Tag: shearing

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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

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Shearing Day!

sheep and shearer

Always a stressful and exciting and stressful day for both me and the sheep comes every spring on shearing day.  The sheep must be kept off food till they are done and packed tightly into stalls to await their turn.  When I first got my Wensleydale’s I imagined that I would eventually shear them all myself.  But since the first time I witnessed the hard work and finesse of a professional shearer I have since changed my tune.  A good shearer is worth his weight in gold and I tip mine heavily to be sure he wants to come back next year!

 

shearing day april 2013 202
Sheep waiting anxiously
sheep and shearer
Two down, thirty two to go!

 

 

 

 

 

carole skirting fleece
Look at this amazing fleece!
sheep in pasture
All done and happy to be in the green grass.

 

 

 

 

 

All the fleeces must have to be skirted before they are bagged to remove all the dirty bits and vegetation that has found it’s way into the fleece.  This is a delightful time to see what has been growing all year and the results of months of energy.  I had never seen the Karakuls shorn before and so it was fun to see what they looked like under that lofty coat!  The photo of the gorgeous fleece shown above is from a shy sheep named Ferdinand.  His fleece is large and absolutely unique.  He is a Karakul, Romeny, Wensleydale cross and the attributes of each show up in his beautiful fiber!