[Jacob-list] re: shearing

[Gary Fay]

Question for the list.

What do you use to clean the shears between sheep? Soap and water would seem
to be ineffective. Gasoline, Hexane, Ethyl Acetate should do wonders for
'getting the grease out'?

Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: wolfpen <wolfpen at alltel.net>
To: *Jacob discussion group <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 11:56 AM
Subject: [Jacob-list] re: shearing


> 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
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Jacob-list mailing list
> > Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> > http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list
> >
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Jacob-list mailing list
> Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/jacob-list
>