[ThomasR]

Hi guys
Earlier in the year I posted a thread about hand shears as I was planning on shearing my sheep this year myself. Well I got through them all with a pair of burgon and ball shears with incidents, cuts nicks or anything bad. I managed to get it down to 3-5mins per animal if it was a calmer one. However I discovered that shearing Hebrideans by hand leaves a different finish to the coat which does not look good in the show ring. It seems to leave the fluff at the base of the fleece which makes them look puffy. So to get to the point I was thinking about using powered shears but was wondering how much more dangerous they were compared to the hand shears, I was also wondering how much a pair would set me back? I would only have 20-30 animals to shear each year so they don't need to be the worlds best shears. Ideally I don't want to spend more than £200 but am I being unrealistic?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I think you would need to spend at least £1000 for really good electric shears, anything less than about 500-1000 wouldn't really be worth it, buts that is my opinion, you could get a deal on a really good lot . It might be cheaper to get someone in to do it for you if you have 30 sheep, as that is a lot of work all on ones own!

[ThomasR]

Ok thanks I was looking more at the lister ones and stuff like that. I have tried to get people in to do it last year but left them with lots of nicks and cuts due to them being used to white commercial sheep. The problem is that I would also need to to them beginning of May so that they would have a chance to grow back some fleece for the highland.

[SallyintNorth]

I think it's pretty tough to shear them with electric shears before the rise  - but I don't use electric ones myself, so that's hearsay. 

[Fleecewife]

With Hebs, it's more when you shear them, rather than with what.  If you are preparing sheep for showing then you need to do them early in the year, certainly before April, so they have time to grow back their full double coat before the shows.

[ThomasR]

Thanks fleecewife I will try shearing them a bit earlier this year

[Sbom]

I think you would need to spend at least £1000 for really good electric shears, anything less than about 500-1000 wouldn't really be worth it, buts that is my opinion, you could get a deal on a really good lot . It might be cheaper to get someone in to do it for you if you have 30 sheep, as that is a lot of work all on ones own!

£1000!   Where did you get that price from?
Decent Lister electric ones are around £300,  ive bought some this time for around £70 and they've been fab. Shorn 30-40 this time no trouble.

[Badger Nadgers]

http://www.hornershearing.com/acatalog/longhorn-complete.html
£529 exc VAT (£635 inc VAT)

12v connect to leisure battery:

     Longhorn® shearing machine

    Heavy duty flexi drive

    Horner SureGrip handpiece

    3 Longhorn combs and 6 Longhorn cutters

    Ferrule

    Bottle of SAE 30 Handpiece oil

    Screwdriver

    Longhorn® Bracket Adapter


Mains version is http://www.hornershearing.com/acatalog/sheep-shearing-machine.html
£599 exc VAT (719 inc)

Very good prompt service. 

What most folk round here seem to use.