Look out Violet,Woolsey,and Starlight.......
Our new purchase was a set a electric shears from Colonial Acres Farm,where we bought the Ladies.Priscilla told us they have only been used a few times-for the amount of sheep they have,it was too time consuming for them and they decided to have someone else shear their flock. Since we only have three sheep,we figure that we can give it whirl. The Ladies were sheared late last summer,but they look like they may need it again. This winter was pretty cold,and their fleece looks a bit long and thick. We did buy coats for them to keep their fleece clean,but at this point,we are not going to bother putting them on until we shear them. Once they are sheared,we are going to wash and card the fleece,then I am going to try my hand at spinning. That's the plan,anyway!
We have been watching videos on line of sheep being sheared,and the shears come with a step by step instruction booklet. Whether or not we make a shearing stand remains to to be seen. I guess we will just have to wait and see how bad it is on our backs doing it on a covered area on the ground.
We don't have a date set yet to start this process. We are in the beginning of what we refer to as "mud season" and we still have quite a bit of snow left ( our barn is not built yet,remember).
Poor Ladies...they might look funny after our first attempt. Don't worry,it will grow back!
Just do not attempt to shear them when they are wet, they must be fully dry. Also lock them up without feed the night before you shear so you're not squashing full bellies when you tip them, having a full belly isn't good for them. We sheared twice a year, once in October, 2nd month of spring, and again in April 2nd month of autumn, of course the temperatures are milder here.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how it would be trying to shear a wet fleece....blech. I think " no wet fleece" and "empty bellies' are the golden rules of shearing! If not,they should be :)
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