Summer Shearing

I've written two blog posts about acquiring 12 Jacob sheep in what became something of a rescue operation. The sheep were healthy and well-fed, but had not been shorn for three years we think. This was shearing day for these sheep. The photos in this blog post were all taken by Farm Club members, Dona and Gynna. Thanks!!

                 John is the Rock Star.

                                                 We checked teeth to try and figure out the ages of the sheep.                   This sheep had a 13 pound fleece. The average for Jacob sheep is 3-6 pounds.                   It was a multi-person operation to stuff some of these fleeces into plastic bags.              The usual suspects were there to watch and cheer John on.                            Not a bad looking group of ewes after shearing.                            The two rams.                       After shearing we looked at all the fleeces. The longer fleeces have a break about 4" in from the outside, but the rest of the fleece seems sound.                                                                  It will take some time to work through it all.

                                                                As we pulled out staples from some of the fleeces I thought it would be a good idea to get a photo. Susan and Gynna worked on this while we opened up and re-rolled the fleeces.                       Note the measurements marked on the sides and down the middles. Weights are below.                                                   This was a fun day for all of us and a good day for these sheep.

Sheep Adventure Follow-up

Monday's  Sheep Adventure started because someone had asked for help in selling Jacob sheep that his parents couldn't take care of. I didn't consider it a rescue operation although I didn't know this person and I don't need anymore sheep, at least sheep of unknown background, and I didn't really have a plan for what to do with them other than try to sell them. When he called again last week things were a bit more desperate because his mom was in the hospital and the family had no clue of what to do with the sheep...other than to get someone else to deal with them. That's when I said I'd get them. Dona and Rick were up for the adventure but we didn't know what to expect. What we found: Sheep that really are Jacob sheep--there are a lot out there that people think are Jacob because of horns or spots, but they are not; Sheep in relatively good health EXCEPT for in desperate need of shearing. So the Sheep Adventure turned into a Sheep Rescue of sorts.

Yesterday I took time to look at each sheep more closely. Now that I'm spending time with them, the group is kind of growing on me. "I don't need more sheep. I don't need more sheep. I don't need more sheep...."                  This is a ewe they called Athena.                                                      I think that this is at least a 3-year fleece.                   I love the markings on this ewe's body. I don't have any information about her.                 This is a ewe they called Caliope. She is pretty wild.

A ewe called Dimitria. The wool is very pretty, but its as long as my elbow to my thumb.

                Markela, one of the original ewes purchased by this family.                    No idea about this ewe...                 ...or this one. Don't you love her horns?              Paniota...

            ...and her fleece.                 The lamb named Easter because that is when she was born.                New temporary quarters.            Stay tuned for a Shearing Day post.              Let's not forget the rams. Tikes on the left and Costa on the right. I think they are yearlings.