Buyer question
How long do Icelandic sheep live?
Our Animal Library gives the Icelandic sheep a lifespan of 10–12 years.
Source: the Icelandic sheep page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Icelandic sheep in the Animal Library
The detail
Icelandic sheep are a northern short-tailed breed, isolated in Iceland for over a thousand years. They are triple-purpose: meat, milk and a dual-coated fleece with a long outer coat and soft undercoat prized by spinners.
- Hardiness
- 5 out of 5 (Cold hardy)
- Origin
- Iceland
- Best fit
- Cold climates, fiber
- Temperament
- Alert, independent
What to weigh
Icelandics are seasonal breeders and can be flighty. The dual-coat fleece is best shorn twice a year to avoid felting.