Be My Little BABY

Hardy, docile, and without big space requirements, Babydoll Southdown Sheep make a great addition to hobby farms.

- AMY MINGS

A heritage breed that originated in the late 1700s from the South Downs of Sussex County, England, Babydoll Southdown Sheep were imported to the United States in the early 1800s. Over the years, they grew in popularity in England and America, thanks to their cute faces, small size, sweet temperament and hardiness, with a lifespan of 12 to 16 years.

Typically, you'll often see lambs available in white or black. As the black Babydoll sheep grow, they may appear browner as the sun can lighten their coloring. Such is the case with my ewe, Coco. Babydoll sheep are commonly referred to as “smiling sheep” because they always look like they’re smiling.

Babydoll sheep offer organic grass and weed control, and with their small size, they’re much easier to handle than many other farm animals. Nitrogen-rich Babydoll pellets don’t create brown patches in the grass, too.

This breed makes great family sheep, especially if your kids want to get involved in 4-H. Once trust has been established, the sheep wil eat treats right out of your hand. My family’s flock especially loves the occasional animal cracker. With their gentle temperament, Babydoll sheep can easily become prey. Most of their injuries result from an attack, thus proper predator protection is key!

While they require annual shearing, their wool is one of the finest of all British breeds — short (typically 11⁄2 to 21⁄2 inches) with a micron count ranging from 24 to 29. Many sheep owners use the wool for needle-felting, but we typically send our wool to America’s Natural Fiberworks, a full-service fiber-processing mill in Somerville, Ohio, to have it blended and turned into various types of yarn.