4 horned Hebridean sheep is a breed of small black sheep, with a small and sickle-shaped protuberance above their nose. This breed originated in the Highlands of Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Northern Ireland, but is now also found in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Due to the curly horns protruding from either side of their head, they are also known as “crested sheep”. This prolific breed can produce up to six pounds (roughly two kilograms) of wool per year.
Contents
How to identify 4 horned Hebridean sheep?
Horns
The horns must be straight and smooth and measured anywhere from 6 inches to 32 inches (150 mm-810 mm) if polled, or 20 to 40 inches (500-1000mm) if polled in the typical Scottish “double” pattern.
Horns of the breed can but do not have the two horns in a V-shape seen in most other sheep breeds. Because of this, they are known as crested sheep. Also, they are the only sheep that have horns in the front, rear, and side.
Colour
The black wool of the Hebridean sheep must be straight as well. It should not be matted, puffy, clumpy, or fuzzy. The black color should not be faded or matted either. One of their defining characteristics is that their feet are often lighter than their body. The rumps will have darker areas on them and will look like a triangle from behind.
Behavioral characteristics
They are very docile and friendly sheep. They like to be close to people. As Hebridean sheep, they are easy to manage and care for. They don’t require any special facilities or shelters. They can survive in both cold and hot weather but they prefer warmer weather.
The sheep have a strong need for clean water and can be successful grazers on land that provides them with roughage. They need plenty of space as well as good air ventilation. The breed is also known as “Corriedale”, “Crested Shearling” or “Crested Highland Blackface”.
The actual breed name is still in dispute, but most sheep farmers feel the term “4-horned Hebridean sheep” is appropriate. Some sources cite the derivation of the breed from crossed Merino and Dorset Horn with a Cotswold Romney lamb; others claim that it has 12/20/4 bloodlines. An interesting fact about the Hebridean sheep is that they have an extra set of 2-4 molars in their mouth.
As pet
As a pet and addition to a flock, 4 horned Hebridean sheep make great pets. They can be easily kept in both urban and rural areas. They are very friendly and calm, making wonderful pets for children, families, and other animals.
With the right training, they can become very good guard dogs as well. They are curious about nature and like to sniff around their surroundings. This makes them lots of fun to watch while they graze on grass or pasture with your other livestock animals.
Health issue
As a rare and endangered breed, the health of 4 horned Hebridean sheep is important to their survival of this breed. Many different issues can affect the health of these sheep including:
Eye issues, Footrot, Flystrike (an infestation of blow-fly larvae), and internal parasites. The Hebridean sheep are very hardy and can survive in most conditions.
Special Considerations
Housing
Most of these sheep are very mild-mannered and quiet. Thus, they do not require many complex facilities. If 4 horned Hebridean sheep do need shelter, it is highly recommended that it be an open-sided type structure with some sort of protection from the cold or heat.
The structure can be made out of solid and light materials such as plastic tarpaulin or natural materials like rocks, sticks, or branches. However, review the full breed profile of the 4 horned Hebridean sheep in the following table.
Best 11 information
| Breed Name | 4-horned Hebridean sheep. |
| Other Name | Corriedale, Crested Highland Blackface. |
| Country of Origin | Scotland. |
| Breed Class, size | Medium Sheep. |
| Diet | Grass and roughage. |
| Age at first calving | 1 to 2 years. |
| Rarity | Rare. |
| Climate Tolerance | Adaptable. |
| Temperament | Friendly. |
| Color | Black. |
| Life Span | 8 to 10 years. |
Conclusion
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