You'll never guess what I did today?!? I helped Lisa with her 40 sheep, 3 alpacas and numerous lambs. It was shearing day.
Once I arrived I met Louis, the French/Belgian shearer. He is very small, but can he ever handle sheep, even the big rams! Also there were Lisa's daughter, Jessica, and her friend Nick.
Jessica and Nick would wrestle the sheep through the corral, Louis would shear, and Lisa and I would collect the fleece and let the shorn sheep out to pasture. The sheep fleece tends to remain in one large mat that we collected once Louis was all done shearing, but the alpaca fleece falls apart, so has to be collected as it is cut.
The entire shearing of 40 sheep and 3 alpaca took from 8am to 4 pm. Long day, but very interesting!!
Once I arrived I met Louis, the French/Belgian shearer. He is very small, but can he ever handle sheep, even the big rams! Also there were Lisa's daughter, Jessica, and her friend Nick.
Jessica and Nick would wrestle the sheep through the corral, Louis would shear, and Lisa and I would collect the fleece and let the shorn sheep out to pasture. The sheep fleece tends to remain in one large mat that we collected once Louis was all done shearing, but the alpaca fleece falls apart, so has to be collected as it is cut.
The entire shearing of 40 sheep and 3 alpaca took from 8am to 4 pm. Long day, but very interesting!!
Louis shearing a sheep.
The sheep seem to submit to the process once they are on their back.
Maybe they are related to turtles??!!
One of the black faced sheep waiting her turn.
Amazingly, the brown wool on the outside of this sheep was actually black underneath.
This fleece will make beautiful dark yarn!
Meeting the alpacas. Soooooo soft!!
Lisa bonding with her baby!
Holding on to the alpaca. Keep away from the mouth - they spit!
This alpaca has an apricot coloured fleece. It will be beautiful when spun into yarn!
After shearing and looking a bit like a large poodle!
Alpacas are related to camels. Sure can tell now!
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