[Jacob-list] shearing

[honeybucket at attbi.com]

You'll likely get another crop of variations on the 
theme of shearing.  We shear in late January-early 
March, depending on finding a compatible date.  This is 
primarily to have enough time to process fleeces for 
sale at the Puyallup (Washington) Spring  Shepherd's 
Extravaganze which I believe is in April.  Usually the 
sheep do fine but this last year we had the COLDEST 
weather afterward, complete with snow!  We felt quite 
sorry for the poor things, but they did quite well in 
spite of losing their jackets!  
I would agree that marketing the fleeces can be a 
challenge, especially if your flock grows!  However, 
many spinners are very fond of Jacob wool, so it pays to 
get the word out!  Good luck and enjoy!
Patty Berke
Flying Coyote Farm
> We try to have the sheep sheared in April but it usually ends up being May 
> because our shearer spends the winter working in NM on the large herds there.  
> This year it was late May which was too late. The temperatures were already 
> reaching into the mid-90s and they need to be sheared before the heat get bad.  
> Our shearer does three of four of us in the area the same day (we only have 16 
> grown sheep).  We shear only those a year old or older.  Better question for 
> you-what are you planning to do with the fleece?  We have finally had some made 
> into beautiful rovings but unless you or a friend is a spinner, you may end up 
> with some large bags of fleece.  You will have to develop your market.
> 
> Rich
> 
> Purrfleece Farms
> pfarms at alltel.net
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Heather Fogel 
>   To: jacob-list 
>   Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2002 9:38 AM
>   Subject: [Jacob-list] shearing
> 
> 
>   Hello all,
>       Being new at sheepherding, we are curious about how often you shear your > sheep, and when.  We have asked around locally and have found just about every 
> variation possible.  Thanks
> 
>   Heather Fogel
>   Little Shady Acres
>   Stewart MN
>