I have made a list http://psalm23farm.blogspot.com/p/shetland-sheep-for-sale.html of Shetland ewes that are for sale. I am selling them because I have their sister, mother or daughter and am cutting back on my flock. I am wanting to reduce the burden on my pastures, barn and want more time to shear sheep! My dream is to go to NZ for a level 2 shearing class some day.
I will also be offering PS23 Craigrothie, F1 Skeld (threw a couple polled boys) in Nov/Dec. after I use him. He is super friendly and not aggressive. He has a soft, silky, crimpy fleece that is around 26 microns (I can look it up if anyone wants to know.) Good tail.
I also am going to sell 8-12 crossbred ewes. They are all good mothers and have excellent handspinner fleeces. If you are looking for a certain cross ask.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Wow! Some people have too much time on their hands!
I just deleted around 40 or 50 spam comments on my blog. I noticed a couple comments that did not make sense. One was on a post of lamb pictures and was talking about brussles and a video (no video on that post.) Some were in broken English. So.... now I have set my comments to moderate.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Shearing
This post is all about shearing! My little sister can't understand why anyone would want to get all dirty and greasy and sweaty and wrestle sheep. The reason... it is addicting! There is something almost magical about taking a full fleeced ewe, tipping her over and doing a sort of dance pattern around her while gliding the blades through her wool and watching the wool roll off. Then all of a sudden she is a new sheep!
Before taking the class from Tony Dobbs I was at a point of not wanting to shear all of my sheep anymore. My blades were so dull I had to chop at the wool and I did not know the pattern. I was taking forever to shear a sheep. (I tried the machine shearing pattern and it felt really awkward, that is because the blade shearing pattern is different.) I took the class because even if I hired a shearer I would still have to shear some of my sheep, since Shetlands are not all ready at once and I don't want to wait until May to do my crosses or goats and a shearer would not want to come 4-6 times a year! (I could not find anyone who could sharpen blades and I tried out about 6 different people! I could not afford to buy new blades for every 15 or so sheep.) So back to the class...
I took the class and learned how to sharpen blades so they are razor sharp and can gleefully slice the wool. The pattern is great, it makes total sense once it is learned, I thought, "Aha, wow, this is great, it just keeps flowing." The shearing pattern is to have the sheep's weight on your legs, not your back. The pattern is also the most efficient way to shear.
Blade Shearing this is a video (to get back to my blog, just back click) of a blade shearer going over the pattern. (I can't seem to get the one of Tony on here, so this one should work.)
In New Zealand the shearing schools have 4 levels. http://www.tectra.co.nz/ Someday it would be cool to take the next level in NZ and shear in sheds there. It would also be cool to shear in Scotland if I get good enough to travel for pay. Even if I don't get good enough (fast/strong enough) I still want to shear my flock and several small flocks!
They say that it take a shearer 8-10 years of full-time shearing to become highly proficient, so I have a lot of practicing to do!
Yes, shearing is very physically demanding. They say if one shears for 8 hours it is like running two back to back marathons. I am working on getting stronger. I'm doing sit-ups, push-ups, hamstring/leg exercises and working on getting my left arm stronger. (Instead of routinely carrying things with my right arm, I'll switch to using my left.) My left arm is not my dominant arm and is used a lot during shearing.
The second day of shearing all day in a row I felt awful. Every muscle hurt (even my feet) and I felt sick. David Kier, a professional machine shearer said the pain is why most learners quit shearing. He said that once one shears in under 4 min. the pain goes away. Yeah, he still hurts after a hard day, but not the awful burning pain of learning. Right now I am shearing sheep about 2 days a week and I think I'm getting a bit stronger. (Here is an article by David, http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/50501692.html. David is one of the best shearers in WI and is very knowledgeable in wool and general sheep knowledge.)
My goal in taking the class was just to shear my own sheep a little faster with better blades. Now I am shearing for others and I really like it. It is nice to drive through the country to a spot I've never been and meet new people and shear their sheep. It is a good feeling to see a pen of freshly sheared sheep.
So far I've gotten to shear some Horned Dorsets, an English Leicester, a hair sheep cross, Babydoll Southdown, Coopworth, Shetland, Angora goats, Corriedale, an Ile De France X Dorset, Polypay X Dorset, Wenslydale, Polypay, all my crossbred girls (Shetland crossed with Corriedale, Coopworth and/or BFL) and some unknown breed crosses. Each sheep breed is slightly different to shear, some are easier than others. So far I think the Polypays and their crosses are the easiest.
I will leave you with a video of a blade shearing shed.
Before taking the class from Tony Dobbs I was at a point of not wanting to shear all of my sheep anymore. My blades were so dull I had to chop at the wool and I did not know the pattern. I was taking forever to shear a sheep. (I tried the machine shearing pattern and it felt really awkward, that is because the blade shearing pattern is different.) I took the class because even if I hired a shearer I would still have to shear some of my sheep, since Shetlands are not all ready at once and I don't want to wait until May to do my crosses or goats and a shearer would not want to come 4-6 times a year! (I could not find anyone who could sharpen blades and I tried out about 6 different people! I could not afford to buy new blades for every 15 or so sheep.) So back to the class...
I took the class and learned how to sharpen blades so they are razor sharp and can gleefully slice the wool. The pattern is great, it makes total sense once it is learned, I thought, "Aha, wow, this is great, it just keeps flowing." The shearing pattern is to have the sheep's weight on your legs, not your back. The pattern is also the most efficient way to shear.
Blade Shearing this is a video (to get back to my blog, just back click) of a blade shearer going over the pattern. (I can't seem to get the one of Tony on here, so this one should work.)
In New Zealand the shearing schools have 4 levels. http://www.tectra.co.nz/ Someday it would be cool to take the next level in NZ and shear in sheds there. It would also be cool to shear in Scotland if I get good enough to travel for pay. Even if I don't get good enough (fast/strong enough) I still want to shear my flock and several small flocks!
They say that it take a shearer 8-10 years of full-time shearing to become highly proficient, so I have a lot of practicing to do!
Yes, shearing is very physically demanding. They say if one shears for 8 hours it is like running two back to back marathons. I am working on getting stronger. I'm doing sit-ups, push-ups, hamstring/leg exercises and working on getting my left arm stronger. (Instead of routinely carrying things with my right arm, I'll switch to using my left.) My left arm is not my dominant arm and is used a lot during shearing.
The second day of shearing all day in a row I felt awful. Every muscle hurt (even my feet) and I felt sick. David Kier, a professional machine shearer said the pain is why most learners quit shearing. He said that once one shears in under 4 min. the pain goes away. Yeah, he still hurts after a hard day, but not the awful burning pain of learning. Right now I am shearing sheep about 2 days a week and I think I'm getting a bit stronger. (Here is an article by David, http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/50501692.html. David is one of the best shearers in WI and is very knowledgeable in wool and general sheep knowledge.)
My goal in taking the class was just to shear my own sheep a little faster with better blades. Now I am shearing for others and I really like it. It is nice to drive through the country to a spot I've never been and meet new people and shear their sheep. It is a good feeling to see a pen of freshly sheared sheep.
So far I've gotten to shear some Horned Dorsets, an English Leicester, a hair sheep cross, Babydoll Southdown, Coopworth, Shetland, Angora goats, Corriedale, an Ile De France X Dorset, Polypay X Dorset, Wenslydale, Polypay, all my crossbred girls (Shetland crossed with Corriedale, Coopworth and/or BFL) and some unknown breed crosses. Each sheep breed is slightly different to shear, some are easier than others. So far I think the Polypays and their crosses are the easiest.
I will leave you with a video of a blade shearing shed.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
2013 Lambs
116 Lambs on the ground. Here goes for the list.
Sommarang Gilroy-black, fine fleeced, horned and spotted. I'm hoping his groups throws lots of spots and fine fleeces.
Early Spring-mioget (carrys spots.) Lambs: black ewe, black krunet (white spot on head) ewe
Elm-lt. grey (carrys spots) Lambs: black ram, black ewe
Ferndale-sheala F1 Gordon Lambs:-2 black ewes
Glitter-white Lambs: white ram, white ewe
Gardenia-grey gulmoget/katomget F2 Dillon Lambs: black gulmoget ewe, grey katmoget ewe
Goldenred-moiget/musket F2 Orion Lambs: black ram, black ewe
Grettle-white F2 Jings Lambs: 2 white rams
Gladys-white F2 Jings Lamb: white ram
Hollyhocks-moorit (carrys spots) F2 Jericho Lambs: black yuglet, 3 white socks lamb (spots!) ewe, moorit ram
Honeydew-fawn katmoget (may carry spots) F2 Jericho Lambs: grey katmoget ram, black ram
Sheepy Hollow Sienna-moorit horned ewe Lambs: moorit ewe, black ram
UnderTheSon Jelly Drop-emsket Lambs: 2 black ewes
Funzie-grey katmoget, horned ewe F1 Jings Lambs: black ram, grey katmoget ram
PS23 Fife-moorit, F1 Orion fine fleece and fully horned out of a horned ewe. Long and deep bodied.
Flourance-white F2 Skeld Lambs: white ram, moorit ram
Fairlie-fawn F1 Orion. This is a linebreeding, hpoing he make the lambs crimpier and she makes them silkier as she is not very crimpy, but very silky. Lambs: moorit ram, moorit ewe
Gloria-white F2 Jings Lamb: golden musket ram
Hyacinth-grey katmoget F2 Jericho Lamb: moorit ram
Heather-grey katmoget F2 Jericho Lambs: black ewe, dk. grey katmoget ewe
Hope-white F2 Jings Lambs: white ewe, moorit ram
Hummingbird-black F2 Jericho Lambs: black ewe, black ram
Hydrangea-white F1 Skeld Lambs: white ewe, (black ram-died)
Forsythia-lt grey F2 Greyling Lambs: musket ram, black ewe
PS23 Hector-white F1 Jings super fine fleece. Fine boned and small-my smallest ram, refined. (Not undersized, just by comparison to my other rams.) I was actually going to use Fairlight my other F1 Jings who is much more meaty and a flock book type, but decided to use him at the last minute instead.
Under The Son Aran-sheala Lambs: black ewe, black ewe with small white spot on head
Under The Son Hopi-sheala/dk brown horned ewe F2 Skeld Lambs: black ram, white ewe
Hadassah-moorit horned ewe F2 Orion Lamb: moorit ewe
Harmony-fawn katmoget, horned ewe F2 Orion Lambs: black ram, (white ewe-died)
Gilroy's lambs: 12 rams, 13 ewes
Fife's lambs: 8 rams, 6 ewes
Hector's lambs: 2 rams, 5 ewes
All Shetlands together: 22 rams, 24 ewes
Coopworth X Shetland Lambs: All whites 12 rams, 16 ewes out of 15 ewes
IleDeFrance/Dorset sired Lambs: All whites 22 rams, 16 ewes out of 22 ewes
2 girls cycled around and will be late-one of the IleDeFrance's and one of Gilroy's-Eastwind a spotted emsket. Just when I thought what nice spotted lambs they would have. Oh well. I have 9 does due to kid starting today. Then I will be done!
I should have several purebred ewe lambs for sale as well as a few purebred Shetland ram lambs. I also will have white Coopworth X Shetland ewes for sale. The Coopworth X Shetland have very nice silky and shiny fleeces and a med. sized ewe that is a great commercial ewe with a nice handspining quality fleece .
Sommarang Gilroy-black, fine fleeced, horned and spotted. I'm hoping his groups throws lots of spots and fine fleeces.
Early Spring-mioget (carrys spots.) Lambs: black ewe, black krunet (white spot on head) ewe
Elm-lt. grey (carrys spots) Lambs: black ram, black ewe
Ferndale-sheala F1 Gordon Lambs:-2 black ewes
Glitter-white Lambs: white ram, white ewe
Gardenia-grey gulmoget/katomget F2 Dillon Lambs: black gulmoget ewe, grey katmoget ewe
Goldenred-moiget/musket F2 Orion Lambs: black ram, black ewe
Grettle-white F2 Jings Lambs: 2 white rams
Gladys-white F2 Jings Lamb: white ram
Hollyhocks-moorit (carrys spots) F2 Jericho Lambs: black yuglet, 3 white socks lamb (spots!) ewe, moorit ram
Honeydew-fawn katmoget (may carry spots) F2 Jericho Lambs: grey katmoget ram, black ram
Sheepy Hollow Sienna-moorit horned ewe Lambs: moorit ewe, black ram
UnderTheSon Jelly Drop-emsket Lambs: 2 black ewes
Funzie-grey katmoget, horned ewe F1 Jings Lambs: black ram, grey katmoget ram
PS23 Fife-moorit, F1 Orion fine fleece and fully horned out of a horned ewe. Long and deep bodied.
Flourance-white F2 Skeld Lambs: white ram, moorit ram
Fairlie-fawn F1 Orion. This is a linebreeding, hpoing he make the lambs crimpier and she makes them silkier as she is not very crimpy, but very silky. Lambs: moorit ram, moorit ewe
Gloria-white F2 Jings Lamb: golden musket ram
Hyacinth-grey katmoget F2 Jericho Lamb: moorit ram
Heather-grey katmoget F2 Jericho Lambs: black ewe, dk. grey katmoget ewe
Hope-white F2 Jings Lambs: white ewe, moorit ram
Hummingbird-black F2 Jericho Lambs: black ewe, black ram
Hydrangea-white F1 Skeld Lambs: white ewe, (black ram-died)
Forsythia-lt grey F2 Greyling Lambs: musket ram, black ewe
PS23 Hector-white F1 Jings super fine fleece. Fine boned and small-my smallest ram, refined. (Not undersized, just by comparison to my other rams.) I was actually going to use Fairlight my other F1 Jings who is much more meaty and a flock book type, but decided to use him at the last minute instead.
Under The Son Aran-sheala Lambs: black ewe, black ewe with small white spot on head
Under The Son Hopi-sheala/dk brown horned ewe F2 Skeld Lambs: black ram, white ewe
Hadassah-moorit horned ewe F2 Orion Lamb: moorit ewe
Harmony-fawn katmoget, horned ewe F2 Orion Lambs: black ram, (white ewe-died)
Gilroy's lambs: 12 rams, 13 ewes
Fife's lambs: 8 rams, 6 ewes
Hector's lambs: 2 rams, 5 ewes
All Shetlands together: 22 rams, 24 ewes
Coopworth X Shetland Lambs: All whites 12 rams, 16 ewes out of 15 ewes
IleDeFrance/Dorset sired Lambs: All whites 22 rams, 16 ewes out of 22 ewes
2 girls cycled around and will be late-one of the IleDeFrance's and one of Gilroy's-Eastwind a spotted emsket. Just when I thought what nice spotted lambs they would have. Oh well. I have 9 does due to kid starting today. Then I will be done!
I should have several purebred ewe lambs for sale as well as a few purebred Shetland ram lambs. I also will have white Coopworth X Shetland ewes for sale. The Coopworth X Shetland have very nice silky and shiny fleeces and a med. sized ewe that is a great commercial ewe with a nice handspining quality fleece .
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Lambing
I have over 110 lambs and down to four more ewes to lamb and nine does to kid. I have a bunch of pictures, but can't get them on the computer right now (it has been updated and does not want to upload any pictures.)
I found this picture of a Finn ewe with seven lambs. ( http://www.kitsapsun.com/photos/2012/apr/13/288959/#axzz2PgqWXIuK )
I'm sure glad mine don't have 7 each or I'd have over 450 lambs!!!!
I found this picture of a Finn ewe with seven lambs. ( http://www.kitsapsun.com/photos/2012/apr/13/288959/#axzz2PgqWXIuK )
I'm sure glad mine don't have 7 each or I'd have over 450 lambs!!!!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Ducks On The Pond
I have started lambing in full swing, up to over 40 babies. I need to get some pictures up.
In the mean time I found this video of an all women shearing team who donated a day's shearing for cancer research. They are great! I love the pink shearing singlets too. :)
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2013/s3717388.htm
In the mean time I found this video of an all women shearing team who donated a day's shearing for cancer research. They are great! I love the pink shearing singlets too. :)
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2013/s3717388.htm
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