[Jacob-list] Shearer

[Linda]

Randy says he will go anywhere to shear - if you pay expenses :-). I pay him a travel charge, which isn't cheap, but is very fair.   I know he used to shear in Iowa (although I'm not sure he still does that).  He's a farmer and has to work around when he's in the field, but other than that, he will come when I need him.  I sheared my own for 10 years, but I have more sheep now  (I'm probably older now, too) and it started to really kill my back.  I was shearing one, recuperating for a week (or two) and shearing another - got to where I just finished shearing the last one and it was time to shear the first one again:-)  Then I had the Australian circuit shearer. He was good, but he got here in May, which is later than I like. Plus, he'd call in the evening and say "I'll be there tomorrow". I'm not that organized. Then I had a guy that did come when I asked the first year (but cut every sheep) and the next year didn't return my calls until after I'd already found Randy and had him come.  We had to cancel our first shearing date this year due to weather and he ended up coming the day two ewes were REALLY close to lambing.  He very gently sheared them standing up - they both lambed that night with no ill effects. 

A good dependable shearer is worth more than a vet around here.  

Linda
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn


> Linda, you think I could talk your shearer into driving to No. CA? 

> Our shearers won't drive more than 30 - 45 min.  I found one that

> will shear in the evenings or on weekends if I take my sheep to him!

>   For the past 4 years I've paid him double what he charges, just

> to "get in good with him".  I started calling him in Nov to arrange

> for a Feb. shearing date but he didn't return my calls until the

> end of Feb.  I finally talked him into coming to my place this year

> since I dind't want to transport ewes due to lamb any day, and he

> stood me up twice.  We now have it set up to take all of my sheep

> to the local fair and have them used in a shearing demonstration. 

> The big drawback is that I lamb Feb - April and the fair is the end

> of May when it can be 100 degrees +.  At least most of my sheep

> will be there anyway for the farm baby exhibit and showing.

>

> Linda wrote: >    That's about the way

> we do it here.  I trim when they need it, which isn't often. Our

> farrier, Pete Ramey is pretty much the authority on barefoot horses

> and natural hoof care (horses, not sheep). He's pretty on the fact

> that the more often you trim, the more often you have to trim.  He

> also stresses that feed has a big impact on just how fast they

> grow. More trimming is needed in wet weather than dry. I do keep an

> eye on their feet, but I don't do any scheduled hoof trimming.

>

>> I REALLY appreciate my shearer and the time and effort he puts

>> into making a 3 hour drive (one way) to come shear my sheep.  I

>> wouldn't think of asking him to do anything except shear.  

>>

>> Linda

>>

>> www.patchworkfibers.com

>> Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

>>

>>

>>> We haven't found it necessary to trim our Jacobs' hooves

>>> either. Give assistance when necessary, but let's keep the

>>> breed hardy.

>>>

>>> Carl

>>>

>>

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