Basic Information
Sheep belong to a special group of mammals called ‘Ovis aries’ in the scientific world, and they’re part of the same family as goats!
Sheep - Facts for Kids
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Facts About Sheep For Kids
A group of sheep is called a flock, but it can also be called a mob or a drift!
Sheep have lived alongside humans for over 10,000 years, making them one of the first animals ever domesticated!
A male sheep is called a ram, a female is called a ewe, and a baby is called a lamb!
Most sheep can live between 10–12 years, but some have lived to be 20 years old in captivity!
An adult sheep can weigh anywhere between 100-350 pounds (45-160 kg), depending on their breed!
The average sheep stands about 2.5-4 feet (76-122 cm) tall at the shoulder (that’s like the height of a kitchen counter!)
There are over 1,000 different breeds of sheep in the world today!
Sheep can be found on every continent except Antarctica!
Wild sheep prefer to live in mountainous areas where they can easily spot predators!
A sheep’s wool can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) in a single year — like having a fluffy, cozy sweater grow all over!
Sheep have cloven (split) hooves with two toes on each foot, which helps them grip on rocky hills and mountains!!
A sheep’s wool is naturally water-resistant because it contains lanolin, a special kind of oil — kind of like a built-in raincoat!
Some sheep can grow not just two, but four — or even six — horns! It’s like having extra crown points on their heads!
Sheep have excellent hearing and can rotate their ears to locate sounds without turning their heads!
The average woolly sheep has about 5 to 10 pounds (2 to 5 kg) of wool before shearing — enough for a few sweaters!
Wild and farm sheep come in lots of colors — white, black, gray, brown, reddish, spotted, and many more!
Behavior & Intelligence
Sheep can remember up to 50 different sheep faces and recognize them for up to 2 years!
Sheep can feel lots of emotions like being scared, sad, angry, or happy — just like we do!
A sheep can follow the same trail for many years without getting lost!
Sheep prefer to walk uphill rather than downhill when grazing — kind of like saying, “Challenge? Bring it on!”
Sheep naturally stay together in groups to protect themselves from predators!
Sheep can solve simple puzzles, especially if there’s food as a reward!
When one sheep starts walking, others usually follow right away — often within a few seconds — like a friendly game of “follow the leader.”
Sheep communicate with each other using different kinds of bleats, and lambs can recognize their mothers by their calls!
Sheep spend about 8 to 12 hours each day grazing — that’s like spending half the day munching on their favorite grass!
Sheep take lots of short naps throughout the day and night — together, they sleep about 4 to 6 hours each day!
Habitat & Survival
Sheep are tough and can live in cold weather as low as –4°F (–20 °C) and in hot weather up to about 104°F (40 °C), as long as they have shelter, water, and extra care!
Wild sheep usually live way up high in the mountains — between 3,000-19,000 feet (914-5,791 meters)!
Sheep can climb steep hills and mountains almost as well as goats!
A sheep’s wool provides perfect insulation, keeping them warm in winter and cool in summer!
Sheep can drink up to 1.5 gallons (5.7 liters) of water per day — especially when they’re big, producing milk, or it’s hot outside!
Sheep have excellent balance and can walk on very narrow paths!
When it rains, sheep turn their backs to the wind to protect their face and belly!
Sheep can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour)!
Sheep have a special stomach with four parts that helps them digest tough plants!
Wild sheep typically live in groups of 5–50 animals for protection from predators!
Life Cycle
A baby lamb can stand up and walk within minutes of being born — ready to find milk and follow its mom almost right away!
Most mamma sheep (ewes) give birth to two lambs at a time (twins), though they can have anywhere from 1 to 5 lambs at once!
A lamb weighs about 5–10 pounds (2.3-4.5 kg) when it’s born!
Lambs start eating grass and hay around 2 to 3 weeks old, and by 4 to 6 weeks, they’re eating a lot more — grazing alongside their mom!
A lamb can recognize its mother’s call within the first few days of life!
Sheep reach adult size by the time they’re 2 years old!
A mum sheep (ewe) carries her lamb for about 152 days, which is roughly five months, before the little lamb is born!
Most sheep breed once a year in the fall, so their lambs are born in spring when the weather and grass are just right!
Baby lambs start playing with other lambs just a few hours to days after being born — running, jumping, butting heads, and having lots of fun together!
A lamb’s tail naturally wiggles really fast while nursing to help their mother find and know it’s feeding!
Diet & Feeding
Sheep spend up to one-third of their day chewing their cud!
A single sheep can eat about 2-4.5 pounds (0.9-2 kg) of food per day!
