Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to make and upload this video. It has enabled me to shear my four new sheep with my sister without having to call on anyone for help. We weren’t expecting to be able to do this ourselves.
This is a very helpful video. First attempt, with the fleece thrown over his back, it broke off and he trampled it. Ended up removing it in sections, to prevent that. With the second sheep, I might try shearing one side lengthwise from the center back down to the belly, sitting on a small stool, laying the fleece across my lap as I go. More comfortable for my back.
Thank you for your comment. It does take a lot of practice and every time you will get quicker and find it easier. It makes a big difference if the sheep stands still, so tie up as tight as possible and the way I have my hurdles I can move one in and lessen the angle, so we are more in a triangle pen than a square. Very few of my sheep have been halter trained, this will be the only time they are tied up, but keeping calm and getting on with the job most sheep seem to stand still. The fleece does needs to be constantly checked and kept on the back and if the sheep is up against the hurdle, which is the best place, the fleece rests against the hurdle too. Good luck.
Thank you for sharing this! I’m going to be attempting the same method. And lovely color she is. Didn’t catch what you said it was called, but it’s very unique.
I call her colour black ilget yuglet. Black is the base colour, ilget is spots, but these have kind of merged with each other, and yuglet for the patches around her eyes. All the best.
Thank you so much for this video. My Shetlands are quite tame, but I simply cannot get them to stand as still as your beautiful ewe. Any tips you can give?
Some can be very awkward, others are great and don’t move at all. Try to stop them fidgeting in the first place, tie them up very short and insist they stay against the hurdle using you body. Once they learn to flip to the other side they will continue to flip about. Sheep are not stupid, as you most likely know, and learn so quickly. If they manage to continue fidgeting, I use another rope on the opposite side to the existing rope on the headcollar to tie in the opposite direction, stopping them moving backwards and forwards. This usually works, or at least helps a great deal. If they climb up, they can sometimes try anything, tie them lower on the hurdle,, and if they lay down in a strop then tie them higher. They usually don’t do both. Best to tie them at head height if they are good as that will be the most comfortable. I hope that works for you. It is so much quicker and enjoyable for both if they stand still, that’s what I tell them.
Do you milk your ewes? Mine will be is the reason I ask. I was thinking it might leave a bad taste in their mouth if I used the milk stand for shearing... I think I’ll build a second head catch away from where they’re milked so it doesn’t disrupt anything
@@jcmustian I milked Nubians and I love them! But trying to keep them maintained was ridiculous. Extremely picky eaters...and the worm load! I just couldn’t seem to keep their worm load down. Apparently the sheep are less high maintenance and are a little more worm resistant. Less milk than my Nubians, but I should get more butter and cheese. So I’m excited!
