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Taming
Your Soay
Here at Wind River Farm our Soay live VERY close
to the house. It is because of this that our sheep are so tame. We did not set
up this system for that reason - it was just a benefit. Our sheep ended up so
close to us because when we moved here it was a jungle - a jungle that with the
help of the Soay we are getting under control.
Even
when the lumber company recently delivered a 16' beam on a trailer - backing up
and beeping the whole time - only a few feet from the Soay, the girls didn't get
up from sunning themselves - let alone run away. But even if you don't want your
sheep right off your back deck you could keep them in a smaller, more restricted
area until they get used to you - your voice, movements and smells. Then increase
the size of their holding pen or pasture as they settle down.
Another
advantage of having the Soay so close is that we have had no losses due to predators.
Each of their enclosures has mature trees so the eagles cannot do a swoop and
snatch, and with the smell of the sheep so intermingled with the smell of the
humans - the bears, bobcats, coyotes and cougars have not ventured near. Our property
is surrounded by 70 acres of un-inhabited land, only three miles from the Olympic
National Forest. We have an abundance of predators. And even though the Soay are
tame they recognize the shape of a predator - even if it is disguised as a friend's
border collie that recently visited. The Soay were not happy about Sparky being
around them and went to the furthest point in their pastures to get away from
him - even though he was simply sitting by the car.
As
we fence and the Soay clear areas in the forest our intention is to rotate them
through those areas further away from us during the day and bring them back up
to the area by the house at night.
Something
else that has helped make our Soay so tame is that Dr. Dolittle lives here. Not
the original - just the Wind River original. My Harley biker husband cannot pass
by his "girls" without stopping to pluck the succulent grass just out
of their reach, or take them a special treat of a cracker or bits of apple - Soay
love dehydrated apples! The sheep trust Joe so much that I often see them leaning
into him for a good scratch from his huge gentle hands after they've gobbled the
treats. The Soay have totally slipped by the "Harley Dude" rough guy
persona.
Unless
they have been neutered we do not encourage you to try and tame your Soay rams.
It is a bad idea that can lead to injury to you or others, and could eventually
lead to the Soay needing to be put down.
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