Yearlings and adults can be shipped at any time of the year and at any age, with the exception of pregnant ewes.
Pregnant ewes should not be shipped in the last two months of gestation, and extra care must be taken with ewes in the first three months of gestation to avoid stress created by heat, a shipping container too large to provide lateral support from the vehicle turning or making sudden stops, a particularly lengthy journey, and so forth.
We strongly discourage shipment, either by private vehicle or commercial hauler, of lambs until at least 2-3 weeks after weaning. No matter how gently you separate your lambs from their mothers, the switch from a combination of milk and grass (or hay) to zero milk stresses the lambs. In areas of the country with coccidia present, the stress of weaning can quickly bring on an outbreak in your lambs, causing them great stress at a minimum, and permanent damage or death in some cases.
Summer carries special risks for shipping Soay sheep. In our location, the heat in July and August (90s and up to 100F or so) makes any type of shipment other than in an air-conditioned trailer, or a very short distance in an open trailer, a life-threatening experience for the animals. On the other hand, Soay sheep can be shipped throughout the winter months as long as the sides and top of the trailer they are in can be closed down enough to keep them from undue exposure to wind, and the driver is expert enough to maneuver the snow-packed or icy roads!