Clover & Shamrock

Clover and Shamrock, our two boy sheep, are twins. They like to think that they keep the girls in line, but we all know it’s not true. Ram lambs are adorable but at some point after they grow into adults they can become too aggressive to handle, and many end up in “freezer heaven.” We want to give our boys a good life, so they were transformed into wethers – a shepherd’s term for castrated rams. We don’t have the capacity to keep rams separate from ewes, so as wethers they can mingle and be friends.

Clover has a friendly little face and a sweet and sensitive demeanor. We think he has the soul of a poet. His elegant horns curl inward, and his coloring is Shetland cream with black “trim.” Interestingly, his face changes color according to the season. In the warm months it turns black with light “spectacles” and a grayish muzzle. But over time as the days get shorter, his face fades to all cream and the specs disappear. Clover is the dominant male, but is generally an easy-going guy – although he feels it’s his duty to voice what he imagines to be a menacing “moo!” at visitors just to let them know who’s in charge. He believes this impresses the girls.

Shammy, as we often call him, is a handsome, noble looking fellow. His regal horns splay a bit outward and his coloring is also Shetland cream but with tan undertones. His face does not fade but stays dark brown with a creamy muzzle and spectacles. Shammy is a very sweet guy but is somewhat insecure owing to his status as boy number two. He sometimes needs to prove himself by acting bossy with the girls. We also have seen him take on the role of referee when two or more girls are having a butting contest. He will step in if things get too rough. Shammy adores his brother, and will often rest his chin on Clover’s head or back.