Babydolls.
Small, smiley and ridiculously friendly. The teddy bear of the sheep world.
Sage, on a misty morning at the farm.
About the breed.
Babydolls are properly known as Olde English Babydoll Southdowns. They're descended from the original Southdown sheep of southern England, which were bred down in size to become the small, smiley breed we know today. They were registered as a separate breed in the 1990s to preserve the original heritage size and look.
They're famously friendly and easy to handle. If you want a sheep that follows you around the paddock like a dog and looks like a teddy bear, this is the one.
- Small breed, only about 60cm tall at the shoulder
- Adults around 30 to 50kg, easy to handle
- Famously gentle, great around children
- Soft, fine fleece that hand spinners love
- Well suited to smaller properties and lifestyle blocks
Are Babydolls right for you?
Babydolls are often the first choice for people new to sheep, and there's good reason for that. They're small, calm, and forgiving of first-time owner mistakes.
That said, they still need everything any other sheep needs: at least one companion, secure fencing, regular health care and a vet who'll see livestock. Small doesn't mean low maintenance.
Where we are with Babydolls.
Sage is our first Babydoll on the farm, with more arriving as we build the flock. Lambing plans are taking shape and availability will be posted on our journal and Instagram when we have something firm to share.