Sheep

Dark greyGreyLight greyMonastery
Sheep
Released	4 January 2001 (Update)
Members	No
Race	Sheep
Location	Varies
League region
Examine	• White and fluffy.; • Freshly sheared.
Advanced data
NPC ID	1178,1301,1304,2693,2696,2699
Link	MOID

Sheep are mammals found throughout Old School RuneScape. Players can use shears on most sheep to gain a piece of wool, which they can make into a ball of wool.

Variants

Sheep (unsheared) - the most common variant. Choosing the "shear" option or using a pair of shears on the sheep will give the player 1 wool, and the sheep will take on a thinner, less wooly appearance. After 50 ticks (30 seconds), their wool will be replenished.
Sheep (Zanaris) - Sheep found in Zanaris do not have a "shear" option, though they can still be sheared by using a pair of shears on them. Unlike Sheep in Gielinor, they will replenish their wool after 100 ticks (1 minute).

Sheep (sheared) - a permanently sheared version of the sheep. Though they will occasionally perform the eating animation, their wool does not replenish, and they cannot be interacted with. These are only found in the pen south of Varrock or west of Lumbridge Castle.
Ram - a male sheep which cannot be sheared, but is attackable.
Li'l lamb - a young sheep which cannot be interacted with.
Lamb - a young sheep which cannot be interacted with.
Sheep (penguins) - a pair of penguins disguised as sheep, found in Fred the Farmer's pen and referred to by Fred as "The Thing". They serve a role in the Cold War quest.
Sick-looking sheep - several multi-coloured sheep found around Ardougne. They serve a role in the Sheep Herder and Mourning's End Part I quests.
Sheep (Castle Wars) - a cosmetic transformation taken on by the player, which occurs in the Castle Wars waiting rooms under certain circumstances.

Lumbridge - Fred the Farmer's pen north of the Lumbridge General Store contains 16 shearable sheep, the most which can be found in any one area of the game. They are also relatively close to the Spinning wheel and bank in Lumbridge Castle - it takes approximately 3 minutes to shear 27 sheep, spin the wool into balls, bank them, and return to the pen.
Varrock - a pen south of the Stone circle contains 5 shearable sheep (there are another 5 which are permanently sheared).
Falador - there are 7 sheep by the Make-over mage's house, just outside the walls to the south-west. Members who can use the Falador agility shortcut have easy access to the city's west bank from here.
Edgeville Monastery - there are 3 sheep north of the Monastery west of Edgeville. These have a slightly different appearance most to other sheep, but can be sheared in the same way.

Hosidius - there are 12 sheep in the back of Watson's house, with a spinning wheel inside. There are also 2 sheep in a small farm to the north of the Hosidius estate agent.
East Ardougne - Richard's pen north of the city contains 10 sheep. Sick sheep outside the pen cannot be sheared.
Fisher Realm - there are 10 sheep in a pen just south of the fairy ring. Access requires completion of Holy Grail.
Zanaris - there are 5 sheep wandering around the Fairy ring. Zanaris sheep do not have a left-click "shear" option, but can still be sheared for wool by using a pair of shears on them. Access requires starting Lost City.
Lletya - there are 3 sheep in the north-west corner, relatively close to the south-eastern bank. Access requires starting Mourning's End Part I.

Location	Levels	Spawns	Map	League region
South of Varrock	N/A	10	Show map	Misthalin✓
Zanaris	N/A	5	Show map	Misthalin✓
Watson's house	N/A	12	Show map	Kourend✓
Fred the Farmer's farm	N/A	16	Show map	Misthalin✓
Farm north of East Ardougne	N/A	10	Show map	Kandarin✓
Fisher Realm	N/A	10	Show map	Karamja✓
Lletya	N/A	3	Show map	Tirannwn✓
North of Edgeville Monastery	N/A	3	Show map	Asgarnia✓
Make-over mage	N/A	7	Show map	Asgarnia✓
Hosidius	N/A	2	Show map	Kourend✓
West of Lumbridge	N/A	2	Show map	Misthalin✓

This article on an NPC has an associated dialogue page.
Click here for a transcript of possible conversations with this NPC.

Date	Changes
24 March 2021 (Update)	2021 Easter event: Added NPC code to sheep for counting up to 3 times the sheep have been sheared for wool.
2019 - 27 October 2019	Shearing sheep now has a 100% success rate, up from 75%.^[1] Failing to shear a sheep would previously result in a The sheep manages to get away from you! chat message which is now unobtainable.
29 January 2007 (Update)	Male sheep were graphically updated.
5 December 2006 (Update)	The NPCs were graphically updated. The "Shear" left-click option was added for unsheared sheep.
22 February 2005 (Update)	The NPC was graphically updated with the rework of Lumbridge and Draynor.

In the (now non-canon) god letters, they are said to be animals favoured by Guthix for reasons yet unknown and he wishes them not to be harmed unless in an act of balance.^[2] In one such letter, he says: 'I respect the sheep, for their purpose is essential, albeit secret. Some day the rest of you mortals might discover the true power of the sheep, innocent in appearance but essential in bearing, and realise why they shelter under my protection for the time being.'^[3]
- In addition to Guthix's expressing his patronage over sheep in the god letters, it is stated that Zamorak hates the creatures immensely.^[4]

^ Jagex. Mod Ash's Twitter account. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Mod Ash: "[Would you mind providing the now gone success rate of shearing sheep?] Used to be 75% success."
^ God Letter 13: "Guthix Maintains". RuneScape God Letters. Jagex.
^ God Letter 13: "Guthix Maintains". RuneScape God Letters. Jagex.
^ God Letter 15: "Zamorak speaks his mind once more". RuneScape God Letters. Jagex.

v t e Sheep Shearer
NPCs	Fred the Farmer Sheep Ram The Thing
Items	Shears Wool Ball of wool
Miscellaneous	Quick guide Transcript