A Day at the Sheep Spa

Spa Day? What's that?

It was a day at the spa for my sheepies today. Time for a little extra attention. Time for a little pampering; a little 'ewe' time. Time to get a pedicure and a hair cut. My sheepies just love spa day!

Not.

My sheepies do not like spa day. Why? Well, first you get drug from your new pasture, which your people only just put you in last night. Who wants to leave lush, green grass, only to be drug on a half mile walk back to your home, which has no grass? Certainly not my sheepies.

We like it here in the fresh green grass!

Nor did my sheepies apprciate my luring them with a full bucket of grain into the back of a pick up truck, only to have me take the grain away instead of leaving them with the whole bucket. This, they felt, was unfair and not part of the loading bargain.

No promises of pampering and good looks could convince them that this was to be a pleasant journey. They dug their cloven hooves into City Boy's green grass, locking their legs and pulled back against their halters. Pokey decided to take the possum approach in his struggle, collapsing to the ground as though I'd killed him. Quest decided on the bouncing bunny approach, suddenly developing springs where her legs once were.

But in just over half an hour, I had them loaded. Three down, three to go!

A board is set down to help keep the wool clean. Carrot looks like a German Shorthair Pointer under that wool!

Taffy get's set up on her butt.

The breast area is done first, working from under the chin and down the belly.

The wool under the belly and down the legs generally hits the trash as it's too short and dirty for use.


Licorice's ram lamb rests on Darling's lap while his mamma gets pretty.

Licorice was born black, but has begun to turn a lovely silver.

The smallest in our flock, Licorice had the largest fleece.

Shearing was being done at my neighbor's house down the road. She had five of her own to get done, and I had six. Shearing is hard, back breaking labor. I could never do it. In fact, it took me two days to shear Licorice one year. Marcia had all eleven of these sheep done in under two hours!

Pokey sports his new do!

Despite the nice, new hair cuts and pedicures, I think we're all happy that Sheep Spa Day only comes once a year!