[lachlanandmarcus]

Just to say that Dougal came and sheared our 20 Shetland sheep this evening and was very patient and good humoured with them (and also at answering  lots of sheepy questions from my sis-in-law as well as us). 
The girls (and wethers) are now looking rather startlingly clean and the fleeces in a much better state than when I hand shear, so much so that they will be sold this year (which I find very exciting).
Amazing to get it all over with in one evening as opposed to the several days of exhaustion and frustration hand shearing 19 of them last year.....
Thankyou Dougal !!!! (thumbs through diary for next year booking dates.... )

[lachlanandmarcus]

now some photos....:-))
before...

checking teeth condition (sheep saying "you aint seen me, right?" :-D)

After! someone swapped my sheep for goats!

lovely fleece just before being rolled for the sack

 

[Rosadollymixture]

Hi, Looks like a very neat job well done by Dougal.  Do you think he would shear my 4 Balwens?  I live near Alford and had intended to have a go myself as I didn't think anyone in the area would be interested in coming for such a small number. 

[lachlanandmarcus]

You could PM him and ask.....he can only say no....:-)))
Altho for 4, if it were me, I would hand shear....partly for cost (travel and setting up takes a lot of the time hence shearers costs) and also then you can choose the timing (weather wise).
Dont worry about nicks or grazing hand shearing: you rarely nick them anymore than even the good commercial shearers just because you arent shearing as close with hand shears and also you time it so the fleece is well risen and you can cut along the rise line of the new/old fleece. And cos you can feel so well through the hand shears.
I hand sheared 19 last year, had a big operation a couple of months back so not allowed this year. For this number, hand shearing was a bit much, so will carry on with the machine shearing but if it were fewer I would do it.
But back to the question, PM Dougal to ask, he might even be doing some nearish you and be able to factor yours in with those.