Ouessant Sheep

If you are interested in discovering a new, wonderful type of pet for your home, you may love getting to know an Ouessant sheep. They are a short-tailed sheep breed that originated on the island of Ouessant, which is off the coast of France.
This exceptionally small sheep was nearly extinct at one time and many believe it is because they were unable to graze through the dense foliage on the island. This rare breed of sheep lived on their island until the mid-1900s. At this time, they were brought to France where they were able to graze on the lush land surrounding chateaux in an attempt to ensure they would not be completely wiped out.
Today, their numbers are increasing slowly and there are Ouessant sheep throughout the European countries. There are also many in the United States. People love them for not only the fine wool that they grow naturally but because of their petite size and temperament.

Cute, Cuddly Ouessant

Rams are the tallest in this breed of sheep, but they only measure about 19 inches at the shoulder. Ewes measure in at approximately 18 inches.
One defining features for them is the horns that are on rams. Their horns loop around over the back of their head toward their shoulders and then may grow back toward their face. Ewes do not have horns.
Most of this breed is going to be dark brown or black in color, but there are exceptions. Some may have more than one color, and in rare cases, may even be predominately white.

Ouessant Health

As with all other breeds of animals, Ouessant sheep are prone to certain illnesses. The most common is related to skin conditions and may include ringworm, soremouth, or cub lamb fungus. Some sheep may also suffer from neurological ailments. The most common is called “scrapie” and it is similar to “mad cow diseases”.
If you have one of these delightful sheep as a pet, keeping their habitat sanitary and ensuring proper nutrition will keep them disease-free. This is relatively easy. They are an outdoor species but should have cover from extreme heat or rainy conditions. Bedding inside this area should be kept clean and dry, but their space should be well ventilated.