Fiber and Animals

Oct. 2025: Three-year-old East Friesian dairy ram “Moose” will be ready for his next flock at the end of October. It’s time for me to add some fresh genetics to my crew. A ram for a confident shepherd – in other words, has the characteristic ram attitude. Reach out if you think he might fit your needs!

The Friendly Ewe also sells wool products and breeding stock.  We’re not currently selling sheep for meat. We’re expecting East Friesian ewe lambs, ram lambs, and wethers will be available again in April 2026.

A $50 deposit is required to hold a lamb until they’re weaned. Lambs are dam-raised for the first two weeks, and then gradually trained to creep feed as we begin milking dams. Lambs are weaned between 30-45 days, and prompt pick-up after weaning is expected. We milk all of our dams, and manage our flock for friendly ewes who are good milkers and good mothers. Wethers make great fiber producers, lawn mowers, and companion animals.

This is a closed flock, save for the exception of a new ram every three years. We follow state licensing requirements for brucellosis testing, with no positive results. We’ve previously tested for tuberculosis when required by the state under former guidelines, with no positive results. Previous customers have tested lambs for OPP, Johnes, and CL with no positive results.

As sheep are herd animals, they get stressed alone. Lambs must either be sold in multiples or be going to a farm that has other companion animals for a single lamb (e.g. goats, horses, donkey). 

Raw and washed fleeces and handspun yarn are currently available in the farm store and on Etsy. Renee shears, washes, and spins the wool from the sheep when not making cheese.

What is Friesian wool like? Friesian fiber is a medium-grade wool that is suitable for knitting and spinning.

The other fiber producer on the farm is Saskatoonberry, an angora rabbit. Renee gently plucks Saski’s super-soft fiber, which does not cause any pain to the bunny. He is bred for this purpose, and without regular plucking, his fiber would become a hazard to his health. Angora fiber is seven times warmer than wool, and makes a luscious, soft blend when mixed with wool.

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