Where would I learn how to own sheep, shear them and sell their wool as yarn?

Question

I have the farmland avalible and the feed to raise them. Where would I be able to learn how to do the rest? I would need to have a spindle at least. Where would I buy that or learn to use it?

Answer 1

Well, if I may speak from experience, having a small spinner's flock here in New England, and being an experienced spinner, first you need to learn to spin. Production spinning takes a reasonably long learning curve, and you really can't do this kind of production on a spindle. Most shepherds with more than a few sheep who sell their own wool as yarn have it spun for them by a custom mill.

First of all, if you don't currently live on a farm you need to make sure that the land you have available is still zoned to allow large animals, and yes, sheep are considered large animals. Then you need to check the fencing, see if you need to repair or replace it--sheep are notorious for escaping--which means you need to live on site, and not just to round up escapees, but for lambing season as well. Oh, btw, how much money do you have available? Plan to raise registered animals? Top of the blood breed stock start around $500 per animal. A small flock needs at least a half dozen animals to start with, and rams need to be changed out regularly to prevent in-breeding. Your best bet to learn about how to become a shepherd is to check your local extension service for a breed group in your area, or where you can take some workshops in care. You also have to find a shearer who will teach you, or a program to teach you. This means you also need to learn how to wrestle an animal that weighs up to 200 lbs (big rams can be that large), worm them, trim their feet, and give them injections. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Ever delivered a lamb that's breech? Or had a bummer lamb? Or dealt with the vet bill from a ewe who's cast her withers?

To learn to spin, look for a spinning guild in your area and see who they have who teaches. Spindles can be bought on line for as little at $10 (Babe's Fiber Garden), or over $100 each (Golding Ring Spindles). Wheels, if you go the PVC route, start at $150 or so (again, Babe's), or well over $5000 (Golding's and some of the imports from Great Britain), and an entire range in between.

My husband and I started raising sheep about 10 years ago, but we had a farming background and knew a good bit about what we were getting into, but we still have several terrorist lambs each year who insist on being on the other side of the fence. And we, as do all shepherds, lose a few lambs each year. If you want to talk with me more fully, e-mail me, this is a big, big step if you have no knowledge at all. Most people don't realize that large animals like this are a 24/7/365 deal and it is a huge committment.

Answer 2

I recommend making your first spindle. The size, weight, and type of spindle will partially determine what sort of yarn you will produce. You should experiment to gain understanding of the nature of spinning and of plying.

You can practice spinning with combings from long-haired dogs, cats and/or rabbits. Wool will be easier. :-) I taught myself with Angora cat's fur and all else has been easier.

There is small specialty market for hand-spun yarns from pets. This is usually for/to the owners of the pets. A person who is allergic to wool, but not to their own pet, and has money to burn, is a potential client/customer.

First learn to spin, then consider sheep or whatever.

Answer 3

Try one of the living farm museums... there is Los Golondrinas just outside Santa Fe that has people doing exactly what you want to learn, during the summer season.

Answer 4

There are lots of sources to help you.
How to buy sheep
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/evangelista32.html
http://voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2005-03/a-2005-03-08-2-1.cfm
Shearing
http://www.danekeclublambs.com/ShearingSheep.html
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/305994/60_sec_sheep_shear/
and spinning equipment
http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/
There is a podcast I really enjoy listening to, that talks about this a lot.
http://geekfarmlife.com/index.php?s=wool
.

Answer 5

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2005-19,RNWE:en&q=sheep+facts
Also, check out your library, and people in your area who raise them.