Shearing Area Setup
Sheep/Goats
5x6 foot space minimum. A piece of plywood, mat, or concrete surface works great.
Alpacas
8x16 foot space minimum. To set our ropes, we need two ground level anchor points 16-26 feet apart. Car tires, fence posts, and trees are perfect.
Llamas
We shear llamas standing with a short lead at their head height, ideally in a stall, trailer, or next to a wall to limit movement.
General Requirements
Conditions
We need a flat, dry, and clean area for shearing.
Location
Shearing area should be close to your animal pen.
Mats
We provide mats to keep your animals comfortable and their fleeces clean.
Electricity
We need electricity within 200 feet of the shearing station. We provide extension cords but no generator.
Multiple stations
For flocks larger than 3 head we will typically run several stations at the same time and will need the extra space and anchor points to do so. Moving equipment, especially for alpaca restraints, is time-consuming and may incur extra charges. Please have animals penned close together, or be ready to move them to our station.
Saving fiber
We do not bag fiber or provide bags or noodling materials. If you plan to save or noodle your fiber, please have materials prepared in advance and someone available to bag fiber as we work. Please let us know before shearing begins if you would like fiber separated in a specific way.
Safety & Professional Conduct
Shearing days are fast-paced and safety-critical. We prioritize animal welfare, human safety, and quality work, and expect all interactions to remain professional and respectful.
Animal Preparation
Corralling
Before our arrival, animals must be caught in a small pen or barn stall near the shearing area.
Catching/wrangling
We charge extra for wrangling animals or delayed start due to last-minute penning.
Feed
Sheep should not consume feed, grain, hay, and pasture for 12 hours minimum prior to shearing. Fed sheep experience respiratory and gastrointestinal discomfort. This causes them to struggle, increasing shearing time and risk of injury for the sheep and shearer. Water is OK.
Weather
Animals must be dry before shearing. Wet animals increase shearing time, increase electrocution risk to both animal and shearer, and lower fiber quality. We may refuse to shear animals that are soaking wet or were not kept under cover prior to shearing.
Large Alpaca Flock Requirements
To ensure a safe, efficient, and low-stress shearing day for both animals and people, the following requirements apply to all large herds (21+ alpacas).
Helpers Required
For large flocks, farms must provide adequate helpers to:
* Bring animals to catch pen near the shearing area or directly to the shearers
* Manage animal flow and organization
* Identify animals and separate show strings or special groups
* Collect, bag, and label fiber
* Remove animals promptly after shearing
Our crew’s role is to shear. For safety and efficiency, we are not able to manage these tasks in addition to shearing.
Animal Identification
Animal identification is the responsibility of the farm.
If animals are part of a show string or require special handling, identification must be verified by the owner or a designated helper. Our crew cannot be responsible for determining which animals require special handling during active shearing.
Successful methods farms have used in the past include:
Owner or helper visually identifying, physically selecting, and delivering animals to shearer
Owner or helper scanning microchip prior to shearing to confirm identity of animal
Owner or helper cross referencing a written or digital herd log with ear tags, collars, or other physical identifiers
Once an animal is brought to the shearing area, it will be assumed to be approved for shearing.
Shearing Area
The shearing area must be clean, well-lit, well-ventilated, and reasonably free of excessive dust. Unsafe or poorly prepared environments may result in delays or refusal to proceed.
Owner / Manager Availability
The owner or a designated manager must be present and available throughout shearing to answer questions and confirm animal order.
By booking with Riversong Shearing, you agree to these shearing day requirements.
If these requirements aren’t workable for your farm, we encourage you to contact us ahead of your shearing appointment to discuss possible solutions or determine whether another shearer may be a better fit.
Payment
Cash/check - no fees
3.5% fee
2% fee
Payment is due at the time of service. We provide receipts upon request. Contact us in advance if payment is a hardship.
Zelle, credit cards, cryptocurrency, or other forms of payment are NOT accepted.