[bigchicken]

Started hand shearing today had a couple of hours after finishing my work early, quite a few had a good rise so got on well and have managed over a dozen the rest are not ready yet no rise or reluctant to being captured Hot today lets hope this weather keeps up. Fleeces not as good as in past years.

[Fleecewife]

What breed do you keep?  My OH has started the shearing here too (blades) - all the tups and meat boys done and looking very smart, and hopefully he will make a start on the ewe hoggs tomorrow, although he's complaining about using muscles which haven't been exercised since shearing time last year  .  I'm behind with sorting the fleeces already.  What do you think is the problem with the quality of your fleeces?  

[bigchicken]

I keep Shetlands. I used a new tup in 2009 he is out off very good breeding was just a lamb when I used him and his fleece has not turned out very good at all , All off the ewe hoggs I've sheered are out of him so that will be the reason. Nice fine wool but no length. I suppose it does not matter to me as I do nothing with the wool.  They were bred as additions to the flock to breed cross bred lambs by a terminal sire and for that purpose they should do ok. No sheep sheered today maybe tomorrow.

[bigchicken]

Only 6 to sheer is it just me or is it easier to sheer a black sheep and the friendlier sheep wriggle more when sheered. Ive even helped out a friend sheer some of her Shetlands

[Fleecewife]

We have found that the friendlier sheep are more likely to squirm and wriggle and generally not behave as sheep are supposed to do     Nearly all of our sheep are black so I can't answer your question about whether black is easier to shear than white    I find Shetlands to be the easiest sheep to shear for various reasons but mostly as they have such a clear rise.   We just have 16 left to do but it's wet for the next few days.

[Anke]

I have a Beltex/txl X who is the easiest sheep to clip... no belly wool clean legs and face, good rise too, can be done standing up (if I do them) and is the most relaxed ewe I have... Not the prettiest though.... but still a definite favourite...

Most of mine were done on May 25th (I am in the Scottish Borders), and all the shetlands were more than ready, the fleece just slipped off... Shearer was very pleased with them.

[SallyintNorth]

We did 20 untupped hoggs before Easter - unheard of for us to be that early but then the weather turned horrid again poor things!

Yesterday we did all the remaining hoggs, tupped and non-tupped, plus a few older ewes that were in that batch.  They were all ready to be clipped, the shearers said.  Most of them were surprisingly well-behaved for hoggs.

I was on loading-the-chute duty as usual (mine is the best dog for that job.)  It was very very noticeable that the calmest, easiest to load ones were the Swaley Mules - and the worst the older Blackie Mules.  I hardly had to man-handle (or woman-handle) a one of the Swaley Mule hoggs, whereas I had to physically place about half of the Texel cross hoggs onto the ramp (one of them three times...) - and the two Blackie Mules both got physical with me - and the dog!  BH is planning to cull all the 4-shear and older Mules this year - which will leave only Swaley Mules - yay!

[bigchicken]

Finished shearing sunday turned out to be eight as I forgot the two beltex x shetland wethers, Shears sharpened oiled and away tile next year. Lambs due first hetivac, crovac all sheep as well as getting on with a good clean up round the fields, sort fences and dyke's kill weeds creosote hen houses and runs etc etc etc just the usual stuff.

[Anke]

So you have got time to fit in a holiday then....

[bigchicken]

Yes one week up by the cullins. O did I mention my full time job six days most weeks also renovating my house in my spare time. I like to be busy    Still looking for that money tree. 

[Anke]

Please tell me where I can buy some hours to spare... you must get them from somewhere...

I still have a few ewes to clip (their lambs were too young to move them back for shearing), and so far I have not been able to as it has been raining quite hard for a few days, on and off.

But day-off at RHS on Friday (and no children either!!!!)... so a wee holiday for me too!

[bigchicken]

RHS would love to go but dont have the time or money. As for buying hours you will have to get in line sorry