Icelandic Sheep - Sheep Breed Series

Shepherd Shaun Deller shares his experience raising Icelandic sheep. Icelandic sheep are hardy and are considered a wool breed. They are a great breed for small-scale production or beginning homesteaders. Icelandic are well-suited for a cold climate given their origins.
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[@CriaAndKiddFW]

[@jaksmith6465]

how tedious is it to separate the different coats ?

[@CriaAndKiddFW]

@@jaksmith6465 it depends on the equipment you have, if you've got a picker, combs etc but it's definately a labor of love. There are a few good videos here on YT about separating the fleece.

[@jaksmith6465]

@@CriaAndKiddFW any you recommend ?

[@aCycloneSteve]

That's why I'm interested. The three way use.

[@aCycloneSteve]

Although I've read they only produce milk for 8 weeks. I don't know it that's true.

[@bettyjeanpetrinovich7373]

Such a wonderful escape as I spend a few weeks in the Arizona Desert, biding my time and taking a break from full-time cross-country RV traveling. Like a fresh breeze washing down from a mountainside, like looking out a window at the refreshment of a green meadow or a bubbling brook, wonderfully paced for this daydreamer. Thank you for all the work of preparing the video and posting! Good stuff. Wishing the best to you.

[@alliellioxenfree]

If you ever need/want shearing help my sister and I are in our first year but we're smitten with sheep and grateful to be learning. (She's on a crew with the Kerrs now in WY but should be back soon.) Love your sheep videos! Best to you and the flock!

[@DiverseKitty]

Just incredible, really hoping for more of these sheep breed videos! I wish there was a bit more detail on milk production, as that's where my dream is (having milk sheep/goats). Still, amazing video. Love it.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

There are almost no sheep dairies near me so I haven't been able to get any good dairy sheep content. I have a dairy sheep milking video but it doesn't dive in deep on the friesian breed.

[@DiverseKitty]

@@TheGrassfedHomestead Thanks so much for your response. Maybe you'll get to record some one day. The other sheep are still pretty awesome, I really appreciate the content. :)

[@sofiabent9129]

I have heard that Icelandics are good for milking. They produce 1-3 liters per day, per ewe but I think you need to separate the lambs over night to get the most out of them which I would do if I had sheep. I have also heard that East Friesians are not hardy at all and the lambs are frail/low survival rate. I would never want a frail sheep breed. The crosses might be hardier but they might produce less milk too.

[@DiverseKitty]

@@sofiabent9129 Thanks so much for your information, it's great help! I need as much help as I can get if I want to be a dairy sheep farmer one day! (Not thinking necessarily commercially)

[@jodyflores601]

Thank you for the information on a different breed of sheep, blessings. :)

[@lauraannstewart3353]

Hoping you do one on shetland sheep :) love seeing all the breeds

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I don't know of any shetland shepherds so I won't have a shetland video :(

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

Very interesting! I’d like to see something on blackbelly (Barbados and American) and Painted Desert sheep.

[@Hardcore-Homestead]

Thanks for the video brother! I've been raising goats for four years and am looking to get into sheep. I live in the mountains and this seems like the perfect breed.

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

Glad to help

[@amechelb]

Yay this is the breed I want to get.

[@jeanwoodall1523]

Interesting information.

[@selenachannel2782]

Awassi sheep are the best out there, rare in America.

[@meginna8354]

In what way are they best would you say?, hardiness, friendliness, do they produce a lot of milk fed only grass?.

[@noahriding5780]

So you said these can be used for meat, wool, and milk while being low maintenance. Did you mean that icelandics could be used as a dairy sheep? And I'm curious how well they'd compare with other dairy sheep in production? Thanks. They are very nice and sturdy looking.

[@adamadam-jo7ik]

bsr mr l agriculteur islandais et bon santé pour le travail

[@alishaberrey4479]

I'm looking into sheep right now. I was going to get East Fresian because of their dairy capability. However, they can be a bit on the pricey side. What do you think of the Icelandic's milk production as far as amount and quality? Say for cheese, butter, etc?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I don't have any experience with their dairy so I can't say for sure

[@Halli50]

They do not look entirely Icelandic - their (snout/muzzle?) look a bit too "roman" (curved) for them to be pure-breed Icelandic sheep. I am by no means a sheep expert but being Icelandic, I have seen my share of the buggers...

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

I wouldn't know

[@paulzook1379]

Interesting! How many pounds of meat do you get from a 9 mo lamb?

[@TheGrassfedHomestead]

it varies widely but you can get 60 lbs of hanging weight

[@lunawolf307]

I saw that u where demonitized on a newer video havent had the chance for it but ill just say dont lose heart and keep produceing your videos as u please i mean its not like your whipping out your family jewels or cussing or straight up vulgar and utterly inappropriate basically if your 12-14 year olds cant watch it then it ought to have a age restriction otherwise simply designate if its for education or simular or just something to sit watch and enjoy

[@angelabryant6141]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@Loxodontus]

This Is My Favorite Sheep Breed!

[@cynthiabetts1277]

Enjoy your your video it was very informative. I was wondering if you could let me know why you stopped raising Shetland sheep a.nd why you prefer that the Icelandic sheep.

[@MsCaterific]

💛

[@sillygoose2476]

You should try Katahdins. Most don't really have wooly wool, and they shed. But they are great moms, the meat is good. And i've heard you can milk them.

[@inharmonywithearth9982]

I must be honest with you. Katahdin sheep do not produce any surplus milk or wool at all. A handful of poor quality hair and a quarter cup of milk for a few weeks if their baby lamb dies or is taken away. and They are thin tiny wooless sheep that people who do not have the special conditions required for wool sheep or dairy sheep raise only to kill for their small carcass.