|
Post by ncgarden on May 23, 2015 16:20:39 GMT -5
My shearer was way behind due to the rain in April, and finally arrived today. It's always an ordeal for my Type A personality, I call and email and text begging him to let me know when he'll be here. He called Thursday, said he would be here Saturday. Friday he called at noon and said he would be there Friday evening. Friday evening he called and said, no, it would be Saturday morning. Anyway, we got everything ready (including food - this year I gave him breakfast when he arrived and packed a lunch for him to take with him when he left), and we got down to business! The sheep are much, much happier and I am in fleece heaven. Shearing Day Photos
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on May 23, 2015 18:05:51 GMT -5
I can't believe how they just sit there and let him shear them. I expected to see them in one of those head restraining things like I have seen at the Farm Show.
You will be VERY busy this winter!
|
|
|
Post by lisaann on May 23, 2015 19:13:02 GMT -5
I love the 4th pic.
I think I see a mullein in the yard.
How many pounds of wool did you get?
Thank you for sharing the pics.
Was skylar the best behaved during all that?
Shoo!
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on May 24, 2015 2:31:17 GMT -5
I never saw what sheep shearing is all about. Those sheep get into some weird positions! Thanx for the view.
|
|
|
Post by OregonRed on May 24, 2015 12:07:15 GMT -5
do you shear once a year? how old are they? --- they're used to it, because you have been doing this every year for _____________ are sheep considered docile?
I remember that funny video someone posted of goats 'yelling' hahahah (I consider goats and sheep similar, not sure if they are - obviously I did not grow up anywhere near a farm!)
you also use the wool to make yarn, yes?
|
|
|
Post by ncgarden on May 24, 2015 13:35:09 GMT -5
We shear once a year - Skylar and Tobias are 5, Ada is 4, Will is 3 (he is Ada's son). I should have taken video so you could see the take down - they definitely do not stand still for it and it is quite an exciting time to grab one and wrestle them down. Once they are sitting on their butts they are almost completely docile, they cannot get any leverage once they are off their feet (which is why they are such easy prey for predators!!).
Each raw fleece weighs about 30 lbs. Close to 10 of that is "throw-way" - wool that is too dirty and matted with poop to even clean (use that for mulch or erosion control), leaving about 20 lbs of useable wool. Once that is cleaned and carded, it leaves about 15 lbs of processed wool, which I will spin into about 8-10 skeins of yarn (depending on how thick I spin the yarn). Was out pawing through the fleeces today - I am teaching a nearby family how to process wool, so I'll be waiting a couple of weeks to send these to the mill so I can walk them through doing it by hand (which I can do, but it takes days and days and for now, not worth it for me to do other than for the thrill of it).
Lisaann - I have lots of mullein growing, I cut some of it down, but a lot of it I leave and harvest for medicinals (it is good for respiratory ailments).
|
|
|
Post by Mumsey on May 24, 2015 18:42:35 GMT -5
Wow, they looked fat BEFORE the shearing! That is fascinating, awesome to have your own wool! Thx for sharing the pics!
|
|
|
Post by ecsoehng on May 25, 2015 14:23:26 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing! PETA would have you believe that shearing is cruel and leaves the sheep bloody. Nothing like the truth. Those poor things need shearing so they will be more comfy for the summer.
|
|
|
Post by brownrexx on May 25, 2015 15:30:02 GMT -5
Where I ride horses they have some Icelandic horses and their coats are super thick. They shave their bellies for the summer to keep them cooler or they would overheat.
|
|
|
Post by ncgarden on May 26, 2015 18:13:08 GMT -5
I love icelandics!! My Norwegian Fjords usually have to get a full body clip to make it through out summers.
And I know PETA means well, and sometimes sheep do get cut during the shearing, but I have never seen one I would call bloody. Good lord.
|
|
|
Post by restless on Jul 5, 2015 6:23:09 GMT -5
Very interesting thread. They look all shiny and new once they are sheared.
|
|