have individual personalities just like a cat or dog so some are friendly and some are not. Usually if you spend time with them and hand feed them, they will come to enjoy your company (and chin scratches!) We have some that come to say hello to us every time we see them. The more time you spend with them the more friendly they will be, which makes it much easier to handle them when needed. 

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• Are rams dangerous? They absolutely can be. We advise never turning your back on a ram and never petting a ram as it can make them more comfortable with your presence and see you as competition. Wethers (castrated rams) make excellent pets and snugglers, but give your rams space and respect. 

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• Do you do any disease testing? Yes! We test for Johne's as well as OPP. Copies of negative results available upon request. 

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• Why aren't both breeds the same price? Harlequins are far more rare than babydolls and therefore usually bring a higher price. 

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• Do you sell bottle baby lambs? We will never intentionally turn a lamb into a bottle baby and only offer lambs as bottle babies if mom and/or baby are having difficulties nursing on their own. 

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• Do you sell unregistered sheep? No, we only have registered sheep. 

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• Are Harlequin sheep in Australia the same thing? No, American and Harlequin sheep are two separate breeds. ​

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• How much space do I need to have sheep? We have seen suggestions of 6-10 sheep per acre, but ideally you would have no more than 5-6 per acre. This really greatly depends on your quality of pasture and if you will be doing rotational grazing (highly recommended!)

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• Can we visit Black Sparrow Ranch? Sure! Send us a message. 

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• What do you feed your sheep? Sometimes pasture, sometimes hay, sometimes grain. Keep in mind that sheep that have too much grain may become overweight which can impact breeding, as well as develop urinary calculi or acidosis. We give our sheep free choice of sheep-safe minerals and baking soda. 

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• What is the baking soda used for? Sheep can develop a condition called bloat which is an excess of gas in their rumen. If not treated, it can be fatal. Providing your sheep with access to baking soda at all times allows them to self treat when they are feeling uncomfortable and prevent bloat from occuring. 

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• What is the difference between the babydoll sheep registries? OEBSSR was the original registry created by Robert Mock. Unfortunately, their paperwork is often very delayed sometimes taking over one year to process and therefore not recommended under the current management. NABSSAR was the second registry and is more technologically advanced (e.g. you can submit photos online.) NABSSAR allows sheep from 17-26" and does not allow spots. BSSBA is the newest registry and the one we will be registering the majority of our babydoll lambs with. 

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• What supplies should I have on hand for my sheep? At the bare minimum, you should have wormers, a drench gun, Nutri-drench, sheep-safe minerals, vaccinations, baking soda, and most importantly the emergency contact number of your livestock vet. 

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• Can goats and sheep live together? Yes, but they cannot eat the same grain or minerals as sheep are very sensitive to copper. 

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• What type of fencing do sheep need? Sheep do not typically challenge fencing like goats and woven wire sheep/goat fencing is recommended. If you expect to have issues with predators, you can add a strand of barbed wire either at the top or bottom. 

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• Are donkeys or llamas good livestock guardians? They CAN be, but it depends on the individual animal. Some will protect sheep, some will totally ignore them, and some will even kill them. The same is true of livestock guardian dogs. Get to know the individual animal and do introductions slowly. Trusted livestock guardian dogs over the age of two years are highly recommended. 

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• Which wormer is best? It depends on which parasite your sheep is infected with. Sheep should only be wormed if their FAMACHA score indicates they need it as worming entire herds leads to parasite resistance.

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• What is the most important thing for all shepherds to have? A experienced livestock veterinarian that is familiar with sheep and preferably does farm calls. Find a vet BEFORE you need a vet.