[Jacob-list] Sheep shearing question......

[Linda]

I sheared my own sheep for 8 years.  The 8th year, I realized that it was taking me longer and longer to straighten up 
between shearings. (I'm no spring chicken!) By then, I was shearing 18 or so.   I tied the sheep up using either a 
halter or collar - depending on just what that sheep seemed to like the best - and sheared them standing up - well, 
they were standing up - I was bent halfway double.  The first shearing usually took quite awhile, but the sheep got 
used to being tied and were actually easier to handle for other chores once they learned that being tied meant to stand 
still.  It would usually take me 15 or 20 minutes to shear one that was used to standing tied.  I started out using 
traditional hand shearers.  Because of my hands, they were hard for me to use.  I finally settled on some scissors that 
didn't hurt my hands and that had a sharp enough point to separate the fleece.  Since Jacobs should have an open 
fleece, it was a good way to determine just what sheep to keep.  If my scissors couldn't slide easily into the fleece - 
it was not an open fleece.  I bought electric shears one year, but hated them. 

The first year we had a shearer come it was a shearer that does the circuit.  That means that he comes when he's in 
your area.  The timing is up to his/her schedule and you don't get much prep time, but  he does not charge a travel 
charge and is usually very fast .  The first year, he came the middle of April, which does work ok for us.  He sheared 
a sheep in three minutes, but cut more than half of them.  Still, I going to go with him another year.  Except the next 
year, he didn't return calls until after we had already got someone else. 

I now use a shearer that lives in the state.  He is a farmer and doesn't do the circuit.  He does charge a travel 
charge, but he comes when we ask him.  If you want to do a shearing day, I doubt you could do it with a circuit 
shearer.  BTW, there are some great Australian circuit shearers that travel the country, but you are on their schedule. 
Our shearer does a number of shearing day events.

I still do shear a freezer lamb that's going in the fall.  I learned alot about fleece character shearing my own and 
you might want to try a few just to appreciate your shearer more!  I know I do!

Linda  

On Sun, 01 Aug 2004 13:13:44 -0400, Christopher Brantley wrote:
>Ok guys.... you are a fountain of knowledge and great at sharing it with me
>and everyone else. I continue to appreciate that and your persistent patience
>with me as I learn more and more through your generosity.
>
>I'm looking at the spring and shearing season coming up. I was wondering how
>many folks hire out the task of shearing their sheep and if it's worth the
>cost. Or, is it too much trouble for most sheperds to do themselves.
>
>
>The other twist to my shearing will be that (maybe not this year, but in the
>future) turned into an event. We'll probably market it as a weekend event at
>our Bed and Breakfast so folks can see where wool comes from... So getting it
>right is important around here.
>
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