[andywalt]

Well after speaking to some locals shetlands are a little harder to shear early in the season as the wool hasnt lifted?? so Im told, I hope this is true because it took me about an hour each to shear them, no cuts but the fleece came off in 1001 peices for each sheep !! have a look and a laugh, omg it was alot harder than I thought it would be, singing shearer all respect !!

[SingingShearer]

Hi Andy,

Great job for a first attempt!! I have seen professional shearers do a worse job on sticky sheep.

While I was learning it took me an hour to shear a very large longwool, but gladly now most sheep average out at two minutes, You will be shearing other people's sheep next .

Thanks,
Philip

[andywalt]

cheers for the compliment, but your term sticky sheep??? can you explain please?

[SingingShearer]

Hi Andy,

By sticky sheep I mean that the lanolin is still quite solid and on the skin, most sheep fleece is starting to rise now although if they are in the cold wind they soon go sticky again.

If they are really bad then it can be like trying to cut through toffee which can be the cause of minor cuts, I have been shearing with a type of comb that is only recommended for hard shearing merino sheep but they are some of the best combs I have for early shearing.

Thanks,
Philip

[andywalt]

I found it very hard, I couldnt get a sweep with the shears like you see the professions do , they didnt want to cut through easily the shears seem to snag in the fleece all the time, so found my self going back and forth slowly, my southdown is really shedding his fleece, so on the weekend im hoping that with the "rise" and not so course hair, it will be easier and quicker !!!

[SingingShearer]

Hi Andy,

Just out of interest what combs are you using?

[andywalt]

well thats a good question, will it make you laugh if I say the combs that came with the shears !!! thats about the extent of my knowledge, I brought these ones..

http://www.farmcareuk.com/shop/product/heiniger/heiniger-12volt-sheep-shearer

any advice for me?

[SingingShearer]

Hi Andy,

The combs are probably these http://www.hornershearing.com/acatalog/heiniger-ovina.html They have a slightly sharper point(medium bevel) than some which will help so if you are having trouble with them it is more than likely the sheep rather than the shears. Although you might need to change the cutter if you haven't already and if it has been running for a long time then the comb probably needs changing too.

Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you too much,
Thanks,
Philip

[andywalt]

so how often do they need changing? and do I have to send them off for sharpening? I kept putting the oil on would you need to change after a couple of sheep?

thanks for your help

[SingingShearer]

Hi Andy,

I was shearing a couple of days ago and I managed 60 sheep to a comb and 20 to a cutter but they were taking around one and a half to two minutes to do.  I would say start with a new comb and cutter and when the shears start to struggle then change the cutter, you can usually get 3 cutters to the comb before the comb is blunt. When the comb is blunt then change to a new set again.

To get the combs sharpened you can contact Horner shearing and send them off by post, I do my own as I have a grinder now.

Thanks,
Philip

[andywalt]

thanks for the tips, I got a spare set in the box, I better order up some more as back up altho I wont be doing the bulk of them myself, but I want to do the smaller ones.  I see  you have made it to essex now, where are you off to next?

[SingingShearer]

Hi Andy,

Hopefully we will get to Devon soon also Somerset and Wiltshire, then we have go to get to Scotland soon after and most people need asap due to flystrike so I am having to put such cases first.

Thanks,
Philip

[andywalt]

we have had a couple of cases of flystrike and I just had to treat them with crovect straight away, from your perspective what happens if a flock has been treated do you still shear them?

[Rosemary]

Doesnt look too bad - they all still have four legs 

British Wool Marketing Board run shearing courses, you know. If you have more than 4 sheep, you should be registered with them anyway.

[andywalt]

I should register? I better give them a call then....