[AlpacaTalk] Re: shearing table

Before investing in a table, I would strongly recommend finding
someone that has one and shearing a few on it. I've shorn on tables
at other farms and 1) it kills my back, 2) I find I can't get the
best angles with the shearing machine since I can't climb over them,
3) it kills my back. Did I say that already? :)

I take great care to give a clean finished look, and more
importantly not get second cuts when I shear, and on the ground is
the only way I can be nearly perfect. Also, on the ground is the
best way I've found to cut a show fleece. Your mileage may vary.

The other thing I like about shearing on the ground is the price.
No table, no chute. Just ropes and ratchet pulleys from Home Depot
and play mats from Sam's.

Getting them down isn't so bad if you've got 2 people tall enough to
bend over them, one at the front and one at the back, grab legs from
the other side and just lift & tip. Trying to put restraints on
their feet as they stand and then stretch & lay at the same time can
be quite a struggle.

Ryan

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, Heather Zeleny <alpacatalk@...>
wrote:
>
> Shearing tables are rather expensive, but they are great. The
concept
> is the same as stretching them out on the ground with the
restraints,
> it's just easier to get them on the table since the floor
restraints
> still require wrestling them to the ground! And that's often very
hard
> to do!
>
> And yes, alpacas really do need to be shorn every year. If they're
not
> show animals or show fleeces, it is possible to do it yourself,
even
> with a pair of fiskars soft-touch scissors (the ones that are
spring
> loaded). Another idea is to save the shearing fee in a cookie jar,
one
> fee per month or maybe two per month or whatever... so that by the
> spring/summer you'll have enough to pay the shearer. Just resist
the
> urge to "borrow" from the jar!
>
> Heather

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