Manone shearing a Cotswold
Rod shearing another Cotswold. They were somewhat difficult to shear and did not like to be on their butts one bit.
Oh boy, what a big day for the Fat Ewe Farm. It is amazing how things work in the universe. The shearers were here a few weeks ago and declined to shear because things were not set up properly, only I did not know what properly was until they explained it to me. Last year, it was a different shearer and she wanted things set up properly too, only her properly.
So, with new instructions, the two farm hands who often help me out, set up the holding pen, catch pen and shearing area inside the barn. We then brought the rams over and put them in a separate area ready for their turns first. The sheep are turned to sit on their rumps and are most comfortable when they have empty stomachs and bladders. They were not fed, but there was hay on the pen floor, so many of them ate fairly well and that made it difficult for them and the shearers, while others were fairly emptied out and were easier. Then there are the wild sheep, the Barbados, Painted Desert and Shetland crosses and the Icelandics, who were not easy to shear. Some of the sheep had little bugs biting into their skin, like tics, only they are flies without wings, called keds. Because they will be exposed to below freezing temperatures tonight, the keds should drop off of the sheep and freeze. The shearers also recommended keeping the chickens with the sheep, since the chickens will eat the keds. That was the plan anyhow, but now it is confirmed.
So, with new instructions, the two farm hands who often help me out, set up the holding pen, catch pen and shearing area inside the barn. We then brought the rams over and put them in a separate area ready for their turns first. The sheep are turned to sit on their rumps and are most comfortable when they have empty stomachs and bladders. They were not fed, but there was hay on the pen floor, so many of them ate fairly well and that made it difficult for them and the shearers, while others were fairly emptied out and were easier. Then there are the wild sheep, the Barbados, Painted Desert and Shetland crosses and the Icelandics, who were not easy to shear. Some of the sheep had little bugs biting into their skin, like tics, only they are flies without wings, called keds. Because they will be exposed to below freezing temperatures tonight, the keds should drop off of the sheep and freeze. The shearers also recommended keeping the chickens with the sheep, since the chickens will eat the keds. That was the plan anyhow, but now it is confirmed.
The now naked Jacob ewes. Brrrrrrr!
Shearing is a real art and to me, it seems it is very hard on the shearer. Manone got kicked in the lip, giving her a fat and bleeding pout with a dirty hoof. The wrangling of a large sheep weighing several hundred pounds is not easy. Hands get sore too and it is not feasible to wear gloves. Even though the shearers wore harnesses, the harness only takes some stress off the back, but still they must lean over and bend down to do the work. Plus, squeezing the hoof trimmers on some hooves is very difficult. Different breeds and different sheep have varying degrees of hardness to their hooves. I did not ask how it occurred, but Rod is missing the tip of one of his fingers. Manone has various degrees of cuts and scratches and Rod wears a bandaid on another digit. This is hard work and the couple is not as young as they once were. They work about six months of the year, moving from farm to farm and staying in hotels or stranger's beds, eating victuals prepared by farm wives or often catching something on the run not as healthy as they would prefer.
I tried shearing last year, three sheep, and found it excruciating. Mind you, I had no idea what I was doing and nicked and cut the sheep in a few places. I am better at trimming their hooves than shearing.
The shearers are staying at the bed and breakfast, and after preparing a simple supper of bacon and omelets and perogies, I joined them. We chatted at length, laughed and I genuinely enjoyed their company. What great folk they are. They retired and I quickly tidied the kitchen and got the dishwasher going, then off to my little farmhouse I trotted. What a very busy day it was and I will be so grateful to sink into my organic mattress where I am surrounded by a wool mattress pad and wool comforter. ZZZZZZZ.
I tried shearing last year, three sheep, and found it excruciating. Mind you, I had no idea what I was doing and nicked and cut the sheep in a few places. I am better at trimming their hooves than shearing.
The shearers are staying at the bed and breakfast, and after preparing a simple supper of bacon and omelets and perogies, I joined them. We chatted at length, laughed and I genuinely enjoyed their company. What great folk they are. They retired and I quickly tidied the kitchen and got the dishwasher going, then off to my little farmhouse I trotted. What a very busy day it was and I will be so grateful to sink into my organic mattress where I am surrounded by a wool mattress pad and wool comforter. ZZZZZZZ.
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