[Jacob-list] winter shearing

[Linda]

I really like to shear before lambing, although we don't always manage it.  We usually lamb in mid to late March and shear the first or second week of March. This year, we staggered breeding and will have lambs coming in February through April, with a break the first week of March (hopefully :-)

I'm in northern Georgia, where we don't have the bitter cold temps of further north. It can be below freezing for a few days, though, and ice storms are not unusual in January and February. Our shelter is fairly basic - a 30' by 16' three sided barn. It's backed into a bank and has a low ceiling, so does retain some heat, but is not "toasty".  The rams are in the woods with a tarp barn.

For those of you that will be shearing this fall or winter, how cold can be it be before you worry about shearing? What sort of shelter do you provide?  Is it perhaps better to shear two months before lambing if you manage to get a good day for it? I'm wondering about shearing in December. 

Thanks for any advice.

Linda


http://www.patchworkfibers.com
 Registered Jacob Sheep, Handspun Yarn  

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