Can Soay sheep just be left out in the pasture to take care of themselves?
The Soay is a relatively hardy animal and requires minimal care when compared to modern specialized breeds, but this does not mean it can just be left on it own completely unattended. It thrives best when provided with shelter from winter rains just as it does on Hirta in the hundreds of cleits found there. Because it has a thin fleece with proportionally less lanolin, the Soay benefits from shelter more than any other breed. It does also need a worming program, foot checks and external parasite protection (lice, ticks, blow flies). Protection from predators is essential; the worst of which are usually neighborhood dogs.
