Shearing day was originally scheduled for November 21st, but due to circumstances out of our control it was delayed for a little while. Luckily, we were able to reschedule it for the 16th of December. I was getting a little concerned because the first lambing date is getting very close! I like to shear the ewes before they lamb for many reasons – everything stays cleaner and the barn stays drier, the ewes are more likely to bring the newborn lambs into the barn when it is raining, it is easier for the newborn lambs to find the udder, and the fleeces are beautiful – before the lambs have a chance to climb all over them!
We used a new shearer this year and I am very pleased! She handled the ewes with care and the fleeces look great.
The new chute was a very big help. I was able to load a sheep in it while she was shearing. When she was done shearing, she released the sheep and they exited through an open gate and I swung the gate open on the chute and she grabbed the sheep. It worked just like I was hoping it would – I love it when that happens!
My son had 3 weeks off for Christmas break, so he was my big helper. It was a bit chilly when we started…
but it turned into a beautiful day!
Even though the sun came out, I think these girls were talking about how lucky they were not to be on the shearing list.
Queenie is the first to lamb on the 4th of January. For a firt time lamber, she has a pretty big belly and udder already.
Holly is next on the list and is due on the 8th of January.
Poor Azera isn’t due until the 20th of January, she is definitely the biggest of all the girls.
I love seeing how crisp and clean they look after they have been shorn!
This pile seems a little overwhelming at the moment…
but I love looking at what is inside 🙂
Stories from the Farm 
I think I love your son’s glasses….this is the first I have seen of him with them on. Handsome boy!!!!
I didn’t know Theron wore glasses. My boys do also and have for about a year now. I love the freshly shorn sheep in a nice clean barn and watching for body changes as lambs get closer. Thanks for the pics.
Nice batch of fleece! I’m thinking on shearing mine in February, a month before they lamb. We’ll see how that plan works out. I’m worried a bit about the cold weather but they can get out of the rain, if they so choose and I can lock them in at night. Unfortunately, my fleeces won’t be very long as they were done in late spring this last time.
Now that he is getting used to his glasses he is wearing them more and I am getting pictures of him wearing them 🙂 It makes him look so grown up! He was prescribed glasses awhile ago for wandering eye in both eyes. Turns out he was seeing double vertically and horizontally! He didn’t know it because that is how he has always seen things. I didn’t know that both your boys wear glasses.
I had to short shear the ewes the first year I sheared them before they lambed. I know you would be happy with the fleeces 🙂
I can’t believe how tall and green you grass is – isn’t it Winter there? You have been busy, thanks for making time to help me out.