Shearing Day
19 Apr 2012 4 Comments
We finally found a shearer to come to our farm and shear our sheep. This is the first year we’ve had it done here, we usually take them to another farm on their shearing day. You’re supposed to have them ‘put up’ in close quarters for a few hours prior to the shearing. The warmth gets their lanolin flowing and makes the shearing process easier on their skin. Our appointment was at 5PM so we got them up in the barn during our morning chores. Since Jenna’s still convalescing from her surgery last Friday, Brian and I did the task ourselves. It took an hour to get our sheep into the barn without her help. It really makes us appreciate what a partner she is on our farm! When the shearer arrived, most everyone was good except for Beatrice. She’s a kicking, thrashing brat! After she was shorn, she came and stood right by me and let me pet her head. She was probably looking for a ‘good job!’ but didn’t get one…
Missing Willow Farm 
Apr 19, 2012 @ 07:16:37
I’ve watched sheep shearing once. It’s scary the first time that you see it. I was sure that the guy with the shears was going to lose a body part. LOL
Apr 19, 2012 @ 10:14:31
Connie…what do you do with the wool? How do you clean it? Can you imagine when they used to do that with scissors?
Apr 19, 2012 @ 10:21:58
Lots of stuff, Meredith! The poopy part near the tail gets set aside to plug the holes in the bottom of our planting pots. It’s biodegradable and has it’s own fertilizer. I don’t spin but I do felt. I’ve sent some away to a spinning mill and have it back as roving and yarn (too bad I don’t knit!). It makes great mulch. I also fill doggie beds with it and also sell it to spinners. It’s tricky to clean because you can’t agitate it too much or it gets felted.
Apr 20, 2012 @ 06:43:39
Lol @ Beatrice. Silly girl