Diddley died today.  As I have said before, he is my favorite sheep (but Tom’s least favorite.  My all-time favorite sheep (personality-wise) was Bob, and both were progeny of Babette, a friendly grey Shetland ewe and one of my original sheep.  He had been walking and eating less, enjoying hanging out in the barn.  I worked yesterday, but Tom said he was walking around outside and ate well.  This morning it looked like he was sleeping in his spot in the barn but wasn’t.  I don’t see any signed of struggle so hopefully he passed away peaceful in his sleep and there was no pain or suffering.  It seems appropriate that this black sheep might die on Halloween.  But it is also National Hug a Sheep Day which seems particularly cruel.  Here I am participating with Diddley 9 years ago.

Anyway, Diddley was born April 20, 2010 as one of two black krunet Shetland ram lambs.  I named them Bo and Diddley.  Their parents were my ram Lewis and my ewe Mona.  Bo was sold to Denise and renamed Chone, but Diddley remained here his whole life.  Here are photos of him from over the years.

 

 

He started losing his teeth.

 

I did have Diddley depicted on my Jocko spinning wheel for which I am grateful.

I will miss this sheep so much.  He was always incredibly nice to me, looking for my attention and food.  He was jealous though and didn’t like me paying attention to others.  He did butt Piper once which I was shocked by.  But it may have been a jealousy thing.  And he wasn’t very nice to Tom either.  The barn will never be the same.