I had a phone call on Saturday, the shearers were coming in a few hours.
Not much notice but I didn't want to miss my opportunity with the hot weather we're due next week.
They arrived in force, four of them and a big trailer that folded out into a outdoor shearing station.
We rounded them up on foot and then sorted out the lambs from the ewes. My job was to keep the sheep pushed up the race down the middle so they could grab a sheep when they wanted, pretty easy compared to shearing them! I didn't have anyone there to wrap the fleases as I didn't have much notice they were coming, so they each had to roll their own and put it in the wool bags.
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| Four on shearing |
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| Shearing begins |
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| Baa! |
They were quick, with four shearing 32 ewes it didn't take very long. They did moan and said that some weren't quite ready to shear as the wool wasn't coming off very easy. I think it's because the second lot of sheep I bought had been shawn in the autumn so their wool wasn't as thick as the others. I have to remember that these guys are farmers and have to moan about something. I'd much rather have the wool of the ewes so at least I can see if any have any problems with maggots in the next few weeks.
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| Lambs seperate from the ewes. A good opportunity to run them through the foot bath. |
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| One of the two bags of wool |
Unfortunately my girls were off with my wife at the mothering laws so they missed it all, but I'm sure they'll be many other times in the future they'll be able to help out!
Now all I have to do is book in taking in the wool to the wool board and then wait a few months to see if the wool has covered the cost of shearing the sheep. Hopefully I should break even, not including my time.
I get charged 4 euros per sheep - about £2.90 at the mo, plus they get to keep the fleeces. But, I've only got 4 sheep right now so it isn't a huge amount of money!
ReplyDeleteI get charged 4 euros per sheep - about £2.90 at the mo, plus they get to keep the fleeces. But, I've only got 4 sheep right now so it isn't a huge amount of money!
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's not really worth their time otherwise for a few sheep. I was surprised that so many turned up to do mine, but they were going around local farms and mine was on the way I think. Mine was the last job for the day.
DeleteI had 24hrs notice for the Alpacas, could have done with more as Martin had to stay over an extra night there was no way I could have brought the Alpacas in on my own.
ReplyDeleteIts £12.25 for each to be sheared and the fleeces are worth £75-£150 each and the kid fleeces are about £250 but I am not selling the fleeces this time round.
I am pleased yours are done now another annual job ticked off the list :-)
Three hours notice is all I had! Still it got it done and I'm much more likely to spot summer problems without their wool!
DeleteWith the wool I'll be lucky to break even as the price is never great. I'll let you know how much it makes when it goes through.
I bet the sheep feel so much better for that!
ReplyDeleteThey seem to run about much more without it. Like removing your winters coat on a hot day - must feel great!
DeleteIt's always good to get a job like that out of the way isn't it, and this time it means you get to see your new girls in the 'flesh' to have a good look at them for the first time.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope the promised heat wave arrives as promised now, otherwise they will be shivering.
We have a couple of sheep in our field again to get the grass down and help a local farmer fatten up his sheep a bit, it's lush grazing in there. I think they will be shorn in a few weeks, it seems to happen later here.
It feels like a weight off my shoulders as I was just thinking about it all the time! I could have been a little later but I'd rather get it done out of the way.
DeleteThere are always financial worries for the smallholder, Kev. This week it's finding money to pay for the hay baling. No wonder we farmers complain a lot. Fantastic weather here in Ireland.
ReplyDeleteFarmers do complain a lot! I'm determined to find a way to make a living out of my little patch of land.
DeleteThat takes me back. I love the smell of sheep's wool and I bet your hands are lovely and soft from the lanolin.
ReplyDeleteI'm lookering the lambs all the time now as it is so easy to miss strike. Good yours are sheared to make this job easier.
The smell of sheeps wool I can take or leave. I remember sitting in class at school and being able to smell the sheep on me. Luckily I grew up in a rural area so it wasn't too unusual.
DeleteReally interesting and so were the comments too. Would love to know what you get for your fleeces. I noticed the shearers seemed to have an average age to my husband too. Do you think shearing is an aging industry in UK as well (we live in Australia and the average shearer in the shed seems between 48-58) Their trailer seems like a good system for small hobby farm flocks
ReplyDeleteThey certainly seem to be getting older. I was tempted to learn but for the outlay and the effort involved I don;t know if it's worth it. The money is good if you've got lots of sheep to go at.
DeleteI hope you get good $ for you wool.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it. the sheep are young and the wools not great. It'll be a low grade but should hopefully cover costs.
DeleteAmazing photos and my thought was "back breaking work indeed" - glad their moans didn't bother you.
ReplyDeleteNever listen to a farmer moaning or you'd never do anything. They all tell me I'm mad to try to start farming but none of them leave it.
Deletethe 'mothering laws'...what a great phrase!
ReplyDelete