The ewes milk well and the lambs gain fast. Ewes milk so well that they can easily raise triplets. In fact, they were used for the dairy needs of farmers in Iceland until 40 years ago. Icelandic sheep are alert and active but not crazy. They have dispositions ranging from sweet and friendly to timid and shy.
Rams can be calm, quiet and friendly to aggressive, especially during the breeding season.
Either sex can be horned or polled. Horned rams grow outwardly curving horns that make a double curl as they get older. Horned ewes have a simple backward sweeping half circle curl. The sheep are dual coated with a lustrous, long outer coat, called tog, which provides wind and rain protection. The undercoat, called thel, is fine and downy and provides warmth.