How Our Wool Is Grown & Processed
Our wool starts out growing on our sheep, of course! When we shear, we use what I call the “slow” shearing method. We use a stanchion to shear our sheep, like what is used to milk a goat. In fact, the stanchion we currently use to shear is our goat milking stanchion. We shear each one with a set of small animal clippers, the kind you would use to groom pets. It takes us an average of 1 hour and 15 minutes to shear each sheep but this way we ensure our sheep never get huge cuts or gashes from those large clipper heads. I have tried them twice and both times I cut my sheep. I know there are professionals out there that can shear without severely cutting the sheep, but many shearers do and I am not willing to risk my sheep to find out. Plus, I would rather shear my own sheep. Yes, it takes a lot of time and energy but it affords us several things… first, we get to know each sheep better and they us. We grain them while they are on the stanchion so that they have a more positive association with the event and it gives them something to do. We give them only a little at a time to not over grain. Second, it helps us to really get our hands on them to feel and see any kind of possible medical need or physical issue. We assess condition and overall health nearly every time we put our hands on our sheepie friends. Thirdly, I get the best clip of wool. Using the small clippers allows me to eliminate second cuts and assess fleece as I go. I also skirt as I clip. We keep a close eye out for any sheep that is getting too stressed (this is one of the many reasons to breed sheep with calm natures) or if they are getting too tired on the stand as most of the females are very pregnant at the time in season when we shear.
After shearing, I go through each fleece to further examine and skirt the fleece of almost anything that could offend or prick the finger as your working with the wool. I take off chunks of wool at a time from the main fleece and shake it in order to free it from any left over second cuts, vegetable matter, dirt, grain, etc. Then throw it into the storage bag: a large, plastic zippered bag that breathes but doesn’t let bugs in. I write down anything noteworthy about the fleece (good, bad or otherwise), take pictures for posting, pop the info card into the bag with the fleece and put it in storage (the basement, e' hem).
If you have any quandaries about the finer details of how we raise and treat of flock or how we process our wool, please feel free to reach out to us below.