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Barnyard Buddies:  Calling all FIBER Breeders  |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 12:43:32 PM
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I am so glad that your little goat is doing better Lisa - give the sweet one a hug from this goat mommy...
 Here is a question to you ladies - What type of fiber are you itching to try or have tried in the last year and fell in love with?
Mine is a great blend from a recently new breeder in Alaska - It is a silver gray Musk Ox and silk blend. It spins like a dream and is so incredible to the touch. The hard part is with my weather beaten hands from the last week I can not work with it until they are less rough.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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viggie
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Lynn
West Allis
WI
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 3:49:12 PM
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I am new to fiber critters. I had started out with two white angoras..a french and a german. I only got to shear once though. My poor sweet german died during the excitement of the 4th of july fireworks and I chose to sell the french at that time (who was a rescue from an out of business breeder and a biter) and start fresh. So I am starting over with 2 blue frenchies. I got these brothers as juveniles so they are very sweet, but it'll be a while until I get fiber again. Money and time wasted, lol, but I am learning.
Edited to add pics: These are my boys, Socks and Mittens. In spring they are getting nice new commercial cages with runs :)
 
 of viggies veggies or follow on facebook |
Edited by - viggie on Feb 06 2011 3:58:03 PM |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 5:19:39 PM
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They are incredible - love those sweet faces and that fiber - OH NO my fingers are itching. Will you be using your fiber or will you be selling them???
I know what you mean about lossing them to fireworks. My yougest son long ago had a sweet black rex that he loved dearly - we thought we had done everything to protect them from the sounds of the 4th but poor Kindo Man just could not take it. All the other bunnies made it but that still did not in the least comfort my son.
Thank you so much for sharing pictures - they are just incredible.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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viggie
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
Lynn
West Allis
WI
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - Feb 06 2011 : 6:24:00 PM
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I will be harvesting just for myself. I've already found and tuned up a nice old antique wheel I've found, just need to figure out how to spin now :D It is a bit of an art it seems. I had hoped that would be a nice winter project, but that was before my boss unexpectedly required me to go back to school.
of viggies veggies or follow on facebook |
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modjeska
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
Lisa
Salina
Kansas
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - Feb 07 2011 : 3:47:54 PM
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Wow, that musk ox hair sounds sooo cool. The had a pic of them on bing.com last week. They look amazing.
We are gettin ready for more snow here. All my little 4 legged kids are doing great.
A friend of my daughters committed susidde last night and she is having a difficult time. She is at Fort Hays State.
Hope everyone else is doing well and staying warm.
Grace, how did you find that musk ox hair?
Lisa |
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modjeska
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
Lisa
Salina
Kansas
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 06:26:57 AM
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Snowing here again. About 4"on the ground and still snowing. Temps are plummeting, 5 degrees here now. I don't mind the snow, but I could do without the wind and low temps. At least all the kids are warm in the barn and doing well. My neighbor is out of town and I have to do her chores tonight. I hope my car can get up the hill.
Hope everyone else is doing well.
Lynn, the bunnies are so cute. I love the color.
Stay warm everyone,
Lisa |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 08 2011 : 2:34:36 PM
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Oh Lisa I am so sorry for your daughter - I place you all in my heart and prayers - there is never any good words for this time just know I will be think of you.
We got hit with a blizzard and still snowing like crazy - temps are going to a nice -19 and guess what - Maggie had a set of twin girls Monday afternoon just as the storm was getting a head of steam. They are hanging on but sure could use some prayers. Trying all my tricks in my bag so I hope I can pull them thru. The today at 10 am my Rebecca had a set of twins one boy, one girl. They are so far doing great but this weather sure is making things hard. I spent all of last night and today in the barn and trying to catch up on things quickly before spending the night out there again.
I will have to look up the info on the Musk Ox - I know it is in Alaska and she has a family business but I have to find the card.
Stay warm everyone and will be back when I can - still have lost more babies due and the weather is going to get dicey again.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2011 : 07:49:28 AM
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Hey ladies, sorry if this has been answered already ( I skimmed through the thread but didn't see the answer)...I'm wondering how many of you jacket/ cover your fiber animals? What have you found works best? I am having a hard time finding covers and jackets for my sheep and google research is giving me very little help! Any suggestions? THANKS!
"The ideal equestrian has the courage of a lion, the patience of a saint, and the hands of a woman."
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2011 : 09:34:15 AM
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Grace ~ I am hoping you and your new little ones are staying warm and dry!
It is snowing here. We are up to about 3.5", but up in Northwest Arkansas, some of the towns have over 2 feet! That is more than we get in 3 years all together! Amazing.
Molly, I have been wondering about sheep coats, too. I have 3 sheep that have sunburned tips but would probably stay black if they were coated. I am just unsure about coating one in the hot, humid heat we have in July and August.
The fiber I am itching to try is Suri Alpaca. I have a beautiful raw fleece I bought last year, and I have read that Suri can be spun without having to blend it with something else and it makes a gorgeous drapey yarn (Grace may have been the one I learned that from!) I just haven't had a chance to work up enough to experiment with. So much fleece, so little time!
~Lori
She works with eager hands...Proverbs 31:13
http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com
www.sarahkatefibers.blogspot.com |
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modjeska
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
Lisa
Salina
Kansas
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - Feb 09 2011 : 12:44:31 PM
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Grace, thank you for your prayers. It is a tough time for her. I hope your babies are doing well and your weather has gottn better. You are in our prayers. Have you had any sleep? Were your babies goats or sheep?
We got 12" of snow here yesterday which is alot for us. All my little goat babies sre doing well and staying warm. I put a little wooden box in there for them to jump on and they are having a blast with that. So fun to watch. Even the little bottle baby is doing well. It should get up to 50 by this weekend. I can't wait.
Hope everyone is well.
Lisa
Lynn, your bunnies are so cute. I love their color. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 14 2011 : 10:45:06 AM
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Hi all - sorry for falling off the board but it has been a roller coaster ride around here. The bottle girls and thriving and are such joys to be around - tons of work but I love it.
I had three more sets of twins and still more to come. I will get all the low down on the blog I promise along with pictures.
I hope everyone is getting warmer weather but that you are not now up to your ears in mud.... I might have to trade in my snow boots for flippers but it is always something Right??
So has anyone worked on fiber since we talked last. I have not but my fingers sure are itching because of spending all the time with my fiber girls. I was so tempted to cut some locks but it was way too cold. Now that they are sitting in the barn I know they will mess up those incredible fleeces.
This brings me to the question - Do you coat your animals?? I tried for years and finally gave up - we had too many and I spent all my time getting them unhooked from the fence or repairing coats.
If you do not coat was is your favorite trick to get fiber out of fleeces????
Have a great fiber day ladies.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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Whirled
Farmgirl at Heart
5 Posts
Jennifer
Wamego
KS
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - Feb 15 2011 : 08:08:45 AM
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Wow, I got busy and didn't get back to these forums for awhile and then got completely lost trying to find where I was! I'm new here and find these forums a little confusing. 
I have to second Christy's plug for the KAWS conference (I'll be teaching textured spinning!). They tend to be fun and pretty low key. I am also looking forward to attending the Missouri Fiber Retreat next month. Anyone else headed there?
http://thewickedstitch.typepad.com/a_whirled_yarn/ |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 07:32:12 AM
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Ladies, I'm looking to buy a pair of used (but good condition) hand carders for coarse-medium wool. If you have a pair you are not using, would you let me know? I'm just getting into fiber and spinning and I balk at the idea of spending $40-60 on hand carders until I'm sure I love it as much as I think I do!! :D I'd love to try out used ones first before committing the big bucks! Thanks!!
"The ideal equestrian has the courage of a lion, the patience of a saint, and the hands of a woman."
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 07:38:47 AM
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We do not coat our sheep. When I sit down to order coats and knowing that I would have to change them at least 3 times in one year for each sheep as the fleece grows and then putting the pencil to the price that I would have to charge for the wool, I could not justify the expense and the labor that would be involved. I have also seen first hand some of the wounds and damage to the wool when the sheep are not checked frequently enough. One young ewe had a very deep wound from the strap of the coat. I also have to take in consideration that my sheep are allowed to run in 10-15 acre lots, and they could get caught in a fence or tree due to the coat. I also believe that I should maintain my flock as naturally as possible.
This is what I do to maintain as clean as possible. 1. Clip the pastures so that the sheep can graze without getting into burrs, stick tights, etc. I do a lot of walking and pulling and cutting of vegetation that might get in the fleece. 2. I feed small square bales if I can and try to feed close to the ground. 3. When I feed grain, it is also fed in feeders close to the ground or in pans. I fill the pans and place them in the lot before allowing the sheep to come in so that the feed is not dumped on the sheep. 3. I also spend time out in the pasture with the sheep. I keep a pair of scissors in my pocket and if I notice a stick tight or something in the coat, I clip it out when I find it.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 07:53:39 AM
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I have considered coating too but came to the same conclusion as Sarita. I worry about the coat getting caught up on something and the sheep getting injured. Since I don't sell my wool and have just my little spinners flock of 6, I have just resigned myself to picking VM. I try to maintain the pasture but it's impossible to get rid of everything even though they run on about 5 acres. I too carry scissors in my pocket and clip anything I can when I see it.
Have you tried looking on Ravelry for the hand cards? You might be able to find something used there.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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lsarah
True Blue Farmgirl
256 Posts
Lori
Greenwood
Arkansas
USA
256 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 07:54:54 AM
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We also decided not to coat our sheep. Before we started raising sheep, I had seen firsthand how a horse could tear up a coat, how they could wriggle "mostly" out of one, and the health issues related to leaving a coat on when it was too hot. I had read about what nice clean wool the sheep would have if they were coated, but the darn things are expensive! And, I know, they are breathable, but it gets so hot in July and August in Arkansas, not just hot, but humid. I cannot imagine putting even the lightest layer on top of their growing wool. The sheep are helping us find what type of stuff sticks in their wool, and we are working constantly to rid the pasture of stuff we find stuck to them. I also sit and pick bits out of wool in the mornings and evenings. Based on the fleeces I have processed, it is far easier for me to spend a few minutes each day on maintainence, with their wool still attached, than to have to sit and pick at a sheared fleece to get out an entire season's worth of stuff. My fleeces will not be totally free of vm, but I feel like they are acceptable.
~Lori
She works with eager hands...Proverbs 31:13
http://www.sarahkatefibers.etsy.com
www.sarahkatefibers.blogspot.com |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 11:44:19 AM
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All great advice, thank you. I will for sure take it all into consideration. :D And thank you, Sheri, for the idea to check Ravelry. Heading there now.....
"The ideal equestrian has the courage of a lion, the patience of a saint, and the hands of a woman."
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 2:52:49 PM
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Great reasons ladies - I also found that there is a wide range of coats for climates, size of animals and also the type of fiber. I have spent years judging and evaluating fleeces all over the US and have heard all the good and bad of coats so I love hearing your thoughts.
Here another topic - Do you use a picker or not and why? I have a triple picker from Patrick Green and love it but only use it for certain types of fibers.
Love sharing thoughts and experiences.
As for the hand carders I might suggest two great Large Slicker Brushs. That is how I start my student getting into carding without investing too much. Hope that helps a bit.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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Sheep Mom 2
True Blue Farmgirl
1534 Posts
Sheri
Elk
WA
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 3:23:51 PM
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I do not use a picker although I considered getting one. My friend who also raises Shetlands bought one and said that it made whorls in the wool so I shelved the idea of getting one. Does anyone else use one on Shetland wool?
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 3:33:12 PM
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Sheri I found a couple of tricks with Shetland because otherwise you can really make a mess quickly. Let gravity and the swinging do the work - NEVER push, don't load too much too quickly. Make sure there is no tender tips or you will make noils within seconds. I love to use the picker to get different fiber fluffed together before spinning from the hand or to place on a carder. Also, never place unwashed fibers in the picker - if any oils get left on the points is drags and then you push and there goes the fiber.
Can't wait to hear if others use this. I know it costs me a fortune in insurance when I have it available to students. I have to have it locked and in another room per insurnce instructions so no one can get hurt.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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AngoraAmora
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Rebecca
Charlestown
IN
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 4:55:17 PM
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Hello all. This is my first post on the Mary Jane sight. I raise English Angora rabbits in Southern Indiana. I am currently living in the city, but we also have a home that "used to be outside city limits" they changed that now, but it has 1 acre of land...enough for rabbits!
Anyway, I do spin the angora, knit and crochet. Thought I would join you fiber farm girls and just say howdy!
A hoppy life is a happy life |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 5:37:27 PM
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Welcome Rebecca and it is great to have you here... I so love Angora Bunnies - how many do you have, what colors, how long have you been raising them? Do you have any tricks and secrets you might share with the group about either raising, spinning or just plain being with those magical creatures??
Again, welcome to this group and MaryJane.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Feb 16 2011 : 7:35:56 PM
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Hi Rebecca.
I have a triple picker but I honestly don't use it much. I wonder if I am using it right. I don't use it on the shetland or the long BFL crosses. I usually comb the longer wool. I use the picker on my shorter wool. Grace, do you have any pointers on using the picker correctly?
I was on break at work when I typed my response to having my sheep coated. I don't want people to think I am a snob about coats. I know some people never have any problems and do not seem to mind the extra work and expense...I guess I don't want the extra work and responsibility of coating my sheep. We all run around the Spinning C in the natural. I really believe at times...Less is More! And for pity more, what would I do with all my free time if I didn't sit out on the patio during the summer evenings and pick out vm from my wool?
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2011 : 07:02:27 AM
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Hi Sarita - I am with you less is often more but I do know there are many types of wool that benefit by being coated. I have friends who would never not have their sheep coated and I must say their fleeces are such a dream to work with. They get a super great price for their trouble and when I look to purchase wools I go there first.
As for the picker - what type do you have? That makes all the difference in what I might be able to share with you. It will also depend on what carder you use after the picker too.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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Barnyard Buddies: Calling all FIBER Breeders |
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Calling all FIBER Breeders
