Shearing Day

This is the day you have looked forward to all year. Here are a few tips that can help your shearing day go
smoothly and keep your shearer happy.
         ~Set up for shearing a day in advance.
    ~Bring all the sheep that will be sheared into a pen that is close to where you will be shearing.











    ~You will also need a clean space for the shearer to work. You can lay down a sheet of plywood or make a
    shearing floor as we have done, which is a raised sheet of plywood.
     ~Be sure the sheep are dry. Bring them in to the barn at least the night before shearing day.
     ~Some shepherds do not like to feed their sheep the morning of shearing. We tend to shear in late
    pregnancy and so give them a small ration the morning of the shearing. Ask you shearer what he suggests
    based on the time of year you are shearing.
     ~Prepare another pen for the sheep to go once they're shorn, or if in grazing season an exit to pasture.











    If it's still hay feeding season, putting out some nice hay in another pen, will keep the sheep content.
     ~As the shearer works, he  throws the belly wool aside. We have someone there to sweep this off the
    shearing floor and put it into an old grain bag. We sweep a lot while the shearer is shearing, keeping the
    shearing area clear of manure tags and second cuts. Once the shearer is done, roll the fleece and  bag it in a
    clear bag. We label each fleece with the name or number of the sheep. These bags are left open and set
    aside to be skirted another day.












    ~Be prepared to help bring the sheep to your shearer. Some shearers prefer to catch the sheep themselves
    and some will bring a border collie with them to assist them in catching and holding back the sheep. Ask your
    shearer what they prefer.
    ~Most shearers are willing to trim hooves and vaccinate. There may be an extra fee for doing this. You need
    to plan in advance for vaccinations and be sure that you have the needles and syringes ready for use.   












     ~Think of your shearer's comfort. If you are shearing on a cold windy day, try to set up the shearing floor in
    a place that is relatively draft free. Often shearers are coming to your farm after already shearing someone
    else's flock. Ask them if they would like something to eat when they arrive or are finished at your farm.
     ~Be prepared to pay your shearer the day of shearing.
Here the sheep are waiting their
turn on the shearing floor. We
will take their coats off for the
shearer.
Tarragon is getting her hooves
trimmed.
Fleeces are lined up waiting to
be put away in the barn for
skirting day.
Ina, after shearing.
Our rams are put into a small
pen after shearing with a hay
bale in the middle of the floor.
This prevents them from being
able to back up and butt one
another with much force. Often
rams take several days to
recognize one another after
shearing.