A couple of questions from a soon to be sheep owner

[goats&sheep19]

Guys... I've got me sheeps!


Photos going soon, but I've got three 2 or so year old ewes, and one mixed breed wether....who is going to be the first lamb chops I've had to really work for.
So excited!

 

[Baymule]

Can’t wait for pictures!

 

[goats&sheep19]

Here they are!
I have named them, going from left to right; Margaret, (she seems to be the leader) Marigold, Maisie, and the last one is the wether, who I am not really naming.

This is Margaret

Maisie on the left, and Marigold on the right.

What do you think?
Also, as you can see, they are in need of shearing, the seller said she couldn't find a shearer a bit earlier in the year when she would normally get them done.
So now we are in late summer, when I want to shear in spring in the future. What is the best thing to do, do you think? Shear them now, or if I just give them a good crutching could I wait till next spring?

 

[Mini Horses]

Love the brown coloring. I don't raise sheep but, I'd want to shear now. They look to need it. If coats would grow enough to keep them warm through winter is my concern -- not knowing either how cold your winters, or how fast they regrow the fleece. 🤷

It looks heavy. A lot to carry around. 😁

 

[goats&sheep19]

Love the brown coloring. I don't raise sheep but, I'd want to shear now. They look to need it. If coats would grow enough to keep them warm through winter is my concern -- not knowing either how cold your winters, or how fast they regrow the fleece. 🤷

It looks heavy. A lot to carry around. 😁

Thanks!
Thats what I'm thinking, but I might wait till the sheep experts come on before deciding.
Our winters aren't that cold, the coldest night time temps are around -12C, with day time temps above freezing almost all the time.
And it only gets that cold if its a calm night, the coldest with wind is probably around -3 or warmer.
We get snow once or twice a year.

 

[Baymule]

I don’t know anything about shearing sheep, I have hair sheep.
@purplequeenvt
@secuono

 

[purplequeenvt]

Shear now. The next shearing might be less than ideal staple length, but it’s better than an overgrown, potentially useless fleece.

I just finished shearing my whole flock. As long as they have food in their bellies and a place to get out of the wind and rain, they will be just fine.

 

[goats&sheep19]

Shear now. The next shearing might be less than ideal staple length, but it’s better than an overgrown, potentially useless fleece.

I just finished shearing my whole flock. As long as they have food in their bellies and a place to get out of the wind and rain, they will be just fine.

Ok, that sounds good!
I'll let them settle in for a few more days, and then shear them.....or try to. (I'm actually really looking forward to it, I love to learn something new)
How do they look to you overall?

 

[SageHill]

They look great. Congrats on your first sheep!!! Shearing - it's your summer now - exactly what @purplequeenvt said - shear now. They've got a lot of wool now and it keeps growing - too much and you could have issues (I ~think~).
As for the wether - if his wool is good, and you are wanting wool keep him. At least until you have enough sheep in your flock to keep you in the wool .

 

[goats&sheep19]

They look great. Congrats on your first sheep!!! Shearing - it's your summer now - exactly what @purplequeenvt said - shear now. They've got a lot of wool now and it keeps growing - too much and you could have issues (I ~think~).
As for the wether - if his wool is good, and you are wanting wool keep him. At least until you have enough sheep in your flock to keep you in the wool .

I'm hoping to shear them (or at least make a start) today!
We've just got to get our shearing blades sharpened, and then I can start.
I do agree about them have a lot of wool, the more I look at them, the more wool I see!
With the wether, his wool doesn't look nearly as good as the pure Merino ewes, and I think they have more than enough wool for what I want in the moment, but I'll see how it goes.

We are now thinking of getting in to sheep farming a bit more seriously, as we had some money left to us that has enabled us to buy some more land.
Thinking of around 30 white Merino ewes, and a ram.
We are going to talk to our neighbors that run sheep about it, but do you have any advice? Partially how to tell a good ram from the bad?
Just in the planning and thinking about it stage in the moment, as I don't want to make the wrong decision.