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Barnyard Buddies:  blanketing sheep  |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4296 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4296 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 27 2007 : 5:53:30 PM
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| Does anyone keep blankets on their sheep, to keep their wool clean? I am hoping to get mine sheared soon, and wondering if it helps, or any thing special I would have to do. I did find a website, with a pattern for making sheep coats. thanks Michele |
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Bluewrenn
True Blue Farmgirl
1122 Posts
Erin
Texas
USA
1122 Posts |
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JudyBlueEyes
True Blue Farmgirl
657 Posts
Judith
Spokane
Washington
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - Feb 27 2007 : 8:00:18 PM
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I don't have sheep or goats, but my friend in California does, and she keeps coats on them. She also sells coats, if anyone is interested, I'll give you her phone number or address. They really do help keep the wool clean - not perfect, but cleaner. Judy
The Rooster crows, but the Hen lays the egg. ~ Texas Proverb |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4296 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4296 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 05:05:23 AM
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| Thanks Erin and Judy. The coat site I found looks simple enough, and will have to get some heavy material to do it. Michele |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 08:35:09 AM
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I did for the first three years of raising sheep. I spent my life fixing them, get the sheep unhooked from things and I found the sheep got colder with the coats rather then living with their own wonderful coats. this is what I have learned. Keep their housing clean and I mean clean. I have shorn animals for eleven years at other farms and the housing that people have kept their animals in is a mess. Next, feeding the correct way and keeping your kids or spouse from throwing hay will keep the fleece clean. Next, if you have good genes the fleece will stay intact and not separate to trap things in it. I have found that raising the animal the way mother nature planned it keeps them in the top condition possible. The only reason sheep coats where invented was for shows and not to keep on daily. Since also I do this for a full time living I can tell you that the tips of the fleece suffers also because of the rubbing. Side note - I have never had breeders coat a goat. Once again gene's are the key. Just my two cents worth.
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 |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4296 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4296 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 08:54:51 AM
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| Thank You Grace. I was just wondering, cause one of my sheep has hay stuck to her sides. It seems she picks up everything. I do not throw hay over the top of them, so at least I do that right. They do have hay for bedding, my straw is buried. I keep them in the barn in a pen at night, and they are outside during the day , in a moveable pen. I have dirt floor in the barn, no concrete :( I did read never to use sawdust for bedding. Any other helpful hints? |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 7:53:16 PM
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Hay is easy to get out of the fleece and if it is staying on the sides all you have to do is brush it with you hand before the shearer comes. Also if the sheep are eating too much grains they become more oily then normal and that makes them like velcor. What breed of sheep do you have. If they are one of the long wool curly sheep they are the hardest to keep clean. What is the hardest for those of us who do fiber is fine broom heads because as they dry they burst into the fiber and none of our machines can get that out. I would also suggest that you take the bedding away a day or two before shearing and if possible just run a bottle brush over the tips (Not to open the fleece but just to get the veggie matter off) I plan mine so they get a good day in the wind before shearing. If you have other questions I would be glad to assist if possible. I love sheep and goats and most of all I love a good fleece so any way I can help just let me know.
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 |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2007 : 11:11:31 PM
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This is such great information - thanks, Grace - I'm a novice to the fleece thing. I've had sheep for a few years, but I've just sold the wool to the Utah Woolen Mills in bulk bags - never actually used the fleeces. But now that I have two lovely little Icelandic/Navajo-Churros from Aunt Jenny, I would love to learn how to process the fleeces into yarn. Can you suggest a good book or resource for this one, Grace (or anyone else!)?
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4296 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4296 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2007 : 04:29:55 AM
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Thanks again Grace I need all the help I can get. Doing something new and all. They are Shetland/Border Leischester( I have no idea how to spell it) :) Need to look that up and write it down. They are not getting any grain right now. Just second crop hay. With the price of corn going crazy, I have cut them off. So being on a dirt floor will not affect anything with their wool? The shearer is going to call the night before he can stop by. He will do my 2 when he is in the area. So then one of these days I will go in and clean out the pen. I will brush off the vm.
My aunt and uncle have a fiber mill in Colorado. Lonesome Stone Alpaca's and fiber mill.
Wish I was closer.
Anyways thanks alot for the info. will do my best at doing things right! Michele
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2007 : 09:38:59 AM
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Michele I know Lonesome Stone - they are just starting out with the mill. I wish them well in their new adventure. I sold them yarn years ago when they started their shop.
The biggest issue is to let the shearer know that you have an idea of what you have as far as fleece and how you want to have it shorn. Far too often shearers just shear for their speed and ease and not for the final product. Remember you are hiring them and they need to do it your way. For many years I was hired to go in on shear days and work the shearing because far too often the breeders had no clue and the shearer would do a horrible job and charge the breeder an arm and a leg to give you back garbage. Your cross is interesting. I would love to see a locket because their properties are so different, that I am not sure what the outcome would be. When you have crosses and depending on the number of generations of that cross - will effect the fleece outcome. Shetland is a coarse fleece and is raised for projects that require strength and durability. They are a breed that requires little for care and gives back a ton to their owners. Border's where more for everyday wear. They had a great market for coats, blankets and such. I have a blanket made out of Border Leicester and Mohair - it is dreamy. They are a smart sheep and quick on their feet and I love those stright up ears. I love their face very hobel. That being said it is hard to know what you have until I could put a hands on it. If you are interested in an evaluation I will gladly talk to you off site.
As for books, read everything you can get your hands on. Here are my top three sheep/wool books to get started. My bible is "In Sheep's Clothing" I tell anyone who has sheep this is what you need to read first. The next are "Colored Sheep and Wool, Exploring Their Beauty and Function" and "Turning Wool into a Cottage Industry" Those will give you the foundation for dealing with sheep. Then read everything - no matter what animal they are. You can learn so much from those who raise other types of animals and there are always tricks of the trade that can work for you. When I started, I asked so many questions that people thought I was strange. Most people do not want to show they do not know something. Today, I always will stop and answer questions no matter how many times I have heard it in a day. I speak at a lot of breeders shows and I feel the more you know the more you will enjoy what you are doing and raising. So if you have more questions please ask. Take care and happy shearing.
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 |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2007 : 5:48:00 PM
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This has nothing to do with blanketing sheep but just to the north of here on I-5, there is a whole pasture of sheep with their babies. Cutest little things!! They look so tiny, like toys...hehehe...
Happy Trails :-)
Don't sweat the small stuff...
http://goneridingagain.bravehost.com |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4296 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4296 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2007 : 05:42:57 AM
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| That is really neat that you know Lonsome Stone Grace. I informed the shearer what I have, who I got them from,(he shears for them too), what I plan to do with the wool, and how I house the sheep. So at least I have done that right. I don't have a spinning wheel yet, so the wool may just go to a fiber mill. We do have a small one 5 miles down the road from us. I tried to put a picture on here, but could not figure it out. My dh will have to help. In the process I lost my reply!!! Thanks |
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Barnyard Buddies: blanketing sheep |
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blanketing sheep
