The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: bigchicken on October 04, 2011, 09:33:40 pm

Title: Sheepskins
Post by: bigchicken on October 04, 2011, 09:33:40 pm
Anyone up here in bonny Scotland get there sheepskins processed. I am thinking of doing some and am looking for some information as regards tannery locations and prices.   
Title: Re: Sheepskins
Post by: Fleecewife on October 05, 2011, 12:08:27 am
It's difficult now that Fenland Sheepskins in Somerset have closed.  Devonia seem to have taken over some of their business.  I pinched this info from the Shetland Sheep group:
<<Devonia charge £25 for up to 5, £24 for 6-15, and £23 for 16 and over.  You must tell them how you would like your skin dress,  if they have no instruction they will do what they think is appropriate for the breed.  They have bought some of the old Fenland machinery so can now 'iron'.  You can collect or they will return by courier (approx £12 for about 10 skins) 
If you want double, quads etc stitched this will be an extra £5 per skin ie double 2 x £5, quad 4 x £5
All prices are subject to VAT 
The turn round time is about 12 weeks.>> 

Up here there is Skyeskyns www.skyeskyns.co.uk  (http://www.skyeskyns.co.uk) who do beautiful work but I don't know what they charge or how much outside work they do.
I always salted and packed up my skins to send down to Fenland in Somerset and haven't sent any since they closed.  Last time we were at Shotts abattoir the fellmonger lorry was there and the driver thought that the processor he was taking them to would tan our skins for us privately - somewhere near Stirling or Aberfeldy way I think, but the abattoir would know if you ring them.
Title: Re: Sheepskins
Post by: Hannes on October 09, 2011, 10:02:44 pm
http://www.organicsheepskins.com/ (http://www.organicsheepskins.com/) really nice folks and helpful as they can be. we Salt and pack ourselves after getting the skins from the abattoir, post them down and get them sent up again. for 35£ per skin plus postage (~~10£ for 6)