[Jacob-list] re: shearing

[wolfpen]

Mine have a sheep shearing head and the grazer comb recommended for sheep.
I've seen lots of people shear well with the same shears.  The problem is
with me  - not the shears!  The same with the hand shears  -  for some
reason, they just don't fit my hand and I don't like them.

Scissors may not sound very efficient, but they work for me.  I've had sheep
with the type of close fleece that were hard to shear with scissors.  I
don't like that kind of fleece, so those sheep are gone.  With open fleeced
Jacobs and scissors with a sharp point to separate the fleece, I can get the
best part of the fleece off in one piece.  The trash part I just shear and
drop on the ground to be raked up and thrown away.  Not all scissors will
work well.  I use the Fiskar bent handles.  A pair will last me a few years
(doing a dozen sheep a year). At that point, they are delegated to some
other job.  They do get gummed up after one or two sheep.  That's ok, cause
I'm about ready for a break then anyway.

Linda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Kennedy" <dankennedy at attcanada.net>
To: "shepherd" <iseespots at email.msn.com>; <dazazel at usit.net>;
<jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: 27 May, 2000 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] shearing


> Electric should work ok but you have to be sure that they have a sheep
head
> or you will have all kinds of trouble.
> Dan Kennedy
> Killorglin Farm
> Prince Edward Island
> Jacob & Dorset Horn Sheep
> www.attcanada.net/~dankennedy
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: shepherd <iseespots at email.msn.com>
> To: <dazazel at usit.net>; <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
> Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 8:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] shearing
>
>
> > Sender: jacob-list-admin at jacobsheep.com
> > Errors-To: jacob-list-admin at jacobsheep.com
> > X-BeenThere: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> > X-Mailman-Version: 1.2 (experimental)
> > Precedence: bulk
> > List-Id: Jacob sheep discussion <jacob-list.jacobsheep.com>
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > The shearing expeditions have sounded fun.  I routinely shear my flock
> (this
> > year didn't because of hand problems) with hand blades without any
> problems.
> > It didn't start out that way.
> >
> > A dull pair of blades of any sort will make the person trying to do the
> > cutting say and think some pretty nasty things.  My blades were getting
> way
> > out of shape in the middle of one of my rams, so I shipped one of the
kids
> > in to get a pair of kitchen scissors.  They at least got me through the
> area
> > while my hubby dutifully sharpened up the blades for me so I could
finish.
> > I have one pair that will NOT hold an edge, and since they were my
> > grandfather's, I was bound and determined to make them work.
> Well-----they
> > are historical pieces now and I am using the current ones that will hold
> an
> > edge.
> >
> > I had one sheep one time (Thom---Doris' mom) that dulled THREE blades as
I
> > worked on her.  She had the worst fleece of any Jacob I think I have
ever
> > seen!
> >
> > If you aren't going to show your fleece in some fleece judging
> competition,
> > it matters not one stitch if that fleece comes off in 50 pieces or one.
> > What is important is that if you are shearing your sheep and spending
the
> > time with them in the process that you and them somewhat enjoy the
process
> > (or make the best of a bad situation).  I have tied mine to trees, fence
> > posts.  I have set them on their rears and laid them down on their sides
> > (always watching they don't stay too long with rumen activity).
> >
> > The results I have had and what I have seen with household scissors
> > generally are not as good as the blades will provide after a little
> > experience.  The blades are designed to do this job.  Sort of like using
a
> > pocket knife to cut open a head of lettuce----will do the job, but there
> are
> > better knives on the market for the task that will make it much easier.
> >
> > I have a question for those of you with much more 4-horned experience
than
> > me------with the ram lambs------the lateral horns when they are coming
> > up---aren't they usually smaller than the top horns?  I have a 6-horned
> ewe
> > that has a very nicely separated 4-horned ram lamb (named Nuts because I
> > said, "Oh nuts!" when I realized he was not a she and had everything
else
> > going for him) with what I am anticipating will be fusing on the lower
> > lateral position.  They will have to come on up further, and he was born
> > about 10 days ago, so there is plenty of time yet.  I am just getting
> > curious and antsy.
> >
> > Funny thing happened as I walked into the sheep shed the other
> day-----there
> > were NO girls in there that did not have 4 horns!  That was a rather
> > interesting site for me, but made me think that slowly I am moving in
that
> > direction even though I keep plenty of 2 horns around and will because
of
> > their ease in care as well as lower cull rate.
> >
> > Mary Ellen
> > ISeeSpots Farm www.iseespots.com
> > Home of Jacob Sheep, Shetland Sheep,
> > and German Angora Rabbits, colored German Angora crosses.
> > Renewable fleeces, loving personalities, friends.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Jacob-list mailing list
> > Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list
>
>
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