Papa sheared the crias today, running extension cords out to the field.
We always try to shear the crias a couple of weeks after they are born. That way the tips of their wool that were out in the amniotic fluid, tips that would become brittle and break during processing of the wool, tips that become magnets for hay and bits of vegetable matter, will all be removed and the cria's first fleece will be the softest and nicest possible fleece.
Here is one of our unsuspectingvictims clients, Cocoapelli, Brigid's son.
{yes that fly on his nose bothers me, too.}
Then there is Cocoa's niece Bella Noche, Grace's first cria, with the most beautiful fleece I have ever seen on my farm.
{Yes, there is also a fly on her nose. And yes, I apologize for the awkward composition of that photo.}
The shearing process itself is quite simple and painless. We use a very fine toothed shear that is very safe to use on all those small curves of the babies.
We do tie their legs out so they cannot flinch and get nipped by the shears, and I hold their head still. The entire process is over in just a few short minutes.
Afterward, the mama's always get a little confused when their babies look and smell differently, but they all sort it out quickly.
And the babies don't seem to mind it a bit.
Cheers -
We always try to shear the crias a couple of weeks after they are born. That way the tips of their wool that were out in the amniotic fluid, tips that would become brittle and break during processing of the wool, tips that become magnets for hay and bits of vegetable matter, will all be removed and the cria's first fleece will be the softest and nicest possible fleece.
Here is one of our unsuspecting
{yes that fly on his nose bothers me, too.}
Then there is Cocoa's niece Bella Noche, Grace's first cria, with the most beautiful fleece I have ever seen on my farm.
{Yes, there is also a fly on her nose. And yes, I apologize for the awkward composition of that photo.}
The shearing process itself is quite simple and painless. We use a very fine toothed shear that is very safe to use on all those small curves of the babies.
We do tie their legs out so they cannot flinch and get nipped by the shears, and I hold their head still. The entire process is over in just a few short minutes.
Afterward, the mama's always get a little confused when their babies look and smell differently, but they all sort it out quickly.
And the babies don't seem to mind it a bit.
Cheers -
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