Momma and Baby Boy are American Blackbelly sheep. Most people raise American Blackbellies for their meat.
They are hair sheep as opposed to wool sheep. They grow a winter coat that they shed on their own in the spring and summer.
Oh, how I wish I could brush Baby Boy!
While Baby Boy and Momma will now come to me and will even eat from my hand, brushing them is completely out of the question.
The simple act of “catching”, restraining, and brushing them would set them back months, I’m sure.
For now, I’ll settle on sneaking handfuls of hair from Momma and Baby Boy when they’re not looking.
And, if you’re wondering, mutton is not going to be on the Morning Bray Farm menu. Ever. ♥
Morning Bray Farm 
June 28, 2012 at 6:05 am
There must be a reason that winter hair hangs on where it does for so long. Sure, they can rub it off their sides more easily than they can their backs……but I wonder……is it a natural sunscreen for still-winter-tender skin?
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June 29, 2012 at 10:36 am
June,
I hadn’t thought of that. I wonder too…
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June 28, 2012 at 6:32 am
Oh, I just want to work on those coats SOOO much! One of my dogs doesn’t like being brushed so I wait until she’s eating and curry comb, snip and pull the wads of hair. I’m not suggesting this for the goats, but Pia is such an enthusiastic eater that she’ll let me have my way in trade for food in her bowl.
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June 28, 2012 at 6:42 am
Well I learned something today! Didn’t know there were sheep that don’t have fleece.
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June 28, 2012 at 7:07 am
I bet the Lennys would love to have that to line their nests with…
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June 28, 2012 at 8:43 am
Momma and Baby Boy are so fortunate that MBF are not mutton eaters I just love the way they look when they “molt”. It’s like afterwards they stand around saying hey, I like this years color on you. Sheep are lovely and silly creatures, but goats are my faves.
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My grandfather and uncles ran sheep and cattle on the northern NM ranch and they raised pigs & chickens for the family. I had the “joy”, not of having unknowingly consumed animals whom I had known as playmates……still hard for me as a city girl not to shiver and quake. I guess if I had been one of the country cousins it wouldn’t have phased me but I only spent summers on the ranch and thought of most of the “close to the house” animals as pets. My bad I guess.
But that and some graphic memories have made me the animal lover I am. So not all’s for not. Oma Linda
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June 28, 2012 at 9:09 am
Wow, that’s an incredibly thick coat of fur there! It must be so hard not to stand there and pluck it all off. *smile* They look very cute even if they’re a bit ragged right now.
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June 28, 2012 at 9:53 am
On the hottest day so far this year I´m so happy for your sheep to get rid of their winter coat. I´m also happy that there are no thoughts about having a grilled lamb leg. And I think you are very happy to be allowed to feed them by hand 🙂
I laughed about the goat named Pia who is an enthusiastic eater…. can I meet her on a blog?
Liebe Grüße,
Pia
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June 28, 2012 at 10:39 am
Maybe you and Don should drink your margaritas in the sheep pen instead of the donkey yard. You know, just chill. Convince the sheep that you mean no harm. Then they’d get used to you being around (especially if you brought snacks) and let you touch them more fully.
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June 28, 2012 at 4:00 pm
I never knew there were sheep that had hair instead of wool coats. No way could I eat those sweet babies either. They have the most beautiful eyes!
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June 28, 2012 at 8:02 pm
I learned a lot from this!!
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June 29, 2012 at 6:51 am
I just learned a lot about sheep – I did not realize that there were two types. Very interesting and such beautiful animals. I agree with Rosanne they do have such beautiful eyes. ~Patty
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June 29, 2012 at 9:23 am
We love to pull tufts, around here. Willard has many, in shedding season, but he is a rank amateur, in comparison to Baby Boy!
sign me “Itching to get at those tufts!” 🙂
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July 1, 2012 at 7:45 am
Wow! Just amazing coat of fur!
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