Orange sheep? What next?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326198)
Rockingham, Australia
April 12, 2017 5:51pm CST
Following musings about having Herc on our coat-of-arms when we get round to designing one, I remembered a photo I had of some orange sheep and thought I'd share it. We saw them up near Hadrian's Wall in Scotland when we were there in 2015.
I was very intrigued with these and didn't really believe they were being bred that colour. I later found out that the owners colour the sheep dip they use and this deters sheep-rustlers. These sheep are bred for their meat rather than their wool so I guess the coloured wool isn't a problem.
And just for the record, we're not really considering our own coat of arms. 
45 people like this
45 responses
@allknowing (130175)
• India
13 Apr 17
Wonder what the sheep thought looking at each other (lol)
5 people like this
@allknowing (130175)
• India
13 Apr 17
@JudyEv I knew it. These orange sheep must be feeling odd in each others' company.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
@allknowing They are probably used to it now. Maybe they think they are having a bad hair day. :)
3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Apr 17
Perhaps a "Beware of the Sheep" sign on the gate.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
@teamfreak16 My Mum would tell the story of a man who had his arm broken by a goose which slapped him with its wing.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Apr 17
@JudyEv - I had a mama goose come after me as I rode my bike to work one morning.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118587)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Apr 17
Well, it's certainly not hard to see the orange sheep! That was a great idea of the owner to do that!
4 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45567)
• India
13 Apr 17
Its interesting - If not for wool, then why do they dye?
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 17
If they are different to all the other sheep around, people will not be so likely to steal them.
@LeaPea2417 (36517)
• Toccoa, Georgia
14 Apr 17
@JudyEv Yes, they are unique for sure.
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
13 Apr 17
very interesting,,, they look good being that color
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Apr 17
and maybe it either washes out of the wool, or there is a market for orange socks? lol
3 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
13 Apr 17
When you think about it, dying their coats (if not using the wool) is a pretty good plan against rustlers @JudyEv .
3 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21739)
• Canada
12 Apr 17
Orange sheep? That would make me stop and take notice....just think, if they want orange wool it's already been dyed.
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Apr 17
Herc says don't turn me into an orange. He's a proud woolly.
3 people like this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
13 Apr 17
That would really stop traffic. I could just hear us asking my parents which bag does this wool go into now, as all the wool went into a different wool bag based on color and the price depended on the color.
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
14 Apr 17
@JudyEv Yes, we had natural black wool and that went into a different bag. My brother and I were sheep shearers for many years and that helped us earn money to buy our first vehicles.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 17
@Fishmomma Did you use blade shears or electric? I loved shearing time on our farm.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
12 Apr 17
Really appreciate this post. It's interesting to see sheets of that color. I've never seen one until today.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
I loved all the different sheep breeds over there. I think these are Scottish Blackface sheep dyed orange! 
@Tampa_girl7 (49132)
• United States
13 Apr 17
I wonder why they put color in it ?
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
I read somewhere it is to deter thieves. Sheep this colour would be easily identified.
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
I have no idea how permanent the dye is - and I don't think this breed's wool would be used for processing into yarn.
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
13 Apr 17
hmmm, i like the idea of coloring the wool with orange color, but what if the stolen sheep is immediately butchered? so there is no more use for the orange wool?
3 people like this
@JudyEv (326198)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 17
I guess they are hoping the sheep would be easier to find. If it's immediately butchered, then the plan isn't going to work.
