Shearing Done!

I was too busy to take any pictures but we got the entire flock shorn yesterday. We had a good crew, a bunch of folks from Ravelry came and the Clocks and people from Mesa Winds Farm. We started about 8:15 am and got done about 1:15 pm. 132 naked sheep on the mesa today. Eifion shore straight through, then we had lunch then off to do other flocks in the valley. Finished with a couple of pints at Revolution Brewing. Ken and Eifion are off to do the last 2 flocks today, I'm home sick with a cough and stuffed nose.

Wool looks pretty good, I'll start skirting when I recover from this cold.

Baling Twine Sheep Tie

Eifion showed us how to make a sheep imobilizer from a piece of baling twine. You make a loop around the hind legs above the hocks. Bring the ends up between the legs and tie a knot at the upper brisket. Put the head and one front leg through the resulting loop and the sheep is contained safely and cannot get up or run away but is not stressed.

Here's the loop around the hind legs.


And here is the sheep all caught.

He used this to contain one of 2 sheep he had to shear at one of the other flocks. He didn't want the one not being shorn to race around and get all upset. This kept her quiet and calm.

Day Before Shearing

One day before we go to pick up Eifion. 14 deer in the front yard and snow!