The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Dans on May 19, 2016, 12:54:04 am

Title: Rain and shearing
Post by: Dans on May 19, 2016, 12:54:04 am
Another probably silly question.

We'be got the shearer booked for Weds afternoon next week. It's our first year with sheep so our first shearing. I've just had a look at the weather and we are due rain Sat, Sun, Mon and Tues but not Weds.

How long do sheep have to be in the dry before they are shorn? I read that I shouldn't bring them in wet so do I need to bring them in on Friday in preparation? Can I keep them on just the bare ground (weed proof fabric in an open polytunnel) or do they need to be on straw (worried about getting copious amounts of straw in the fleece).

Argh. Everything I have read just says dont shear them wet but don't bring them in wet either. Any advice for a panicking newbie would be appreciated.

Dans
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: pharnorth on May 19, 2016, 07:35:41 am
You'll get some more experienced responses than mine but for what it's worth mine are currently in the barn on a scattering of straw waiting for the shearer later today.  I hand spin so the veg matter is a problem but it is the hay rather than the straw which is the main culprit and they have to eat something. They have been in since Tuesday as it rained yesterday. 

If you do bring them in and tell your shearer he may want to come earlier as he will have other customers who can't get theirs in and are delayed.
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: Foobar on May 19, 2016, 10:07:53 am
Don't bring them in wet, they won't dry.  If you have a breeze they will soon dry off, you'll be surprised.  Your shearer will tell you if he thinks it's not suitable shearing weather.  As long as the shearer is happy then all will be fine.  If the fleeces are still a bit damp once off you can always just spread them out on a sunny day to finish drying off (assuming you don't have many sheep!).
If you aren't sure, just give your shearer a ring say on the monday afternoon to confirm - the forecast may have changed by then anyway.   Or .... just ring him today, and if he tells you to bring them in then do so, but I doubt he will (and that's a lot of feeding for four/five days, and your sheep won't be impressed!).
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: Marches Farmer on May 19, 2016, 02:07:52 pm
How quickly they dry out inside can depend on what sort of shed you have.  I find ours dry out quickly in a pole barn (but it is on a hilltop).  If you bring them inside and have them available I suggest using a mobile field hayrack or the hookover type firmly tied at ground level.  It'll stop them pulling the hay down onto their fleece.
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: Sbom on May 19, 2016, 05:41:24 pm
If the weather is bad the shearers will likely be behind aswell....
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: Dans on May 20, 2016, 10:58:27 pm
Tried calling but he didn't pick up, guess it's a busy time. According to the Beeb though the weather is in my favour, dry Sun until Thurs.  :fc: So nervous, can you tell it's my first time?

Dans
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on May 21, 2016, 01:08:18 am
dont worry am sure all will turn out well. I would say if the day is windy and warm and dry then about 6 hrs should do the trick, I have this most years due to welsh weather, fleeces are always fine. How many have you got to shear?
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: Dans on May 21, 2016, 02:44:41 am
Just the 6, though it's more like 5 and a half as one has shed half her fleece all over the field. Will just feel so much better when they have been shorn and I can clik them. Keep seeing flies everywhere.

Dans
Title: Re: Rain and shearing
Post by: Marches Farmer on May 21, 2016, 08:44:04 am
I Clik mine when the fleece has regrown to about 1 cm (around a month after shearing).  There's not enough wool for the maggots to cling on to when it's very short.  One application of Clik should then see them through to the end of the fly season (16 weeks).