Our Shetlands are the heart and soul of Guinea Lane Farm.
They are the reason for its being.
I would hope that if ever there comes a time when the farm does become 'a bit much' that I will always have a few Shetland 'lap sheep' around to help keep me young at heart.
Delightful animals.
Inquisitive, intelligent and playful.
They have a tendency to form attachments with other individual 'critters' (not always other sheep) and, of course, their humans.
Some possess personalities far beyond the boundaries of their species.

I had one little ewe, in particular, that formed a fast and lasting relationship with a barn cat.
'Mocha' the sheep and 'K.T.' the cat were constant companions.
Sleeping and eating together, it would always make me stop for a moment to watch, as K.T. sauntered through the midst of the flock, closely followed by her sheep.
Mocha would have her head lowered, in a seeming state of trance, as she followed in K.T.'s paw prints, her nose buried deep in the cats glistening steel gray fur.
Mocha was a dominate ewe and this gave K.T. access to go anywhere she should choose (sheep in tow).
Protective mothers with lambs or ill tempered goats would move aside to let the wee cat pass, for none would risk the wrath of Mocha.
Unfortunately, this fascination with cats came to a tragic end.
My Mocha was the first to fall victim to a wandering pair of cougar that visited us one year while the sheep were up near the house at lambing time.
I had removed them from the protected paddock and the watchful eyes of their LGD (Livestock Guardian Dogs) for I had thought them safe up close to the house.
Mocha is gone now but K.T. still frequents the barnyard with an attitude of superiority that few animals care to test.

Shetland are a small sheep.
A ewe typically weigh between 60 to 100 Lbs. as adults.
Our average lamb weight, at birth, is 5 Lbs., though we have had some at 8+ Lbs.
Problems at lambing time are rare indeed amongst these little sheep.

We began our odyssey with the Shetlands in '96 and have, to this date, never lost a lamb or ewe during lambing.
The adult rams are somewhat larger but still of a manageable size.
All are easily handled and readily trained to halter.
I do avoid making pets of the rams ... not an easy thing when they are lambs, for the boys are especially inquisitive and friendly.
As the rams mature they go through their rut cycle annually.
Small in size they can still pack a pretty good whamp.
Best to keep them just a tish uncertain of their standings with their Shepherds.
This is my opinion only, of course, but  I can attest to many a friendly little ram growing up to be an absolute terror if they become too sure of themselves around humans.

I do much of my work with the sheep, (hoof trimming, vaccinations etc...) while the animal munches contentedly in a goat stanchion.
It is an easy thing to train them to 'hop right up' once they learn that grain will be the reward.
They will quietly stand for all manners of indignations once they have become accustomed to the routine.

Espresso one of our finest fibered ewes

Fiber is what Shetland Sheep are all about.
And the diversity of this fiber knows no bounds.
Some animals might have a primitive 'double coated' fiber.
I'm especially fond of this type, for the undercoat can be downy soft while the coarser outer coat adds strength to the spun yarn.
Many Shetland will sport a modern fleece.
Amazingly fine with a nice tight crimp.
We strive for consistency of fleece here at Guinea Lane.
Whether the straight and longer fiber of the 'primitive' or the even coated 'modern', our animals must be consistent from stem to stern to pass on their genetics.
We do not sell 'culls'.
These are either sold as pets (unregistered) to approved homes or make their way to the auction block as unregisterable animals.
A few end up in the freezer every year, for the meat on these sheep is surprisingly mild of flavor.
Even the older animals that we have had butchered do not carry a hint of 'mutton' flavor.

I do keep all fleeces that we have sheared.
From the coarser rug wool to the finest, there is a use for all.
And I always have a surplus available for sale.
(In the grease - $5.00 per Lb.)
(Washed and skirted - $10.00 per Lb.)
Samples are available to those interested.
I aim to have prepared fiber available in the future but at this time put out only enough to satisfy my own spinning projects.

Nalley's King Brian is my primary flock sire.
A magnificent creature with wide set full curl horns, a trait he
consistently passes on to his male progeny.

We are currently breeding for intensity in color and consistency of fleece.
We have acquired a diverse enough genetic line to be able to breed 'like to like'.
Whether it be fiber type or color, I have had the best results by sticking to this regime.

We try to have at least a dozen young sheep, of exceptional quality, on hand every year for sale.
Older 'proven'  animals are frequently available too.
By keeping a constant turn over we are able to keep our genetic lines diverse.
We are always on the look out (at shows, fairs and farm visits) for 'prime' animals to add to our flock.
Only the best make the pilgrimage home.
Accompanied with a 'clean bill of health' cert. and an OPP negative test result.
We have often consider closing our flock completely but the quest (and lack of will power) for additional animals, that meet our criteria, has kept me from accomplishing this goal thus far.
Careful scrutiny of the animals and the farms they come from have resulted in an outstanding selection to date.
As the world grows ever smaller there is always some new 'scare' on the horizon.
We are large enough now to keep new animals isolated and close up 'at a moments notice' should a threat come too close to home.

C.H.

Guinea Lane Farm
Cis Hanson & Steve Egbert
PO Box 1098
Canyonville, OR 97417-1098
(541)825-3778
guinealn@pioneer-net.com