Welcome to Filska Shetlands!

I figured I'd kick things off with a brief introduction.

I'm Jen, the shepherd here at Filska Shetlands, and I've been raising sheep for over a decade now. Though I've owned multiple breeds, I have a special love for Shetlands, and now exclusively breed these hardy little sheep.

Since the beginning, I've focused on raising my sheep as naturally as possible, avoiding things like chemical dewormers and antibiotics whenever possible. Much of the success behind "natural" sheep care comes down to management and how you are supporting the health of your flock. If you are using poor management practices, you'll be much more likely to need conventional interventions to "bale yourself out." I discovered the extensive benefits of rotationally grazing sheep early on, and now constantly keep my sheep on the move. This has had massive affects on the overall health of my sheep, particularly in regards to parasites.

I've had my fair share of shepherding joys and losses and have learned so much on this journey. I am always thrilled when buyers come to me for lambs and this is their first step into the world of raising sheep; it's a wonderful and fulfilling endeavor and will teach you so many things.

As a shepherd, our sheep are completely at our mercy. We decide what they'll eat and drink, where they'll sleep, and whether they'll reproduce and have their own young to tend (or at least, we try to control such things!). It's a beautiful and weighty responsibility. I plan to share my own journey, what I've learned and am learning, and hopefully help the budding shepherd who is a few steps behind me.

Welcome to the blog and the Filska flock. I'm so happy to have you along!

Jen