Shearing Sheep

Akrue

Just born
Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Points
4
Hi! I live in Miami Florida and have 2 show sheep. It’s really hot here (Like 92 degrees daily) so how often would I shear them? My fair is in March but I would like to keep them sheared, so how often is to much?
 

Baymule

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 22, 2010
Messages
33,089
Reaction score
98,640
Points
873
Location
East Texas
I have hair sheep and don't show. I have no idea about how often to shear your sheep, but wanted to welcome you to the forum. I would say to use your best judgement. Although Florida is warm, ok-down right hot! there is some cold in the winter and you might hold off on shearing during the cold (1 or 2 days LOL)
 

Sheepshape

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,706
Reaction score
3,095
Points
373
Welcome.

All my sheep are wool sheep (as is the norm over here....Wales). Our temperatures rarely reach 90, and, if so, it's usually in July. We try to get our sheep sheared by the beginning of July. Our winters are not cold by some folks standards, but we do get a lot of frosts and periods of being 'snowed in'.

Most lambs have not been traditionally shorn in July, but recent evidence shows that they grow quicker if they are shorn in July/August time (after birth between mid March and end of April). We don't do this as yet, but it may become the norm in the future.

Sheep have to be dry to be shorn, and best to avoid a period where weather is forecast to be cold.

I don't know how cold your winters are, but, over here, shearing wouldn't take place beyond the start of September, and wouldn't ever happen as early as March.

So, short answer to your question is, what temperatures and how much precipitation is forecast? Also what breed of sheep are they as some breeds are much less cold-susceptible than others?
 

Akrue

Just born
Joined
Oct 13, 2019
Messages
2
Reaction score
1
Points
4
Welcome.

All my sheep are wool sheep (as is the norm over here....Wales). Our temperatures rarely reach 90, and, if so, it's usually in July. We try to get our sheep sheared by the beginning of July. Our winters are not cold by some folks standards, but we do get a lot of frosts and periods of being 'snowed in'.

Most lambs have not been traditionally shorn in July, but recent evidence shows that they grow quicker if they are shorn in July/August time (after birth between mid March and end of April). We don't do this as yet, but it may become the norm in the future.

Sheep have to be dry to be shorn, and best to avoid a period where weather is forecast to be cold.

I don't know how cold your winters are, but, over here, shearing wouldn't take place beyond the start of September, and wouldn't ever happen as early as March.

So, short answer to your question is, what temperatures and how much precipitation is forecast? Also what breed of sheep are they as some breeds are much less cold-susceptible than others?








I have 2 Hampshires and they need to be sheared for the show anyways. It reaches at least 90 everyday and winter (maybe a week) only gloves down to like 60 maybe 50 at night but during the day it goes up to like 80. I also have blankets for them. I’d like to keep them sheared at all times but don’t want to shear too much.
 

Sheepshape

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,706
Reaction score
3,095
Points
373
It reaches at least 90 everyday and winter (maybe a week) only gloves down to like 60 maybe 50 at night but during the day it goes up to like 80
Shear them as often as you like.....and they won't be needing those blankets.

My flock have to cope with temps. down occasionally to 0 in the winter at night, so need their fleeces. Mountain sheep cope quite well with temperatures below this.
 
Top