First time sheering

[mystang89]

Wow.i know there are people who say they can sheer a sheep in 5 minutes but I am DEFINITELY not one of them. That too me somewhere around 1 hour or so. Anyone with suggestions. I still have 2 to go. I'm using electric sheers. Handling them isn't a problem. I can get them to stand still. It's the not making them look like they just went to the butcher that is the problem. He bled quite a bit especially on the belly.

There's the before.

There's the after. I feel sorry for him lol. He's out Guinnie pig. I think he's eat me if he could.

 

[Latestarter]

LOL Poor guy! OK, so @misfitmorgan and her DH do shearing for profit. @The Old Ram-Australia is also a pro and has the complete setup for doing hundreds (& was doing them as well until recently). Perhaps @secuono will respond as she sheers her babydolls, but I don't think she sees my tags, so I rarely tag her anymore. I'm sure that belly of yours doesn't make it any easier for you.

 

[mystang89]

LOL That would be my wife's belly which should have deflated today. This baby's going to be a stubborn one. I'm the one doing the shearing though.

I've watched YouTube like this

but it's so misleading. For example, even if I could shear that will that easily, how in this world did he keep from doing the animal too lol. And yes, I know experience is a HUGE part of it but still...

 

[Latestarter]

Sorry... wrong gender assumption made an ass of me... Wasn't even thinking as I typed (has gotten me in trouble before ). Grats to you and your wife on the about to be new child! Hope it all goes well and no complications.

 

[mystang89]

Haha, no problem. I'm trying to get my belly as big as here to make her feel better anyway.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ahhhh, that's so sweet!!

 

[Roving Jacobs]

It's mostly just practice, practice, practice. Everyone's first sheep are a mess. Watching videos is ok, if you can find a shearer to shadow or a shearing class to go to having a pro work you through the motions can be really valuable. Make sure you're holding the skin taut, the wrinkles are where you'll get them.

 

[secuono]

I see some of your tags, Latestarter, but when I have nothing to add or have no clue, I stay quiet.

I've only sheared a handful of my sheep, hate it. I hire out.
I used to have electric shears, but the weight and vibration of it was heck for my weak hands to deal with. Plus, my sheep looked terrible.

They need to be held in specific positions and pressed on to get even, close cuts.

I later used hand shears to cut two sheep...that was utter heck, took 4-5hrs each. Was tricky to get the hang of using the shears right to cut and my sheep have dense wool, slowed progress terribly. There should be pics of that hot mess somewhere online...

OP, you might be able to find shearing classes or a local shearer that might teach you. I, on the other hand, will never do it again until the clippers weight goes way down...Mine don't sit well for me, nor the pros I hire. =/

 

[The Old Ram-Australia]

G'day and thank you for including me in the topic.With no training I started in my late 30's to learn how to shear,in the beginning with a set of electric shears i used to complete one before lunch and one after.I spent lots of time watching proper shearers at field days trying to work it out and for years I struggled to get the wool off.It was not until my mid 60's that I began to conquer the art and and another 5 years to work out how to "sharpen" the combs and cutters,which is the "key" to a clean and workman/woman like result.

Even though we are getting out of meat/wool sheep (Suffolk) I have just invested in a new Heiniger electric grinder,because my old leather belt driven one made in the 1940's was "playing up" and I will always have to shear a few each year as we move into a new composite type made up of Dorpers(black head and white)and Wiltipols (a poll version of Horned Wiltshire from Gr Britain) with our Suffolk genetics as terminal sires.

Were I to use an electric set I would invest in a new Heiniger slimline one.At my age (75) I do not shear them fast and rarely need any Band-aids ,in fact it took me 10 days to shear the flock of 170 this Jan just gone,but that included mustering,penning ,shearing black-ling,drenching and getting them back on feed and getting in the mob for the next day and I almost forgot "pressing the wool" into bales.T.O.R.

My advice would be if you are "serious" about getting into sheep ,invest in the right gear and take the time to watch and learn how the :real shearers" do it .You will over time develop your own style and if you are in"sheep country" you can make a "buck or two" from sharpening gear for others and shearing a few sheep for other people.

 

[mystang89]

Thank you everyone. I'll keep an ear open for some shearing classes and see if there are any at the local 4h.

Roving Jacobs. There was one video that I watched which I noticed the person seeking to pull up on the skin when he was doing it. I'll try that today. Thanks.