[mab]

Hi all,

some more newbie worries:-

I've got 3 Shetlands, and I've heard that they shed their wool - usually - and it can be 'rooed' from them.

Is it OK to wait for them to start losing their wool and then roo them?

Or is it preferable to shear them? (I'm not that worried about the value of the fleece - I'm thinking more about the welfare/comfort of the sheep now the weather's turned warm)?

When you roo a sheep how hard do you have to pull to get the wool to come off?

How long should I wait for them to start shedding before I reach for the shears?

I've noticed that one of them was rubbing herself a lot on a log (neck, back, flanks and rump) - Fearing flystrike I had a look at her, though her bums' been recently trimmed and appears to be clean - Can't see any signs of trouble, though I'm not sure how obvious early flystrike would be. Her wool isn't obviously falling out yet though.

As I've only got the three, if I have to shear them I was going to try using hand shears myself, but was thinking that rooing might be easier. (Having said that, Singingshearer, if you do happen to be coming up this way (Norfolk / Suffolk border) for another job, I may be interested  ).

mab
PS. they might be 1-2 months pregnant, if that makes a difference.

[Roxy]

Well, among my animals, I have a castrated Shetland tup, Bertie.  He has never shed his fleece on his own, always had to be sheared. Not that he is any bother.  The Shropshire sheep seem to lose more of their wool than him!!!  He is rubbing at the moment on anything stationery, but no wool coming out

[mab]

He is rubbing at the moment on anything stationery, but no wool coming out

I'm glad to hear you say that Roxy (relief blowing from ears like steam).

I suppose a certain amount of itching is normal, but I do wonder what might be going on under all that wool!

mab

[Roxy]

We have never had any problems with Bertie getting fly strike or maggots or anything.  Just when all that fleece comes off, he looks rather small - oh, and black!!  His colour with wool on is a beige with black face, but underneath he is black.  Causes a problem when he goes back in the field, as his companion a llama chases him round thinking he is new, and does not know its Bert.  Poor Bertie cannot understand that he looks different!!!

One of the Shropshire ewes when she was sheared we discovered a patch of horrible maggots, they were dreadful.  Fortunately, we sheared her and caught them, as with all that fleece, you could not see anythng, except a small rubbed patch on her shoulder.

[mab]

His colour with wool on is a beige with black face, but underneath he is black.

I never though of that; Estell (the ewe in question) has a similar colouring so I'll probably have 3 blacks when they've lost their wool.

As for maggots; well she doesn't seem to be rubbing any place in particular so hopefully not that; although, if she keeps rubbing more than the other two during today/tomorrow, I think perhaps I'd better shear her just to be sure.

mab

[Calvadnack]

Some of my shetlands roo naturally and some don't.  This year I've noticed that the ewes who lambed are tending to roo.  You'll know when they are ready as they start losing fleece from around the belly and especially the neck where they rub - and they are all rubbing ! 

When you do roo, a sharp tug will bring the fleece off, I hold the skin with one hand and pull with the other just in case.  On mine it seems that each has an area that doesnt come clean so easily and I take hand shears to those bits.  We still need to get a shearer out for the sheep that don't roo as the fleeces are heavy and too hot for Cornwall.

[shetlandpaul]

none of ours did last year. our coloured ones don't look like they are this year. the cheviotts are losing wool. every other shetland seems to be shedding. typically ours are pests.

[Hermit]

Some of the hill Shetlands have already lost theirs with only the mane left which is the toughest to roo or loose naturally.If we show we roo but otherwise shear.Saying that though we dont get fly strike up here as you do down south(too cold ) If you look at the websites on Shetland Sheep Rooing, yes there are sites about it, they give you all the details and even videos.
You cant keep Shetlands and not give it a go. They fall asleep as it is very relaxing, just do a bit at a time and careful around the neck.

[SingingShearer]

Like a few other people have said, wait a bit longer and see if it looks like it's starting to come away. You won't need to pull very hard.

Don't have any jobs around there at the moment but let me know if you do happen to need me and I will see if I can sort something.

 

[Hermit]

Just had a nosey on your web site SS . Your like me only ever seen bent double(or pushing a barrow). Great site by the way

[mab]

Ah, thanks for the advice; she's not rubbed much today (at least not while I was looking) so I think she's probably OK.

Now about to go googling variations on "shetland sheep rooing"....

mab

[SingingShearer]

Thanks Hermit,

How did you know! I have different barrows for different jobs. Home made wooden ones as it's cheaper than buying metal ones

Glad you like the site, my sister ( MurmuringWheel) does it for me. Got to kick her to put some new photos on, I have some good ones of a Gotland I sheared this afternoon.

Mab,

Glad the sheep is doing ok.

[Anke]

Some of my shetties have started to shed some of their fleece and I did one of last years (small) hoggs partly rooing partly clipping by hand. he looks quite nice (and tiny..) and is off to the abattoir tomorrow...

have also done some of the others (by machine) but my clipping is a bit hit and miss and they don't look at their best. Even though they were rubbing and the fleece looked quite loose around their neck, not much was loose on the body... but they got clipped anyway!

So it depends on the animal I think, some of my other sheep (beltex, sfflkX) look quite straggly too, but as they have lambs they need to wait a couple of weeks until its June...

[mab]

Well, there's some evidence that her wool's starting to come away around her neck, but when I tried an experimental tug it seemed well rooted still - will wait a bit longer i think.

mab