The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bionic on September 13, 2014, 11:52:19 am

Title: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Bionic on September 13, 2014, 11:52:19 am: I want to send 3 lamb skins off in Oct. I know I need to salt them first and that they need packing in several layers, very carefully, and that they need to be correctly labeled.
I just wondered if people use parcel force or one of the other delivery agents.
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Fleecewife on September 13, 2014, 12:22:49 pm: I haven't sent any off for a while, but when I did it was by parcel force - doesn't have to be though, there are lots of carriers these days. Just be sure the skins are well salted til they're dry, and packed with fresh salt for the journey, so they don't leak :tired:
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Bionic on September 13, 2014, 01:58:31 pm: Thanks Fleecewife. I will probably have to do some more research on the cheapest option.
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Daisys Mum on September 13, 2014, 02:23:45 pm: Try myHermes they seem to be pretty good!
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Foobar on September 13, 2014, 03:51:54 pm: The only "problem" is that animal by-products are not on most carriers approved items lists. I usually just say that the contents are rugs or wool. ;)
City Link, myHermes etc all very good - shop around for the best price though.
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: devonlady on September 13, 2014, 05:42:27 pm: Ask at your abattoir if they will send the skins off. Mine do.
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Bionic on September 13, 2014, 08:07:29 pm: Quote from: devonlady on September 13, 2014, 05:42:27 pm
Ask at your abattoir if they will send the skins off. Mine do.
All the skins at my abattoir go to China. I would like mine a bit nearer home ;D
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Bramblecot on September 14, 2014, 11:49:43 am: Bionic,

Are you sending them to Devonia? Mine went last week, turnaround 20 weeks.
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: Bionic on September 14, 2014, 02:22:00 pm: Yep, they are going to Devonia. I have Nikki's list of things to do. She said they should be ok so long as they are 'done' before mid Oct.
I am prepared for a long wait :(
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: devonlady on September 15, 2014, 08:49:39 am: Has anyone done their own sheepskins? I believe you can get all the stuff on-line to do them.
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: lesbri on September 15, 2014, 09:14:37 am: Yes I did three last year. Kit was from Snowdonia Supplies and was quite straightforward to do but I did find the skins werent so supple as the one I sent off to the tannery to do. Im not sure whether that was down to me not working it enough at the crucial stage or if it was because I was doing it by hand rather than through a machine. But they were perfectly fine to use as rugs which was what I wanted, probably not supple enough for clothing etc. It was much cheaper than sending them off to the tannery though! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: bekka@dh on September 15, 2014, 02:27:44 pm: Lesbri, did you use the brush on kit? I was hoping to find someone who had - any recommendations?
Title: Re: Anyone send sheepskins by post for turning into rugs?
Post by: lesbri on September 15, 2014, 06:39:53 pm: Yes, the brush on kit.