• Can I have a sheep transported to me? Yes! We have several trusted livestock transportation companies we have used or our customers have used that will ensure 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. Always ask for a Driver's License and references. 

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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 required. 

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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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• Can male and female sheep be housed together? Technically, yes adults can, although not recommended because you will not know when they have bred and therefore when to expect lambs. In addition, male sheep mature sexually much faster than female sheep. Whereas a male sheep can breed at as young as six months old, a female sheep should not be bred until at least 18 months. Any earlier and it could lead to birth complications and even death. Therefore female sheep under the age of 18 months should never be housed with intact males. 

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

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• Why are some sheep more expensive? Harlequins are far more rare than babydolls and therefore usually bring a higher price. Similarly, spotted genetics are much more rare in babydolls and therefore are more expensive. 

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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 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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• How often do sheep need to be sheared? Typically once per year, although some sheep will need their faces and rears trimmed more often, especially babydolls. Please note, sometimes shearers book months in advance so better to get on their schedule early. Here is a nationwide directory of shearers:

  • https://www.sheepusa.org/contacts-woolpelt-shearerdirectory

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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. It is recommended adult male sheep not be given alfalfa hay to reduce the chance of bladder stones.  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. NABSSAR was the second registry and is more technologically advanced (e.g. you can submit photos online.) NABSSAR allows sheep from 18-24" and does not allow spots or lineage with spots. BSSBA International is the one we will be registering the majority of our babydoll lambs with. We do not register lambs with BSRA, the newest registry. 

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• What supplies should I have on hand for my sheep? At the bare minimum, you should have dewormers, a drench gun, Nutri-drench, sheep-safe minerals, thermometer, vaccinations, baking soda, and most importantly the emergency contact number of your livestock vet. Ideally, you would have a scale to get accurate weights for deworming. 

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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. Copper toxicity will kill sheep quickly and painfully. 

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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 dewormer is best? Although this will depend on the type of parasite your sheep is infected with, it is now recommended that all sheep are dewormed using a combo treatment of Cydectin, Valbazen and Prohibit. Please note Prohibit requires an accurate weight. Sheep should only be wormed if their FAMACHA score or fecal test indicates they need it as deworming entire herds leads to parasite and dewormer 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.