Mixed Flocks

[purplequeenvt]

We have Border Leicesters mostly, but my personal project is Shetlands so we have a few of those guys (love my Shetlands!). We also have a couple Romneys, a handful of Border Leicester/Romney crosses, a Border Leicester/Dorper cross, and a Shetland/Friesian/Texel/Border Leciester/Dorper cross.

 

[Bridgemoof]

....and a Shetland/Friesian/Texel/Border Leciester/Dorper cross.

Whoa, that's a mouthful!

 

[LittleSpy]

I realize this is an old thread but would like some thoughts. I'm brand new to sheep. I started considering them about 5-6 months ago. Settled on Babydoll Southdowns. I haven't gotten any yet, because we needed a fence first. We should have a fence in the next 6 weeks or so, so I'm trying to buckle down and decide what I want. We only have room for 3-4 sheep right now. We could expand to 7-8 later, if expand or add fencing. Anyway, now I am really loving Icelandics. For a very small mixed flock, not for breeding (at the moment), would 2 of each of those breeds be too crazy? Or maybe 2 southdowns, 1 icelandic? Their main purposes here will be as lawn mowers/fertilizers, for fiber, and to be "pets." I may also be interested in breeding/milking down the line.

 

[Ruus]

It would probably have been better to post your question in a new thread, instead of bumping one that's almost two years old.
A mixed flock isn't crazy, especially if you're not breeding, but I'm not sure how well Icelandics and Babydolls would get along. I keep Soay breeding stock with a castrated Shetland and everybody plays nice (most of the time) but I have heard that Icelandics can be bullies and don't get along well with other breeds of sheep. I've never been around Icelandics except at fiber festivals, so I don't have first-hand knowledge, but I've heard it from several different people with no connection to each other, so I tend to believe it's true.