Shearing: A tame sheep can be trained to enjoy shearing, and lie or stand quietly while being shorn, without being restrained.
General tips:
- Make the first shearing later, in early summer, on a hot day, so the sheep is uncomfortably hot and panting. It will remember the relief next time.
- A small fenced area, partly-shaded, on some sweet grass, would do for the shearing spot. It should be hardly wider than the sheep.
- Keep any dogs and loud noises away, making the area quiet and comfortable for the sheep.
- Give the lamb a small handful of its favourite food in the place of shearing. Let it explore and get comfortable.
- Take the head in the crook of one arm and the thigh of the rear leg farthest from you in the other hand, and pick the sheep up. Then lie it directly on its side, and place your foot or knee on the bottom leg, and another knee on the shoulder.
- Do not lean on the chest area, as this restricts the sheep's breathing.
- Talk to the sheep quietly, and be gentle and methodical.
- If the sheep tries to get up, immediately say "No!" and make it lie quietly. It will eventually calm down and stay still comfortably, with only a gentle pressure of a knee on a hip or the like.
- If unsure where the sheep's skin lies, press the shears flat against the body until the solid body is felt, then back off a centimetre.
- Do a couple of passes, instead of clipping down immediately to the finished wool length.
- Leave the neck until last, when the sheep has gotten comfortable.
- Let the sheep stand up and stretch its legs before doing the final pass. Make movements as if to get its favourite food. The sheep will recognise the colour and sound of a favourite food sack, so rustle this.
- You should be able to do the final pass with the sheep standing still.
- Let the sheep make its own way out of the pen, and give the sheep a bit of food in its normal paddock.
- Wool can be placed in the sheep's shelter for bedding, as it will be a bit cold for the first week or so.
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