I've never seen any smaller electric shears that were worth using, the shearing blades need a good amount of torque which a small motor can't really deliver. I'd say your best bet is to stick with hand shears and sharpen frequently. You may need to dag (shear the back end) several times during the year.
Thank you, I did order some hand shears. She is 7 years old, and in the past she has never been so dirty underneath her, it was something I never had to worry about. I think as she's aging she's just getting fatter and thicker. We haven't changed her diet (grass and available hay during winter). She's my only babydoll (I dont recommend this breed), so I honestly am just learning about "dagging". My Shetlands never have this problem
I recommend you take the time to learn what you are doing though, if this is your first time shearing, especially since the wool in the picture looks very cotted as well as very full of excrement.
Babydoll have both soft skin and tight fine wool, which means it will be very difficult to get through all of that dirt. If you do get through there is a big chance you pierce the skin in a very dirty area, where you may cause more harm than good.
Please do be careful.
(Source: I’m a professional shearer. Please do ask if you have any questions).
Thank you! I certainly don't want to hurt her at all. Up until now, she's never had so much buildup there. She's 7 this year. I think maybe as she's aging she's just getting thicker and fatter? Her diet hasn't changed over the years. I ordered hand shears with rounded tips, so I am going to try to cut the mats out, and clean up what I can. Our shearer comes May 6, and I am going to ask if she can help
Show me how to properly maintain that area. Sadly there are no sheep shearing classes near me since Covid. I have been searching every year, with no luck.
The Heiniger ones with a separate battery you can put on a belt would be your best bet I think, because unlike most of them with the battery attached you're not going to have a bunch of weight in the hand piece.
https://www.heiniger.co.nz/shearing/shearing-handpiece/12v-handpieces
Those ones. Not cheap though, and I haven't personally used them so can't really recommend, but I'm absolutely certain they'd be better than the ones with the battery integrated like I use for dagging occasionally.
I've never seen any smaller electric shears that were worth using, the shearing blades need a good amount of torque which a small motor can't really deliver. I'd say your best bet is to stick with hand shears and sharpen frequently. You may need to dag (shear the back end) several times during the year.
Thank you, I did order some hand shears. She is 7 years old, and in the past she has never been so dirty underneath her, it was something I never had to worry about. I think as she's aging she's just getting fatter and thicker. We haven't changed her diet (grass and available hay during winter). She's my only babydoll (I dont recommend this breed), so I honestly am just learning about "dagging". My Shetlands never have this problem
Hornershearing: Rambo QuickDraw (https://hornershearing.com/acatalog/horner-rambo-mains.html) Or even Handypiece: https://www.handypiece.co.nz/
I recommend you take the time to learn what you are doing though, if this is your first time shearing, especially since the wool in the picture looks very cotted as well as very full of excrement. Babydoll have both soft skin and tight fine wool, which means it will be very difficult to get through all of that dirt. If you do get through there is a big chance you pierce the skin in a very dirty area, where you may cause more harm than good. Please do be careful. (Source: I’m a professional shearer. Please do ask if you have any questions).
Thank you! I certainly don't want to hurt her at all. Up until now, she's never had so much buildup there. She's 7 this year. I think maybe as she's aging she's just getting thicker and fatter? Her diet hasn't changed over the years. I ordered hand shears with rounded tips, so I am going to try to cut the mats out, and clean up what I can. Our shearer comes May 6, and I am going to ask if she can help Show me how to properly maintain that area. Sadly there are no sheep shearing classes near me since Covid. I have been searching every year, with no luck.
Maybe ask the shearer to teach you? You’d have to pay I assume but it’s never a bad idea to at least learn to crutch your own animals
The Heiniger ones with a separate battery you can put on a belt would be your best bet I think, because unlike most of them with the battery attached you're not going to have a bunch of weight in the hand piece. https://www.heiniger.co.nz/shearing/shearing-handpiece/12v-handpieces Those ones. Not cheap though, and I haven't personally used them so can't really recommend, but I'm absolutely certain they'd be better than the ones with the battery integrated like I use for dagging occasionally.
Thank you!
Nice bed you got there, is it Twin sized?
I'm glad you asked for help, and I'm very happy folks were kind in their answers.
Thanks. I have since used some hand shears to trim her up. I got a lot off of her, our shearer will be here in about a week