Our First Sheep Shearing

Well, we finally accomplished shearing. Notice the unshorn (round) sheep compared to the shorn (much smaller but still round)sheep. Yes, yes, yes, we have shorn sheep. No shearer came. We can say we did it ourselves.


It didn't take long to set up the stand and equipment at all.

Emily was the first to be shorn. I was really surprised that they did so well. No freak out I'm going to be eaten by the blue thing at all.

She was so well behaved. I do believe that the side rails should be standard not extra. If you purchase this stand make sure to order the side rails. They provide stability for the sheep while you shear from the opposite side. No one fell off!

Ted had it all under control. Look at that concentration.

There, a much smaller ewe.

Esther was next. She is a very loud ewe. She voices her opinion loudly.

"Hey come here. I have something to tell you and I don't want the humans to hear. I would never tell them this but they did a much better job than that shearer did last year. They were very careful and didn't cut me not one time. I don't have patches of hair left either. I think they did a great job. I just don't want it to go to their heads."

Moriah was next, and Ted got faster as the day went on. He has even mastered hoof trimming.

We were able to get 5 sheep shorn. Ted has gotten really good at keeping the fleece in one piece. This is really good practice for the fall fleece shearing. That will be the "good" fleece that we will skirt, wash, dry and learn how to card into roving. Then spin the roving into yarn.

It always amazes me the small stature of the sheep after they are shorn. They may be small but they are packed with attitude.

We still have eight sheep to finish up. I know what our plans are going to be for tomorrow. We will begin much earlier next year. We can shear before the lambs are born. Less stress on the ewes while pregnant. This past year we took a shearing class, bought shears and a stand. All three were invaluable. The stand is worth it's weight in gold. After 5 sheep our backs weren't killing us. It makes it so much easier to shear. The stand is adjustable and can be raised or lowered as needed. Reaching those bellies is so much easier.
It feels so good getting this job done. There is so much satisfaction when the sheep are comfortable, cool, healthy and happy.

Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm. The home of shorn sheep.

Yes Sir, Yes Sir, Four Bags Full

Mainely Ewes Farm has had it's first fall shearing. This is a milestone for us. We were very worried that we wouldn't be able to get the sheep shorn in time. We had contacted other shearers and unfortunately they didn't even return our calls. We have a small flock, only 4 ewes to be shorn. Our numbers will increase by spring. We will be going to Illinois to pick up 2 bred ewes and a ram in late November. We will be getting 3 bred ewes from Frelsi Farm in late November. We will have Truffles and Baby for spring shearing. So by spring we will have 12 sheep to be shorn. Out of desperation I realized we have The Maine Sheep Breeders Association as a resource. There was only one shearer listed for all of Penobscot County. It is a big county too. Robert Crocker was willing to come and set up for our small flock. Icelandic sheep are notorious for being difficult to shear. They are not docile and polite sheep that lay there and let you do anything to them. They are a primitive breed of sheep who will thrash and fight when threatened. That is instinct from years of surviving in the rough climate and many predators in Iceland. We got the sheep in the barn early morning. This is their first time in the barn and they were a bit leery of everything.
"Oh, this don't look good girls. Let's give him a real work out!"

This young man has been involved with 4H since he was a small boy and learned to shear sheep at an early age. Esther wasn't too bad. She sat there still and quiet for about 15 seconds and tried to make a break for it. Robert was having no part of that. She got tossed right back on her batookis. Hooves were trimmed first. We could definitely tell that our pasture has been wet this year. No foul smell but the hooves needed a good dose of Dr. Naylor's Hoof N Heel.

Esther gave up and let him finish.

This picture is blurred because Robert works fast. He completed 4 sheep in about an hour hooves and all.

He is a one man show. I don't think my back could take this.

Each girl got the same treatment.

What a sweet face. "HELP ME"

This was the end product of our morning. We have 4 fleeces to clean or "skirt". Meaning, pull all of the brambles and burdock out. We will mow their pasture this week to help eliminate the burdock for next year. I have been manually ripping out the thistle. What an evil weed. Even the goats won't eat it. Each season we learn. Progress is slow but steady. We plan on fencing the hay field next year. We can put the sheep and goats in to eat after the second cut. They can eat this grass till we shear in the fall. The fleece will be free from weeds and easier to skirt.

Fuzzy waited patiently outside for her girls to return. She did a double take when they first came out of the barn.

She had to check the girls out. I know she started laughing at this point.

The girls are happy outside. We moved them to the pasture with the covered shelter. Life goes on. Next step? The dairy goats arrive next Tuesday from Stony Knolls Farm. I don't even have a milking pail yet. Where is my Hoegger catalog? Much love and prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

Kelly