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ShearingRSS feed

Posted: Saturday 28 June, 2008

by Rosemary at 8:37pm in Sheep 5 comments Comments closed

Our three sheep were sheared for the first time today. I was a bit anxious - not by the shearing itaself, but in getting someone to come for three. It's been quite hot and they were obviously feeling it. Anyway, we managed to get an awful nice man called Robert Bell, who has been shearing fro 50 years (sure keeps you young!).

We brought the girls into the garage yesterday lunchtime so that they would be dry. The weather's been a bit unpredictable here for the last week with some heavy showers.

We could have predicted how it would go - Jinx first 'cos she's so nosy, then Juno, because Jura was hiding at the back, then Jura. I think it was quite hard work - they had huge fleeces (Dan saw Carol's Shetlands later and noted that ours are wooly all over, compared to the Shetlands who have wool-free heads, bellies and legs). I will weight them tomorrow.

They look SO strange - I don't think THEY recognised each other after their makeovers. Juna and Jura actually look quite alike, except Jura is a tad slimmer than her buddy.

Before:

Shorn sheep

After:

After

I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with the fleeces; I'd really like to have them spun and knitted up - Dan, Lorna and I could have matching sweaters!!

Comments

Maggie

Sunday 29 June, 2008 at 12:11am

Apparently the fleeces are good for strawberries. I'm told slugs don't like to cross the wool. We have 3 ewes also sheared for the first time last week. No time to be anxious about arranging it - someone coming to do the neighbour's small flock noticed ours and offered.

Anyway, suddenly the field was full of neighbours helping out, and one gave me the strawberry tip. I think I may try it - 3 rather scrappy fleeces won't be good fo much else.

Maggie at wheatlandfarm.co.uk

Rosemary

Sunday 29 June, 2008 at 9:33am

Hi, Maggie

I am going to contact the Edinburgh Guild of Weavers, Sninners and Dyers and see if they can help. I met some members at the Highland Show and took their contact details. I think our fleeces look really good (not that this is based on anything other than affection for the sheep!) - I'll take some photos later but they are so thick and soft, and lovely colours - dark brown, grey and black. I suppose I'd quite like to do something with hem myself, but realistically, I don't have time.

Rosemary

Sunday 29 June, 2008 at 9:35am

Someone else told me that fleeces were excellent bottoming in gates and heavy wear areas like thst - apparnetly Roman roads were bottomed with fleece. I wish I could remember who told me that...

claire

Monday 30 June, 2008 at 12:04pm

wow, what a difference!

Rosemary

Monday 30 June, 2008 at 9:20pm

I know - they look like grown up sheep! They can run faster now, too.

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