Hardscrabble

Hardscrabble are breeders of Shetland sheep in Stockton, NJ, serving Burlington County and the Delaware Valley near Trenton. With more than fifteen years of breeding experience, they maintain active memberships with the American Sheep Industry Association and the Shetland Sheep Society, and conduct routine health screenings for parasites and foot rot. Their flock grazes rotationally across pasturelands and receives daily handling from a young age to encourage gentle temperaments.

They lamb exclusively outdoors during spring, providing shelter in pole barns and ensuring lambs remain with their dams as long as possible. Gifford and Sharon prioritize fleece quality, grading annually for micron count and staple length, and several rams have earned regional fleece show ribbons. Feedback from neighbors often highlights the flock’s calm demeanor and the clarity of Hardscrabble’s communications throughout the breeding cycle.

Their sheep share pasture rotations with herds of Nigerian dwarf goats, promoting cross-species enrichment and pasture health. Each lamb receives individual attention during weaning to ensure a smooth transition and stable weight gain.