The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 02:08:33 pm

Title: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 02:08:33 pm
hi last year when i had my black sheep shorn there skin split badly the shearer said it was because they are black sheep and there skins is thiner then white and to have them done earler this year as there fleece will be lighter so shouldnt split there skin so much  but with this bad weather we have been having i dont want to have them shorn if its going to get very cold so will there skin split again if i leave them a little longer they are zarbutals that  was done last year plus this year i have 1 thats a cross with texal she is black so im asking will black sheep skins always split when shorn or was it just a late shearing that caused it thank you
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on May 02, 2012, 02:12:18 pm
ermm I have never had that issue with the few of my flock who are black....but perhaps it might be a breed thing. I do know it is harder to shear them without nicking the skin with the shears, simply because the 'rise line' isnt as clear on the drak sheep (I shear by hand mostly) and the skin/wool line is also harder to see.

do you meant Zwarbtles, havent heard of Zarbutal?
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 02:19:03 pm
yes sorry about the spelling i spell how i say things its the dslixya , they wernt just nicked they had spits longer then my hand lenth one was split along her back min about 5 inchs long jsut want to try and avoid it happing again thank you
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on May 02, 2012, 03:27:55 pm
I cant talk about spelling, in my post Ive spelt dark as drak...:-))) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: Fronhaul on May 02, 2012, 03:41:48 pm
My Black Welsh Mountain sheep definitely don't have that problem but if it is right it may be breed related perhaps.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: Fleecewife on May 02, 2012, 03:48:38 pm
We have lots of black sheep - never had a problem.   Get a different shearer.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dixie on May 02, 2012, 04:04:52 pm
Hmm I'd rethink the shearer too, I have a black ewe, 2 until last year, they shear beautifully.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: kelpy on May 02, 2012, 04:15:49 pm
hmm,
i have black sheep too & never had a problem,
i'd get another shearer.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 04:46:18 pm
thank you all just need to find a shearer now that will do my 5  :sheep:
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dixie on May 02, 2012, 05:05:44 pm
Where are you? Contact the singing shearer www.singingshearer.co.uk (http://www.singingshearer.co.uk) he does small flocks and is brilliant, he travels all over too.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 05:13:11 pm
im in wales ceredigan where the sun is out today  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: Blacksheep on May 02, 2012, 05:49:40 pm
I think you have a shearer issue.  We have a flock of Zwartbles, when I took some skins to be tanned I was told that as they were Zwartbles they would cost a bit more due to Zwartbles having thicker skin than most breeds!! However we did have a problem one year with a shearer cutting along their throats but we haven't had him back, I think part of the problem might be that they are less fat than some breeds so maybe easier to catch the skin, but there shouldn't really be an excuse if the shearer is careful.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: LOCHBYRE on May 02, 2012, 05:50:40 pm
Erm odd , we have quite a few black sheep, shetlands and soays and have not had a problem.......even with me at the helm of the hand shears  ::)
Fleecewife and hubby taught me well  ;D ;)
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: robert waddell on May 02, 2012, 05:57:10 pm
yes get another shearer    i cant believe he told you that pound o mince
what would happen if it scratched its arse :farmer:
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 05:59:48 pm
it was only the 2 black ones he cut and it was bad they where sprayed all over with blue spray but then he did say my sheep where too frendly and that made shearing them harder he likes wild ones not tame ones , now its trying to find a shearer that will come and only do the 5 he was the only one i could find last year that did a small number i had 10 last year but all the boys have gone now
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: colliewoman on May 02, 2012, 06:05:03 pm
Sounds like he has more excuses than skill, find another shearer. I have never had a black sheep sliced like you describe either with me shearing them (no so pretty ;D) or getting someone in to do it for me.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 06:12:20 pm
so now im looking for a shearer that will do 5 ewes 3 black 2 white im in ceredigan wales as i cant find one that will only do such a small number grrr and realy realy dont want to have to call last years one out , thank you all at least i know i just need to get a diffrent shearer
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: colliewoman on May 02, 2012, 06:16:26 pm
http://www.shepherding-services.co.uk/menu (http://www.shepherding-services.co.uk/menu)
Found this one, any use?
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dixie on May 02, 2012, 07:57:56 pm
Have you tried the singing shearer?
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 07:59:12 pm
thank you colliewoman i will email them tonight and see if they can do my poor 5 girls
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: grumpsgarden on May 02, 2012, 08:02:16 pm
dixie im not sure if he covers wales but i will find out lol
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dixie on May 02, 2012, 09:44:41 pm
Worth an ask, I'm in Essex he comes from Yorkshire!
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dyedinthewool on May 02, 2012, 11:07:56 pm
im in wales ceredigan where the sun is out today  :thumbsup:

Hi Grumpsgarden,

I've got eight ewes that I like to get sheared fairly early (sun shining earlier but now raining and supposed to be getting colder for a few days) - had them sheared 27th april last year - would like to get them done sometime this month - not too keen on the last lot of shearers as they left them  with'tatty' bit's of fleece still hanging round their heads etc; they seemed to think that speed was what it was all about... >:(

If the singingshearer is likely to come to you I'm near Whitland so he could do mine at the same time...
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: littlelugs on May 09, 2012, 01:24:04 pm
i have four welsh black mountain sheep that i would like shearing asap too im in brynaman so if the singing shearer was willing i could also employ his services to make it better for him re numbers etc
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dyedinthewool on May 09, 2012, 09:10:52 pm
Anyone else in Ceridigion/Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire needing sheep sheared in the next month?

Maybe we could get enough for the SingingShearer to come down our way.

Two years ago I used a lad from Haverfordwest who was really good and didn't mind doing just a few sheep but I've lost his tel number. :-[  (I only had 5 that year- I've got 8 this year -well 7 and a half as Herdy is losing her fleece looks very motheaten)
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: Fronhaul on May 10, 2012, 08:20:44 am
David Thomas is a small flock specialist based near Whitland.  He does mine including my blacks.  I think he is fairly booked up and he hasn't quite finished lambing but if anyone wants his mobile then pm me please.  For those going to Smallholders he will be around the RBST stand with Richard Broad.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: Sylvia on May 10, 2012, 01:27:30 pm
The boy up the road does mine, black and white and never a nick. Anyone in S. Devon, I can pass on his number.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: littlelugs on May 11, 2012, 10:04:16 am
i have just found someone in my village that has a good reputation for shearing so i have booked with him for the end of the month he may be interested in travelling to do other sheep i will get more info when he comes if anyone needs it.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dyedinthewool on May 11, 2012, 09:13:00 pm
Hi Fronhaul, :wave:

I've pm'd you... :sheep:
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dyedinthewool on May 13, 2012, 07:39:33 pm
David Thomas is a small flock specialist based near Whitland.  He does mine including my blacks.  I think he is fairly booked up and he hasn't quite finished lambing but if anyone wants his mobile then pm me please.  For those going to Smallholders he will be around the RBST stand with Richard Broad.

Thanks fronhaul :wave: :wave:

Rang David on Saturday and left a message - he rang back on Sunday luch time - he was going to Amroth and could do mine on the way back - so all sheep now sheared :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

As you said a very nice man, we have a lot in common so quite a bit of time talking...  Would highly recommend him. 
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: Fronhaul on May 14, 2012, 07:11:34 am
Did he curse at a message left on his mobile while he was with you?  I had just managed to mix up two groups of his sheep moving one of his ewes who had just lambed into a mothering pen.  He and his partner are a huge help to us.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: chucklebutty on May 15, 2012, 10:00:34 pm
It's very possible that he's had a tooth missing off the clipper comb which will take a strip out of them ! Happened to me last year,.. nearly sick. !!  looks like a split with you see it !

Hand shear if possible just to make sure.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: xochi33 on May 26, 2012, 02:52:06 pm
Hi,

We have a small flock that desperately need shearing - we are near Beulah, Ceredigion - can you give us David Thomas' number please.

Kind Regards
Kelvin
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: xochi33 on May 28, 2012, 09:40:28 am
We have a small flock in Ceredigion in need of shearing.  Perhaps we can employ the singing shearer or David Thomas' number appreciated.
Title: Re: black sheep skin splitting at shearing
Post by: dyedinthewool on May 29, 2012, 09:34:12 pm
We have a small flock in Ceredigion in need of shearing.  Perhaps we can employ the singing shearer or David Thomas' number appreciated.
have PM'd you with Davids number