- Sheep usually live to be about eight years old.
- They hate to be alone--that's why they live in flocks (groups of
sheep).
- Sheep are very gentle animals and are easily frightened.
- They flock together for protection because they can't really protect
themselves.
- The sheep has many natural predators, animals that hunt and kill
sheep for food. They include coyotes, wolves and domestic dogs.
- Sometimes larger animals, like mules or llamas, are kept in the pastures
with the sheep to scare off possible predators.
- Sheep eat grass and hay.
- Sheep usually give birth once a year and have 1-3 lambs.
- One year's growth of fleece is about 8 pounds of wool.
- Sheep are usually shorn once a year.
- Sheep are also raised to provide meat.
- The meat from a grown sheep is called mutton and that from a young
sheep is called lamb. Most of the lambs in Michigan are raised for meat.
- Female sheep are called ewes, baby sheep are called lambs, and male
sheep are called rams. A group of sheep is called a flock.
- Sheep can see more than us. They have a 270 degree radius of view,
almost 3/4 of a circle, humans only see 170 degrees at best.
- Each sheep has it's own "Flight Zone", a measurable distance
around their bodies. This is the distance the sheep feels it needs to
get away from danger. Sheep will not allow anything (even each other,
with exceptions) to come within it's flight zone.
- Sheep feel things and have language. they use various sounds to communicate
different emotions and messages among flock members.
- Sheep are individual and unique. Each sheep can distinguish between
all other sheep, they can recognize fellow flock mates even after years
of separation.
- Sheep would rather walk up-hill, than down.
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