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tractorpunk · Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 37 Location: east Galway

hi ,we're big fans of our soay, they often get a bad press but they're no problem really. you need really good fencing as they're good at escaping. Lots of hurdles, pens and races to cut down options when you want to move them cos they dont herd like regular sheep, when worried they scatter in every possible direction. ours follow buckets and come to a call now so theyre pretty easy to control.
They thrive on bad grazing. our land is brutal, i'd give it 1 out of 10 and thats only cos it hasn't slid down the mountain yet, but still the soay thrive, browsing more than grazing, eating rushes, docks, brambles and the odd blade of grass when they can find it and are keeping weight well.
lambing was easy, no problems at all. their feet are good, no need to shear and no fly strike.
they look great but most of our neighbours seem to think they're midget deer so hopefully no short sighted hunter will cull them all this season.
we got ours in the buy and sell, just lucky, but there seems to be a few here and there. we might sell some next year if thats any use.