[Buffy the eggs layer]

As finding a shearer for a small flock when you want them seems impossible where I live, I have decided to shear my own.
I wont be selling the fleece so it dosent really matter if I get it off in lumps.
Does anyone else self shear? And if so what equipment do you use?
 

[FiB]

yes and I havnt found the right hand shears yet.  My favourate ones are topiary shears!  I have some nice jokel (?) ones but they make my hands ache.  The singing shearer came and showed me    and its very lovely to do if you only have a few.  takes me a while (a good half an hour!!) but I expect to get faster this year - and I can just do one a week if I feel like it!

[Remy]

I couldn't use manual shears with my arthritic hands, I have a Lister Laser 2.  I don't shear as a rule, my back wouldn't take it but sometimes it's needed to treat fly strike and dagging etc.  I used to use my horse clippers with a wide tooth blade but it clogged too easily so I invested in one fit for the job, and what a difference it's made 

[FiB]

Remy did you go on a course?  Apart from the cost of electric clippers I am a bit afeared of them!!!  seems so easy to nick their skin?  But when it comes to dagging, I have not done as close a job as I would like with the hand shears.....

[OhLaLa]

We pay someone to come and do them, but have a small pair of one-hand clippers for dagging and a set of Heiniger Sheep Shears:
 
http://www.farmcareuk.com/shop/product/heiniger/heiniger-xtra-320w-sheep-shearer
 
Recommend you get someone to show you how to shear as it's easy to nick the skin when shearing (you might want to watch this clip with the music turned down  ):
 
Heiniger sheep shearing
 
 

[Fleecewife]

We use hand shears.  We have several, some full length for OH, some shorter for me, but longer than daggers - have those too of course.   Shears are a very personal thing and we have each tried a number of different models before we found our favourites.  It also helps to hold them at the correct part of the shears, otherwise you get cramp and blisters
 
If you are taking your time, and don't need the fleece to look good, you can tie the sheep to a gate and shear it standing - BUT you would need to be very careful on concave curves and underneath - definitely don't shear anywhere you can't see, or at least feel - teats, penis, udder vein, vulva, skin under the arms.  Really it's best to learn the correct positions and how to turn the sheep while shearing, as the pattern is designed to stretch the skin taught and to allow the shearer to see all the bits to avoid.
 
We do have battery powered shears somewhere, which cost £300 a good few years ago - I suppose we should sell them.........

[Remy]

Remy did you go on a course?  Apart from the cost of electric clippers I am a bit afeared of them!!!  seems so easy to nick their skin?  But when it comes to dagging, I have not done as close a job as I would like with the hand shears.....

No I just watched my own shearer and the direction he shears the sheep, and also the way he shears the tricky areas such as neck, under legs etc. I've also clipped horses for years so I suppose it's slightly like that, just a lot more hair!    The skin needs to be taut otherwise it is very easy to nick.  Sometimes accidents do happen, I was dagging one poor ewe lamb who suddenly moved at a crucial moment and the shears cut her ladybits  , I was mortified but luckily she recovered fine.  I can't physically turn my sheep (esp the rams who must weigh near 100kg!) but do have a friend who helps.  It is a tough job though and I'm in awe of the shearers who do a good job with loads of sheep in little time - it's a real skill but you do need physical fitness on your side! 


It makes life easier if they will stand tied up but then it's not easy to do the undersides.

[Foobar]

There are plenty of ways to skin a cat sheep, if you aren't worried about the speed or quality of the cut.
I've done mine by hand very slowly ... sit them up and do the belly and neck and make a start into the sides, then once your back is aching, stand them up and tie to a gate, then start from the top and work down (I've even started the top by making a parting along the spine and working each side down at a time).
Most importantly I think, whatever method you use, is not to rush, take as much time as *you* need, don't expect to be as fast as any professionals cos you will just stress yourself out and make it even harder.

[Anke]

 
We do have battery powered shears somewhere, which cost £300 a good few years ago - I suppose we should sell them.........

Same here... we found someone to shear our flock, but there is always one (or two..) that won't be caught . I hand shear - doing the belly as it's meant to be (I went to a couse with a bunch of 16 - 18 year old guys a few years back.... the shed just reeked of testosterone  ), then tie the ewes up to a corner of two hurdles and do their back/sides etc with the standing up. Works well, nice and quiet job!

[ScotsGirl]

If the singing shearer is near you he is great and will do small flocks.  Also takes the time if you want to give a quick lesson so you can do yourself.  I also got a DVD from wool marketing board which is helpful, feel like I want to bring the sheep indoors so I can follow it better!


I have handsheared several and it is possible to get it all off with them on their feet. I sometimes turn to get the legs started then stand up work from tail and just roll the fleece ad I go.

[lachlanandmarcus]

Ive done up to 16 by hand most years. I have a corral to gather them into and work my way through them over a couple of days. I have tried eletcric ones but dont feel too happy with them using them. Have also employed a shearer tho, its OK if the professionals do it!
It is exhaisting handshearing a lot but for a few I would def do by hand. I just use standard shears. It is quite enjoyable if the weather is cool and sunny. Not so much if the ground is muddy or lots of flies.

[Alistair]

Righty ho, know a bit about this....

Wool marketing board do a course every year, it's about £180 but I think it's half price if you have a number, it's really really worthwhile going on this, you learn over two days and at the end of his should be competent to shear your own sheep without slicing bits off them, don't expect to be quick, it's hard work if your not used to it, but the bowen method taught will save your back and also allow you to keep the sheep under some form of control and as little stress as you can manage - and you'll get your blue seal, if you do good possibly (although I doubt it) bronze

Now as for equipment, to do the course you'll need a hand piece, I'd reccomend getting a reconditioned unit from horners or George Mudge, cost around £100 to £ 150, you will need a solid drive ferrule for the course, about £15 I think, say 5 combs and a box of blades to start, a screwdriver and a pair of moccasins if you want to look the part (mocs are great), you could invest n a pair of shearing jeans and belt (getting expensive now... But you don't need the clothing)

Anyway that'll see you right for a start.

Then to shear at home 'all' you need is a shearing machine, something like a lister with a flexible drive (reconditioned will set you back about £350 - £400, a circuit breaker, another circuit breaker (can't have enough) a circuit tester, and something to hang it fro - oh and a flexible drive ferrule, the solid drive is different, a machine with a solid drive is better for your technique but way more expensive

Thenof course - if your any good - you can offer this to other smallholders with 10 or 15 sheep and get paid and make a bit of cash of it

I only do small flocks these days and then more as a favour because my shoulder is buggered and whilst I can still shear a sheep quickly I properly suffer with the pain after each sheep.. And I'm not as fit as I used to be.. So it takes me too long fr it to be economical anymore, just like to keep my hand in

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks,
 
 some really useful advice and links there. I tried the singing shearer as he is in my region but he didnt reply so I decided to have a go myself.
The local shears will only come to the larger farms so I would have to transport them and I dont have a trailer. Also, I would have to wait until the shearer was ready to do them in late may and quarentine them afterwards whit totally buggers up any plans that I have to show them.

[bigchicken]

I shear my Shetlands by hand just picked it up as I went along and find it very therapeutic, I got to know the shape of my sheep and my confidence increased the more times I sheared. When shearing I always wait for the sheep to have a good rise as this makes it much easier. I have had some instruction on electric shearing from a shepherdess it was very quick but I much prefer simple hand shearing I think it leaves a much better looking sheep. I have over the years watched many many sheep being sheered so had a fair idea of how it was done.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

I have some of the hand / topary shears but find cleaning very messy bottoms tricky with them. I have been promised a second hand pair of electric ones that I plan to use.
I have contacted the WMB regarding their course bit they are not until early june and I wanted to shear mine by early may.
I was thinking of making something for them to stand on like a milking table and securing them with a head stock to avoid me getting a bad back.
I'm really looking forward to it actually.
,