Today's Icelandic sheep is a direct descendant of the sheep brought to the island by the early Viking settlers in the ninth and tenth centuries. The sheep is most closely related to the North European Short-Tailed race (therefore no tail docking needed) which includes Shetland, Finn, Romanov, Spelsau, Swedish Landrace, with Icelandics being the largest of the group. The mature body weight of rams is in the range of 180 to 220 pounds, and ewes 130 to 180 pounds. They are dual coated, with a fine undercoat (called the thel by itself is fine enough for use in next-to-the-skin clothing). The outer coat is more suited to rugs, or hard wearing knitted or woven fabrics. The fleece weight runs from 4 to 10 pounds, it is open and rarely greasy. Icelandics are exceptionally hardy and adapt well to harsh, changeable climates and marginal pasture conditions. Fleeces come in a wonderful spectrum of colors: white, tan, brown, grey, black, silver, mouflon, badgerface, and spotted. Both sexes can be polled or horned. They are prolific seasonal breeders, and live a long time (12 to 14 years). We have found these sheep to be docile, friendly, easy to manage, and delightful to work with. Our breeding emphasis is on spotted and moorit (brown) colors, with strong, well balanced horns.

We have sold our flock of Icelandic sheep to Jordandal Farm. For breeding stock or fleece availability, please write to jordandal@tds.net

Four month old horned moorit triplet ram lamb, Baccio, from our 2001 lamb crop

Leader Ram, Graham      

One set of triplets from the 2001 lamb crop

Moorit horned ewe, Sharmini

Parsifal, horned, brown and white spotted ram lamb

Polled badgerface ewe (Smoke Ham Alouette) and her ram lamb (Mitch)

Horned musket (grey-brown) Icelandic ram (our Rathbone)