Sheep Shearing Time

Our itinerant sheep shearer arrived Monday morning to perform the annual fleece removal ritual. The sheep were "tricked" into the barn with a snack (sheep feed), the door was secured, and they were removed one by one for their "haircut." An amusing thing to watch for those who have never witnessed such an event. The sheep shearer brings with him a large piece of plywood which serves as the shearing floor. Once he has secured one of the sheep, she is set on her hind quarters and amazingly she offers no resistance. The whole procedure takes about 2-3 minutes a sheep. The lambs are not shorn and watch on with much interest. Although the shearing was done on an unusually cold May morning, the sheep will be much more comfortable during the summer months without their heavy coats.