Aurora

I went to a Llama shearing once, there were legs flying every which way and they didn't just belong to the Llama's.

kathy

I want to know why your sheep don't shrink (or do they?!) when they get wet and my wool batting did. LOL
we're all waiting to find out what you do with it

countrymaid

We do sell the wool. We belong to a co-op that contracts with a buyer. The wool is weighed, baled and loaded on a semi. Most of the wool goes overseas and returns as product. With the renewed interest of made in the USA the American Sheep Producers did purchase a processor for raw wool. The majority of commercial flocks sell their wool. If I was to spin wool I would pick a different breed such as a merino. Different breeds have different wool qualities and meat qualities.

The wool shrinks because of the dryer heat. Lay flat and air dry just the way nature intended. :)

littlehud

Cool pics. I have never seen anything like that. I can't imagine shearing that many sheep in three hours.

zz-pd

thats a lot of work. Penny

Nell

Great! I love Susie! Is she a standard or a mini? Is she content with the sheep for companions, or does she miss another donkey friend?

butterflywing

have you considered shearing cats?

SaraSewing

I remember having the shearer come to our farm when I was a kid. Those poor sheep looked so naked! I have a wool blanket that my dad had made from our wool. I love it!

Once I asked my dad why he sheared the sheep so early. He said that if the mammas got cold they would take their babies to shelter. If the mammas had a heavy wool coat, their babies could freeze. My 87 year old mother still has a few sheep

countrymaid

We used to shear in January before lambing. Now we shear when we're done. Suzie is a standard donkey. We got her when she was 6 mos old. When in the barn she has her own box stall next to the sheep. She instinctly knows that they are hers to protect. You don't want two donkeys because they won't tend the sheep as close. When in the pasture if something bothers her she'll bring the sheep to the middle of the lot and keep her head up watching and listening. When it's clear she'll go back to grazeing and the sheep will spread out again. She's always in the middle of the flock.

feline fanatic

I understand llamas are also quite good at this.