The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: hexhammeasure on June 02, 2009, 08:46:35 am
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After 10 years our shearer has done the worst thing possible....
retired!
So now I have to clip our suffolks again with the hand shears and the old electric shears
did the Tups first to get my eye in.... OHHH my back
Hoggs next!
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I have to get someone to do ours. No-one wants to do small numbers.
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my vet gave me a contact number .... might be worth asking ? Or are there any flock owners around who show as some of them shear their own and might be willing to do a couple. The shearer recommended by the vet came last night just after 9pm. Several extension leads to the field and soon the deed was done. He did a good job and wasn't rough with the sheep. Having had the two show gimmers done by a showing friend earlier in the year I only had 3 and a half to do (having had a go on one with hand shears and giving up leaving her doing a lion impression!!!) He was happy to do that number. Don't know if he would travel to you, I could ask him. Perhaps if there were a few of you in close vicinity to each other, or if you were able to go to one place. I know that would be difficult for some, e.g. mine are MV accredited so couldn't take them to non-MV premises.
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I don't know anyone who would do just ones and two's I am trying to contact someone who May do a flock of my size (65 suffolks)but I think he will want a fixed fee rather than a £/ewe. Did a couple of hoggs today and I think my eye is getting better (or maybe the sheep were smaller therefore easier!!)
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If anyone gets desperate for a shearer, my brother is always willing to discuss your requirements. He is willing to travel almost anywhere but obviously has to cover transport costs. He also has a bit of a waiting list at the moment.
Thought it was still worth mentioning though.
Link is in my signature.
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Out of interest, what would you expect to pay to have a small flock of 4 sheep sheared ?
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I've just paid 5 euros per head to have 4 ewes sheared!
I thought this was a fair price for such a small flock. It took him longer to set up his gear than it did to shear
them!!!
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I think, for local-ish flocks, Phil is charging £1.25 per sheep but has a minimum charge of £30
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I sheared one of my rams today. My back is not up to shearing my whole flock anymore. I only did Hamish the ram 'cos he had half shed his fleece and was looking like a sack of old carpet - now one cool dude !! Pro shearer due any day - we are on standby ! Like HFW we make a party of it - much cider and BBQ, one of the highlights of the smallholding year ;D
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You should all learn to shear. The Wool Marketing Board run courses all over the UK and it doesn't take too much practice to become proficient enough to shear a small flock. http://www.britishwool.org.uk/coursedet.asp?pageid=59
If you learn to do it properly your back won't hurt either. It hurts because you are not using the right technique.
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You should all learn to shear. The Wool Marketing Board run courses all over the UK and it doesn't take too much practice to become proficient enough to shear a small flock. http://www.britishwool.org.uk/coursedet.asp?pageid=59
If you learn to do it properly your back won't hurt either. It hurts because you are not using the right technique.
No, my back hurts because of a horse riding injury many years ago :( not because I can't shear properly !! :sheep:
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At least sheep keep you on the ground!
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I paid £25 for 4 ewes. The shearer said just to pay him what I thought was fair (eek). Was worried I hadn't paid him enough but if £30 is a minimum charge elsewhere then I'm not too far out.
VSS - thanks for the link re the shearing course. I see there is an Ayrshire one which would suit me but unfortunately I wouldn't be able to get the time off work - its next Tues/Wed and I go back next Mon after 2 weeks off. Maybe next year.
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i have done a sheep shearing course. I too hurt my back in an accident. It also helps if you have the correct tools for the job. Horse clippers and hand shears are not the best tools to use.
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I just sheared my 5. Next day I felt it a bit - I used hand shears. The vet came today (FCO vaccinations) and complimented my work!
Liz
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Well done Liz! If I knew how to put the photo on I could give you a right good laugh at my attempt at hand shearing. Had to give up half way so had a sheep wandering round the field doing a lion impression (started at the bum end so she ended up looking like she had a magnificent lions mane!! When the shearer came and sorted out my mess he did say that she had a different fleece from the others (curlier?) and that I had picked the hardest one to attempt ... Without going on a course I won't be trying it again.
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Started shearing my small flock of Shetlands today with hand shears managed half a dozen before my breakfast and really enjoyed it, was going to do more but the others in that field had no rise in the wool. I find hand shearing very therapeutic. Went to do some more tonight but the heavens opened will catch some during the week.
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Finally got all 65 done ewes, hoggs and Tups. Filled 5 sacks with wool. Then got a letter from the wool board saying they are now going to charge per sack for deliveries rather than per kilo. I think there must be a con somewhere involved. but I've now mixed all the hogg fleeces in with the tups and the breeds are all mixed up so i only used the 3 sacks rather than the 5 they were sorted into
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All finished here too ;D I sheared my other ram on saturday morning, and my shearer friend did all the ewes in the afternoon. We celebrated with much cider (dulls the back ache), sausages & rabbit kebabs ;D :yum:
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Managed another five Shetlands last night, my tups are ready will get them tomorrow weather permitting and the rest when I can fit them in.
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show off. we have just hand sheared our first shetland. 1 1/2 hours one very scruffy sheep with a few blue patches. ha well just another 9 to go. being very arthritic i ended up on the floor hugging the poor girl. they really do like gurping don't they.
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Gurping? ???
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I'm too old to do them myself, brought in a couple of lean young men with shearing trailer and watched them dance. Well you've got to do something while the Oh out of action.
Got 2.5 sheets and the wool board not getting them. The thieving b.......................'s
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Gurping? ???
oh yes have you not smelt a sheeps gases . this sheeps mouth was a few inch from the nose. would love to buy an erectric one but its not worth it.
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got mine all done ;D did them myself,and like kaz the wool board are getting none of it >:(
i'll do small flocks if theres anyone needing some done in my area...ish ;D
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Send your wool to me.......!
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being new to sheep does the wool aways have loads of junk in it.
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Next door sheep farmer said he will do ours with the hand clippers tonight. Bertie, my Shetland will be no bother. He will walk on a lead with me, but the two big Shropshire girls are a different matter - not looking forward to getting them in. Rather pleased someone else is doing it (he owes us a favour as we let him put some cows on a spare field!) my back would not stand up to shearing any more.
Last year, Bertie was done with a big flock. The shearer did not notice he was a castrated ram ......and had a slight accident. Bertie now pees out of two holes. I have warned the farmer already, as we do not want any further mishaps in that department.
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the poor boy i bet he was walking stiffly for a while.
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I remember well the first time it took me ages the wife took pictures and for all the world it looked like an indecent act was being forced upon the poor creature. I soon got more confidence as I became more familiar with the sheep's shape, also a good rise in the wool helps no end. I have about nine to go and tomorrow is going to be warm so will do some more. :farmer:
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I paid £10/ewe for 4. I'd rather pay that than not have anyone to do them.
I noticed the shearer wore shoes without any heel at all, made from leather. He got them in NZ and said all the shearers wear them as the extra inch under your heal kills your back and hamstrings. ::)
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Finished sheering yippee just in time for the Highland show tomorrow :farmer: