Shearing Day 2012

Shearing day was last Tuesday, April 17, but I've just now regained enough energy to actually blog about it. It kicked my tush, and we only have 6 animals!!

Sue of The Critter Ranch came to do the shearing, while my friend, Hannah was on-hand as an extra helper, and photographer extraordinaire. A huge thank you to Hannah for all the pictures here!! Another friend, Petra, came by to watch, and was quickly put to work wrangling lambs. Thanks to all of you for such a great day!

 

Starr was her usual prim and slightly haughty self. She pranced into the chute, and then even deigned to allow Hannah to have a picture taken with her. 

Knox was the first of the sheep to be sheared. He's now earned the name ObKNOXious. But we took him down a few pegs once he was naked. Not so tough now, are you?

However, with a fleece like this, I'll put up with him for a while longer! 

We decided that Emerald, the only pregnant ewe left, would go next, and we were in for quite the surprise!

Sue started shearing her at the back, but her wool was really thick and it was hard to get the shears through it. As we pulled the wool up to get the shears through, we realized that Emerald was rooing. Rooing happens in the more primitive breeds of sheep that have survived on their own for hundreds of years. In the Spring, their wool becomes thinner and will easily break off, allowing the sheep to rub against trees or shrubs to pull the old growth off.

This is ideal for hand spinners because we end up with a fleece that has no second cuts in it, and the tips on next year's fleeces will be more natural. It's great for the sheep because their left with a fine layer of new growth.

Emerald has a gorgeous fleece, and now she looks soft and fluffy!

It was time for a lunch break at this point. Look! Me with three bags full!!

First up after lunch was Sparkles. We were able to roo her to her shoulders and then had to shear the rest. I think next year I'll either wait a week or work on parts of the fleece as it's ready to release.

Of course, the star of the day was June. She helped hold her mom in, and inspected the fleece.

 

Petra showed up about this time and helped control "the pests." I don't think she minded too much!

 

We were able to roo Peridot to her shoulders as well. However, she looks the most tender of the three, and she probably could have waited until next week. She's getting limited sun time until she has some wool on her!

Her lambs hung out in a storage box at her head until she was all done.

And again . . . another gorgeous fleece! I love the gray of her wool.

All in all, a pretty awesome day that left me with four gorgeous Shetland fleeces and two wonderful llama blankets. And I couldn't be more thankful for good friends that are willing to work and laugh along with me while I navigate farm life!!