Sheep shearing questions

southernmom · #1 09/14/13, 04:57 PM

I posted a long while back about getting sheep, got some good responses on here so I waited and bought three sheep from a friend (katahdin) found that we like raising them, and wanted to move on to a more wooly sheep.

We bought three finn/florida cracker sheep from a great place about an hour away and a couple will be in need of shearing pretty soon. Financially speaking I believe we will have to have manual shears instead of electric clippers-can anyone give me a quick opinion about them? Anyone with experience? In time when we have more I will invest in electric, but as for now, we don't have the means.
Thanks in advance.

RovingAcres · #2 09/14/13, 09:48 PM

Have they not been sheared yet this year? If they were already sheared in the spring or born in the spring they shouldn't need shearing until next March or so.

For that few sheep I would look around for a shearer to do them for you instead of investing in shearing equipment. In my area shearing is $5 a head at most, usually with a $20-30 minimum. A good shearer will have them all done in under an hour when you're probably looking at a whole day of hard work the first time you do them yourself.

Melissa · #3 09/14/13, 09:54 PM

I can't imagine shearing with non-electric clippers. It is not very easy with electric ones. You are tougher than me!!! Around here it is almost impossible to get anyone to do it, most people who have sheep just do their own.

ErikaMay · #4 09/14/13, 10:44 PM

I do it with hand shears all the time. I tried electric and kept cutting them....somehow I cut them far less with the hand shears. I was actually itching to shear some this evening...its fun!

There are a few ways of doing it. New Zealand style is the fastest and cleanest way to do it leaving you with a single fleece plus some junk wool to the side. But you have to be confident with your shears...I'm not going to do it that way again until im a little better with my shears.
the way I've done my last 3 sheep is in either a stanchion or haltered and tied between two posts so they can't move a ton. Give them a little feed or grain to entertain them then cut the fleece off in two pieces starting down the center of the back and taking swipes across the body on each side. I think it took me 45 minutes to do my last animal by myself, and he seemed to rather enjoy it. However, the belly is hard to shear this way. See my post:

http://farmerista.wordpress.com/2013...a-small-woman/

bergere · #5 09/15/13, 06:13 AM

Personally, I am horrible with hand shears. You have to have good hand strength and staying power, so to speak.

I have Lister Laser, shears, use the Medium blades, so I do not nick the sheep.
It works really well.

In WA state, could find really good shearers, there was one woman I had shear my sheep, she was outstanding. Since I showed my sheep's fleece at the time, it was worth her coming out.
She charged $25.00 to come to my Farm, was a distance from her place and $5.00 a sheep.

Here, forget it, you have to shear yourself.

southernmom · #6 09/15/13, 11:58 AM

Thank you all for the replies-ErikaMay thank you for the link, it definitely helps!
One of the sheep I know was sheared in April, the other two were not. They don't have uncomfortably long coats, but they could do with a cut

Again, appreciate the help!

Callieslamb · #7 09/15/13, 01:37 PM

I have finns and I shear 2x a year. So when to shear depends on the sheep. They will be sheared again in Oct. We hire a guy to come and hand shear. He does it really quickly - about an hour for 8 sheep. If you are going to try to use the wool, 3 inches in length is a good starting place. You can use shorter, but 3 inches works well for me. Watch for 2nd cuts (cutting an area then going back and cutting it shorter the 2nd pass). It's tempting to do that so you don't cut the sheep, but it ruins the wool for use. I'd give it a try if I were you. You don't have to do it all in one day. Or even all of one sheep in one sitting. Keep the sharpen stone near by and use it often.

southernmom · #8 09/18/13, 05:18 PM

Any recommendations for a decent set of manual shears? Thanks

ErikaMay · #9 09/18/13, 10:49 PM

I just got the ones with the red handle and a cut little lamb on the blade from the local feed store. $20 for a pair.

I think its a specialty item so no ones going to waste time to make cheap knock offs of manual sheers. especially at $20 each...