Shearing began this morning at about 8 o’clock. The pregnant ewes were the first ones through and it is easy to tell now the ones that will lamb first. Worker boy has put out lots of fresh straw bedding in each of the lean-to areas for the sheep to snuggle down in tonight. They don’t seem the least bit upset to have their wool gone. Maybe it's a relief to have less weight to haul around.
Maria shearing a Clun Forest yearling.
Shearing is just so cool to watch! The sheep always look so completely different when they are bald, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI still do mine by hand with manual shears - takes a long time, and they look a bit goofy when I'm done, but I do get nice fleeces this way, and I haven't got enough sheep to make the hassle of finding and planning for a shearer worthwhile.
Will you send your wool in to the pool this year?