Tag: shearer

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Spring Shearing

rabbit and friends

This years shearing day went perfectly!  Lovely weather and a smooth progression.  Every year is slightly different and exciting as it shows the wool from at least six months growth.  Twenty seven in all were sheared this time; seventeen Wensleydales, seven Karakuls and three Corriedales.

rabbit and friendswaiting for shearing

 

 

 

 

 

I often have some anxiety the morning of thinking that my little darlings are hungry and are going to be slightly uncomfortable even if only for a few minutes.  As soon as my shearer John arrives though he calms me down just with his presence.  That in turn calms down the sheep as well so everyone becomes more relaxed.

john sanchez shearingDSCF8105

 

 

 

 

 

Joy post shearingDSCF8111

 

 

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Shearing Day 2015

before shearing all sheep are a bit anxious

before shearing all sheep are a bit anxious

 

 

john sanchez shearing sheep

 

Every shearing day is both stressful and exciting.  The sheep get anxious so that makes me anxious.  I have to remind myself that they always feel much better with their fleeces off.  Once my shearer arrives I usually starts to relax since he’s so experienced and easy-going. Then one by one as the fleeces are tossed my way I can start to enjoy myself to see what the past year has grown.  All the feed, care and energy from the year is in those fibers.  It feels lovely to touch what I will have my hands in through several stages in the year to come.

 

 

 

after shearing plumblossomfarm.comgrazing sheared flockhappy shorn sheep

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First Fall Shearing

gray fleece on tarp

white and dark wooly sheep

This is the first time I’ve ever had two shearings in a year.  All the time I’ve had the sheep I’ve just had them shorn once in the early summer or spring.

 

 

My shearer believes that sheep stay healthier without all that wool on them throughout the year and it does seem like they get a spring in their step the day after.  Studies have shown that sheep will grow more wool per year if they are shorn twice.

sheep shearer with sheep

Plus most wool mills can only handle a 6″ staple length.  Some of my sheep get near that at the six month mark so it becomes a problem for the mill equipment after that.

 

 

We’ll see if the locks still sell okay at the shorter length.  But either way it started to become a matter of necessity to have shorter, cleaner fleeces.

gray fleece on tarp