In Case You've Ever Wondered If Sheep Have Feelings

Over the last several days, I've watched two of our old sheep behave in a way that I'm sure "the experts" would not agree with. The same experts who'd also most likely say that chickens don't have the awareness or concern for their friends and family either.


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Jester, Joshua and Elizabeth are the last of our original flock of Jacobs. They are all at least 11 years old, if not older, maybe much older. Jester became a favorite sheep early on, not only for his interesting horns, golden eyes and "moo-o-o" instead of "maa-a-a", but for some unusual behavior.

Jester is the flock guardian. He adopted Emily when we brought her in. She was a six month old lamb trying to mix with a flock of older sheep. Not only was she young, but her breeders had allowed her to be bred and she soon had Annabelly. He adopted her too. Then came Billy Belly and Baby Belly. Also adopted. Casper Belly? Yep.

By adopted I mean he watched over them. He'd stand by them watching you while you trimmed feet, vaccinated... Billy Belly's first hair cut? Jester stood right on the other side of the gate and watched. Those original Jacobs were all tight, but for some reason he took special care of Emily and her family and we call him Uncle Jester.


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Standing with Emily and Casper Belly back in the winter.



Last Tuesday I noticed Jester not behaving normally. See him staring out through the fence, looking back at the barn? I knew something wasn't "right". I walked back and found Joshua standing back at the barn. If a sheep isn't interested in eating, there's a problem. A big problem. Sheep are good eaters.

Vets were called, tests run, nothing conclusive, but something definitely wrong. Over the next several days, any time Joshua didn't feel up to walking out with the rest of the sheep, his friend Jester stayed back with him. That's the two of them up by the gate in the top picture.


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Here he stayed by Joshua's side even though I was sitting in the stall with them, which made Jester very uncomfortable. Anything I did to Joshua, Jester watched. Sometimes he'd stamp his foot at me, maybe trying to protect him by trying to scare me away. In the end though I think he understood.


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We lost Joshua last night. All the sheep seemed to know and Ewen McTeagle especially seemed confused and upset as we wrapped Joshua in a sheet and put him in the truck to take him to the university. I will never forget the look on his face as he'd sniff the sheet and then look up at Tim. Jester was nowhere to be found.

After the sheep settled down and headed out to graze I saw Jester and Elizabeth out by the tree, away from the other sheep. Jacob sheep are very flock oriented so this is very unusual. Jester just stood there looking back at the barn, looking at me. And while I wish I knew how much they understood or could tell us if we could talk, I never wonder if they care.

Don't ever wonder.