The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: wannabesmallholder on July 03, 2017, 09:53:04 pm
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My friend's dad is coming over to shear our 3 primitive sheep tomorrow. She says he doesn't want paying, but when I asked said he's partial to a glass of red or a wee dram and "something like that would go down very nicely".
This is our first year of sheep so I've no idea what the going rate for shearing is. If paying cash, what would I expect to pay for 3 sheep? Just want to make sure I get him a nice enough bottle!!
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£30 to set up, £1 each ewe. A nice bottle
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I paid £6.50/ewe but we had 20 sheared. I would say £30 is about right for a small number.
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The nicer the bottle the keener he'll be to return next time!
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I paid £25 for 20 but at the end of the day it is what it is worth to you that counts.
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Don't forget the offer of tea or coffee and a big slab of homemade cake ....
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My advice to anyone who wants their sheep shorn more than once is to have them waiting for the shearer with empty bellies and to be pleasant.
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Absolutely! Also a power source for the kit, good lighting, level ground and something like an old dustsheet to put the fleeces on so they don't pick up crud from the ground
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Our shearer wanted £5 per ewe if we had under 10 - the first year we had 6 done ..... This year we had 8 sheared and he wanted £20, I gave him £40 because he is very good, steady and gentle with our sheep and I think he more than deserves it.
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My shearer has told me some real 'horror stories' about turning up to shear 2 or 3 sheep and taking an hour to catch them, no electric etc etc.
I pay £2 a sheep for roughly 30 of them and I give an extra £10 on top as a thank you, he also keeps the fleeces. Sheep are always penned in when he arrives and setting up is very quick as I've been using the same person for years so we all know where everything goes.
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A local farmer does mine. I was asking 'down't pub' a few years ago if anyone knew a shearer and the lads fell over laughing when they learned it was just 5 sheep. Wynn offered to do them and has for the last few years. I get them penned between two gates over the stream and Wynn and his son grab and shear. I show my appreciation with a bottle of spirits each and frequently buy them a beer if they're about on my weekly pub visit. There's a reasonable culture about making friends and helping each other out around here.