[Jacob-list] shearing

[wolfpen]

When I first got sheep, I went out and bought some hand shears.  I hated
them as they were so hard on my hands, I kept stabbing the sheep with them
and I never could get very close to the skin.  Than I read an article in an
old Threads magazine.  The woman used a good pair of sewing scissors, tied
the sheep to the fence, and sat on a five gallon bucket.  I tried that 7
years ago and it worked fine for me.  The scissors fit my hand well and my
hand didn't cramp up. Scissors worked fine on the open fleeces of my Jacob
Sheep.  I would carry a little corn in my pocket and hand feed the ewes
while I was shearing so they got pretty tame and used to being tied.  This
helps when I need to do anything with them.  A sheep that will calmly stand
tied is alot easier to work on than one that fights you all the time.

Three years ago, I decided that I'd go "big time" and buy myself some
electric shears.  The first thing I did was just about skin one.  I sheared
my own knuckles (that hurt!) The sheep had to be forcefully held as they
didn't like the sound.  My fleeces were a mess.  My back hurt.  But, I'd
paid for them and, by darn, I was going to learn to use them.  I used to
shear in February or March.  I started shearing later and later, just so I
wouldn't have to try again with the electric shears.

This year I started again with the electric shears.  I did two sheep and
went to get my scissors and my 5 gallon bucket.  I'm back to tying the
sheep, having long discussions with them regarding the state of the
universe, feeding them a little corn, and taking off some usable wool.  I
find I'm enjoying the shearing now (wish I'd started when it was a little
cooler, though!) that I don't have to face all that noise and bother.
Anyone interested in some seldom used electric shears?

Linda