Author Topic: Shearing nursing ewe (Read 4909 times)

Bullseye · « **on:** April 16, 2012, 01:00:10 pm »

I have a Ryeland ewe with 2 2 week old lambs at foot who is looking rather warm (and unkempt) and being new to keeping sheep wondered if it would be possible to have her sheared or would I need to wait until she wasn't nursing her lambs?

NLL · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2012, 02:13:40 pm »

we had all ours sheared on saturday, some had week old lambs at foot.better for the ewe to be comfortable i think, they are in at night bacause it still gets cold though.

Bullseye · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2012, 02:48:58 pm »

Thanks, ours are living out so should I wait until it gets a bit warmer or will she be ok?

Rosemary · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2012, 03:31:28 pm »

We usually do ours in May (well, have ours done, to be accurate). They're still nursing lambs. It's really funny because the lambs don't recognise their shorn mummys and there is mayhem until they sort themselves out

Moleskins · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2012, 11:15:50 pm »

Bit early yet I would say, don't forget wool keeps them cool as well as warm.

colliewoman · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2012, 11:20:29 pm »

Having just come back in from yet another check, I would say no absolutely not

It's sodding freezing out there and what will you warm your hands in if you shear her fleece off?

I would wait till it warms up a tad

Fleecewife · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2012, 11:24:04 pm »

I would say dag her if she's mucky, do the 'wheel arch' bit so her lambs can get to the teats but otherwise leave her for 2 or 3 weeks more to let the lambs grow a bit more first. Here in southern Scotland we do our earliest shearing in May, but that's the tups - ewes are done mostly in June . Tatty doesn't matter, unless she is dirty and attracting flies. Once she is shorn, if you can, pen her with her lambs for half an hour so they get to know her again and don't miss out on a feed.

SingingShearer · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2012, 08:03:18 am »

Hi,

If she is panting then I would say shear her, sheep cope better with the cold than with the warm and you could do her with a cover comb which will leave a bit more covering of wool on.
If you do have her done and it turns cold then it would be a good idea to keep her in for a day or so just for her to get used to not having a full fleece.

Thanks,
Philip

Sylvia · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2012, 08:05:29 am »

It's going to be a frosty May so I would leave her. She'll find shade during the day and the nights are still very chilly.

Bullseye · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2012, 10:14:25 am »

Thankyou for all your valuable information, saves £££ on books!
I think I'll give her a 'short back and sides' do as I'm paranoid about flystrike- being a veterinary nurse I've seen one too many rabbits savaged by maggots

My lambs don't seem all that interested in weaner nuts however they have plenty of grass to keep them occupied, should I supplement them with anything else?

Hazelwood Flock · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2012, 10:26:45 am »

Here in Dorset i'll be looking to get mine done the first week in may, with Greyface Dartmoors that includes the lambs. The skin thickens up after shearing, so they're tougher than you think but cold rain is worse than frost. I have to pen ours up for an hour or so after shearing as the ewes don't recognise their offspring and the lambs don't recognise their mums!

Moleskins · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2012, 10:44:16 am »

Quote from: SingingShearer on April 17, 2012, 08:03:18 am

you could do her with a cover comb which will leave a bit more covering of wool on.

Does anyone know where we get a cover comb from to fit Heiniger clippers?
My suppliers just have the farmers set, fetches dags off and clips sheep, basic, very basic cut.

SingingShearer · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2012, 10:55:00 am »

Hi Moleskins,

I get all my combs from http://www.hornershearing.com/index.html all combs will fit Heiniger motor in handpiece shears if that is what you have.

Thanks,
Philip