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Subject Topic: Sheep shearing today--photos!! Post ReplyPost New Topic
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lilac hill
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Posted: May 09 2005 at 3:51pm | IP Logged Quote lilac hill
Our flock of 4 was sheared today.
Pounds and pounds of wool came off in a sheet. The outside of the wool is dirty, faded, and dull; the underside is soft and shiny and "greasy" with lanolin.
What a great way to enjoy a beautiful spring day with friends.
After shearing , the sheep do not recognize each other and push eachother around.They cry alot but they have to feel better with all that wool off them.
Two of my boys are big old fashioned sheep with wool on their faces and legs. It is so nice to see their eyes again after a long winter.
I am going to try to start trimming their facial hair. Of course that will entail flipping them on their backs and cutting near their eyes. They are such big boys, but I can do it--I think.
I love spring, the sun, and knowing that the sheep are sheared. Getting a shearer to come is not an easy feat, especailly with only 4 sheep. I have nightmares of having to shear them by hand again with the clippers--not electric. It took Laurea and I 3 hours a sheep the first year we sheared first 2 we owned. I think I was never so filthy after that event. Although with getting the barn ready and helping a little bit,. I am pretty smelly now.
So off to the showers.
Can we post pictures to this site?
I have a few of the shearing to share if possible.
Viv

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Posted: May 09 2005 at 4:10pm | IP Logged Quote JSchaaf
I would love to see the pictures!
Jennifer
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MacBeth
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Posted: May 09 2005 at 4:25pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Send me the pictures and I'll post them! I can just imagine your sheep (since we have met ) so neatly shorn!

Have you ever seen Wallace and Gromit's A Close Shave? It features a sheep named Sean (it's a pun if you have a Brit accent).

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Posted: May 09 2005 at 5:31pm | IP Logged Quote Taffy
Just to satisfy my curiosity...

I was wondering how much wool you'd get from your four sheep? I enjoy knitting/crochet work and have been fantasizing about spinning my own yarn someday...

Thanks!

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lilac hill
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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:36pm | IP Logged Quote lilac hill
Liz- I get more wool than I need. I would have to check in the attic for the poundage.
It is expensive to get the wool processed because it is such a labor intensive process. Some places are cheaper than my place but you cannot be guarnateed your own wool. Yes, I can do it myself but I do not think it would work with the front loading washer and I do not want to do it by hand.
Try out plenty of wheels before you buy.
I love me wheel, just need more time to spin.
Of course isn't that always the case when you begin a new hobby. And you do not need to own your own sheep. At the wool shops there are so many kinds of wool available, and I am sure you could fin sheep owners who would love to get rid of their fleeces.
Viv

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MacBeth
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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:43pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
The white sheep is Fiona-a lovely cross between a Cotswald and a Blue Faced Leicester. She has a long body and no hair on her face or legs; she has a fine wool. The dark Moira is a Karakul, fat tailed sheep. Think of her tail like a camel's hump. Her breed originates in the Middle East. We thank her for sharing her manger with Jesus on Christmas Eve with two scoops of grain. She has coarse carpet wool.


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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:47pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
This is Andrew, the leader of the flock. He is a very large Lincoln, and quite old fashioned with hair on his legs and face. Iian is in the background. After only a few years his brown wool has become more grey. Before he was sheared his wool was bleachy/brown.



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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:48pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Iian.

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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:50pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
The shearer puts the sheep on their hind quarters to keep them under control.
At this point Andrew has had his belly and face sheared.


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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:51pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth


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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:54pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
Shearing is a dirty job.
The shearer starts with the belly region. The wool comes off in a large sheet. For cleaning/spinning the wool is skirted, the filthy parts are cut off and the cleaner upper parts are processed.



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Posted: May 09 2005 at 7:58pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
The above sheep photos are from Viv. I own no sheep (this message posted just in case the village inspectors come over to see what's going on in my back yard) .

Great photos, Viv!!!

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Posted: May 09 2005 at 10:51pm | IP Logged Quote teachingmom
MacBeth wrote:
The above sheep photos are from Viv. I own no sheep (this message posted just in case the village inspectors come over to see what's going on in my back yard) .


Smart thinking, MacBeth!



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Posted: May 10 2005 at 8:29am | IP Logged Quote momwise
Love the pictures Viv. We've had the opportunity to be around sheep at the Urban Farm near our home for the last 4 years. The 4H kids have learned to card and spin and the Cloverbuds (5-7yrs.) were able to make felt at their last meeting. I think the shearing is coming up.

Farmer Brown Shears his Sheep is a very funny shearing story!



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Posted: May 10 2005 at 10:08am | IP Logged Quote Taffy
Thnkas for the phots and the info Viv! I'm clipping it and adding it to my scrapbook of things to think about regarding wool and raising it!

And I LOVED the pictures! Thnkas for sharing!

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Posted: May 11 2005 at 8:30am | IP Logged Quote Mary Chris
Viv, what great photos!    It took me back to the year I raised a lamb in 4H. I have such fond memories of walking my lamb around the neighborhood. I only did it once though as the lambs were raised for market and I cried and cried when I had to give her away

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