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Author Topic: Hand shearing  (Read 2641 times)

Black Sheep

  • Joined Sep 2015
  • Briercliffe
    • Monk Hall Farm
Hand shearing
« on: April 23, 2017, 06:33:18 pm »
Having passed my pesticide PA1 and PA2f this last week I've been thinking about what next. Shearing seems to be something that can be a struggle for small flocks to get done when they want/need it. I did a bit of electric shearing last year but the set up costs with equipment are probably too high so I'd wondered about learning to hand shear properly.

The BWMB website says they have had increased interest this year and are putting on more courses so I emailed them to find that so far only 1 (and now 2) people have shown an interest in the north. They said they would put a course on for 4 people though and did I know anyone else. Hence this post!

Unfortunately I have little in the way of details as dates and location would depend on the people involved, but the website says the courses are 2 days and cost £150+VAT.

So... would anyone in the north be interested in getting together and seeing if they will put one on?

Penninehillbilly

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • West Yorks
Re: Hand shearing
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2017, 09:18:10 pm »
Didnt realise this was so far back -
Did you get anyone interested Black Sheep?
If we could get something nearer West Yorkshire I'd be very interested,  not used to driving distances these days.

Tim W

  • Joined Aug 2013
Re: Hand shearing
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2017, 07:51:40 am »


Bit out of your way but if you want to hand clip go see Andy Wear ---- he's the man!

http://fernhill-farm.co.uk/

The farm is an inspiration too ---you could even fly to Bristol Airport (20 mins from him) !

Scallywag

  • Joined Apr 2017
  • Retford
Re: Hand shearing
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2017, 09:00:32 am »
I'm hoping to learn to hand shear my first sheep in the next couple of weeks. Nervous but excited at the prospect. I hope the poor bugger survives it. Thankfully there will be someone experienced keeping a close eye on me.
Scallywag
Be careful what you scratch if you've been chopping chillies

Black Sheep

  • Joined Sep 2015
  • Briercliffe
    • Monk Hall Farm
Re: Hand shearing
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2017, 05:34:19 pm »
Hadn't seen these replies - thank you - and will keep options in mind.

No PHB - nothing yet. The BWMB have taken details and said they will try and match up any enquiries they get. Will update with details if I hear.

Fleecewife

  • Joined May 2010
  • South Lanarkshire
    • ScotHebs
Re: Hand shearing
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2017, 05:56:29 pm »
I tried this once before, but not enough folk came forward.  It really makes a whole difference to your sheep keeping to be able to shear your own, especially with small numbers.   I hope you have more success this time than I did Black Sheep.
"Let's not talk about what we can do, but do what we can"

There is NO planet B - what are YOU doing to save our home?

Do something today that your future self will thank you for - plant a tree

 Love your soil - it's the lifeblood of your land.

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Hand shearing
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2017, 06:03:48 pm »
You could probably get the [member=3890]SingingShearer[/member] to give two or three of you a bit of training.  He came to me, sheared some sheep and showed me how to do it.  I paid for the shearing and the training, of course.
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

 

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