[countrygirlatheart]

Well done Liz!    If I knew how to put the photo on I could give you a right good laugh at my attempt at hand shearing.  Had to give up half way so had a sheep wandering round the field doing a lion impression (started at the bum end so she ended up looking like she had a magnificent lions mane!!   When the shearer came and sorted out my mess he did say that she had a different fleece from the others (curlier?) and that I had picked the hardest one to attempt ...   Without going on a course I won't be trying it again.

[bigchicken]

Started shearing my small flock of Shetlands today with hand shears managed half a dozen before my breakfast and really enjoyed it, was going to do more but the others in that field had no rise in the wool. I find hand shearing very therapeutic. Went to do some more tonight but the heavens opened will catch some during the week.

[hexhammeasure]

Finally got all 65 done ewes, hoggs and Tups. Filled 5 sacks with wool. Then got a letter from the wool board saying they are now going to charge per sack for deliveries rather than per kilo. I think there must be a con somewhere involved. but I've now mixed all the hogg fleeces in with the tups and the breeds are all mixed up so i only used the 3 sacks rather than the 5 they were sorted into

[BadgerFace]

All finished here too  I sheared my other ram on saturday morning, and my shearer friend did all the ewes in the afternoon. We celebrated with much cider (dulls the back ache), sausages & rabbit kebabs   

[bigchicken]

Managed another five Shetlands last night, my tups are ready will get them tomorrow weather permitting and the rest when I can fit them in.

[shetlandpaul]

show off. we have just hand sheared our first shetland. 1 1/2 hours one very scruffy sheep with a few blue patches. ha well just another 9 to go. being very arthritic i ended up on the floor hugging the poor girl. they really do like gurping don't they.

[Rosemary]

Gurping?

[kaz]

I'm too old to do them myself, brought in a couple of lean young men with shearing trailer and watched them dance. Well you've got to do something while the Oh out of action.

Got 2.5 sheets and the wool board not getting them. The thieving b.......................'s

[shetlandpaul]

Gurping?

oh yes have you not smelt a sheeps gases . this sheeps mouth was a few inch from the nose. would love to buy an erectric one but its not worth it.

[danndans]

got mine all done did them myself,and like kaz the wool board are getting none of it 

i'll do small flocks if theres anyone needing some done in my area...ish 

[woollyval]

Send your wool to me.......!

[shetlandpaul]

being new to sheep does the wool aways have loads of junk in it.

[Roxy]

Next door sheep farmer said he will do ours with the hand clippers tonight.  Bertie, my Shetland will be no bother.  He will walk on a lead with me, but the two big Shropshire girls are a different matter - not looking forward to getting them in.  Rather pleased someone else is doing it (he owes us a favour as we let him put some cows on a spare field!)  my back would not stand up to shearing any more.

Last year, Bertie was done with a big flock.  The shearer did not notice he was a castrated ram ......and had a slight accident.  Bertie now pees out of two holes.  I have warned the farmer already, as we do not want any further mishaps in that department.

[shetlandpaul]

the poor boy i bet he was walking stiffly for a while.

[bigchicken]

I remember well the first time it took me ages the wife took pictures and for all the world it looked like an indecent act was being forced upon the poor creature. I soon got more confidence as I became more familiar with the sheep's shape, also a good rise in the wool helps no end. I have about nine to go and tomorrow is going to be warm so will do some more.