shearing services for any size flock

low stress animal handling and high quality wool clips


New Mexico, Arizona, Texas
February- April

Washington
May- July
October- January

Regional Availability

rates

Set up fee: $100

Ewes: $8-$10 / head

Rams: $15/ head

Hoof trimming: $5/ head

wool Consultation: $40

Set Up Requirements

  1. Access to electricity

  2. Sheep are completely dry

  3. Sheep are penned tightly before arrival
    [1-6 sheep in 10×12 AREA or smaller]

  4. Level shearing area with a sturdy post or wall to secure the 2×6 board I bring to hang my shearing motor

  5. Provide a 4×6 sheet of plywood for best biosecurity practice or I can use the one i travel with

Small Pens for Low Stress

Making shearing day as low stress as possible for the sheep is my priority.

Having a very small, secure pen is the most important component for minimizing stress on the sheep during shearing. Sheep are biologically wired to be deeply fearful of being chased and being alone, so the best way to prepare them for handling is by penning them all together in a very small space where they cannot run. A Rectangular shape pen is better than a square shape.

Often, I will set up my shearing machine and board inside of the pen with the sheep. This means I don’t need to open any gates and when I finish one sheep I can immediately release it to be back with the flock.

When I arrive, we can work together to come up with your ideal shearing set up, but having the sheep in a small pen prior to my arrival is an essential first step.

I highly recommend livestock panels/ hog panels for moving and containing sheep. You can get them at any feed store; they are endlessly useful.

Fasting

As we move through the shearing positions the sheep will be more relaxed and comfortable if they are on an empty stomach. In my experience the importance of this depends on the condition of sheep and quality of feed they receive. Larger sheep receiving highly concentrated feed will highly benefit from fasting. Leaner sheep on moderate pasture will not be significantly impacted. The recommended fasting time is 12-18hrs. Do not withhold water. Please get in touch and we can talk about fasting recommendations for your flock depending on condition, pregnancy, breed and feed.

Shearing flow

I will spend my time focused on shearing the sheep and leave gathering, bagging, and skirting the fleeces to you and your help on shearing day. If you are unable to do this, notify me and I can possibly bring extra help to do so. If you are planning on doing any health care (hoof trims, de-worming, vaccinations, banding etc) on shearing day, be sure to have enough helpers so the constant flow of shearing is not interrupted. Please plan for logistics of efficiently moving sheep and keeping the flow of sheep to the shearing board steady. I will be planning on shearing one sheep after another without pause.

Please have the sheep contained in their pen before I arrive. I would recommend practicing this ahead of time so it is something your sheep are familiar with. Feeding sheep grain or yummy hay in a stall daily then closing the door on it occasionally is a good way to create a positive habit for being confined.

Wool Consultations

I love wool, and I love talking about wool. Each breed and flock have an unique optimal use for their wool. We can look over your fleeces and wool and discuss the best purpose for this gift from the sheep. I can make recommendations for improving wool quality and marketing your wool. I am happy to use my experience and connections in the regional fibershed to help you take your wool clip to the next step. I need to give this my full attention, so I will not be able to do it during active shearing time. Please let me know if I should schedule additional time to dive into the wonder of your wool with you. Wool consultations are $40 or trade in quality wool.