Our First Valais Blacknose Sheep Shearing Day: What We Learned (Week 5 at Wool & Wonder Farm)
If you've been following along on our journey here at Wool & Wonder Farm, you know that every week brings something new — and week five was no exception. We tackled our very first Valais Blacknose sheep shearing day, and let me tell you: it was equal parts terrifying, exhilarating, and deeply satisfying. Whether you're a new Valais Blacknose owner or just dreaming of having these ridiculously fluffy sheep on your homestead one day, this post is for you.
We're also sharing our full morning farm routine, llama halter training progress, and a few chaotic moments that remind us why we love this life — even when it's hard.
A Day in the Life: Our Wool & Wonder Farm Morning Routine
Our mornings start early — often before the sun is fully up — and we wouldn't have it any other way. We have two barns on the property, and each gets its own attention before the day really gets going.
The Boy Barn: Sheep, Chickens & a Bunny
We start at the boy barn, which is down the hill and houses our four Valais Blacknose rams, a bunny, and our chickens. Our rams are exceptionally friendly — one of the breed's most beloved traits — and they're always eager and waiting when we open the gate each morning. Watching them trot out for hay and pasture time never gets old.
While the sheep are happily munching, Ac tackles stall cleaning and I head into the chicken coop. Staying on top of the coop is non-negotiable — things get unpleasant fast if you skip a day, and with spring coming, fly prevention is already on my radar.
The Girl Barn: The Three Ewes and Our Llamas
Next, we head to the girl barn where our three Valais Blacknose ewes and our two llamas live. Cleaning this barn takes considerably longer, even with the same number of animals — something we're still trying to figure out!
We're also in the middle of grain station training, which involves leashes and wall-mounted buckets. The goal is to get each animal to their own station so everyone eats their proper ration without chaos. Spoiler: the herd instinct is not our friend here. We're getting better every day, but it's definitely a logistical puzzle — especially with the llamas needing to eat at a higher level so the sheep can focus on their own grain without competition.
Valais Blacknose Sheep Shearing Day: Everything You Need to Know
This was the big one. Shearing day for the sheep is a milestone moment for any new owner, and I was equal parts excited and nervous. Add pouring rain to the mix and the anxiety level went up considerably.
How to Prepare for Shearing Day: Keeping the Wool Dry
One of the most important things to know about shearing Valais Blacknose sheep — or any sheep — is that the wool must be dry before the shearer arrives. Wet wool is nearly impossible to shear cleanly and can damage both the fleece and the equipment. Because it was raining on our shearing day, we made sure all of our animals were kept in a dry stall the night before and morning of shearing. Planning ahead here is critical.
What Valais Blacknose Shearing Actually Looks Like
Our shearer Erin was an absolute professional. She walked us through every step of the process — how to position the sheep, the different sections of the fleece, and how to handle the animal with calm, confident energy. Watching her work was both fascinating and reassuring.
Valais Blacknose sheep are known for their incredibly thick, dense wool — and Ian did not disappoint. The amount of fleece that came off him was staggering. We now have a pile of raw Valais Blacknose wool and absolutely no plan for it (something to figure out later!).
Our last ewe to be sheared was Ivy, and because sheep are flock animals, she was visibly stressed being alone. I stayed with her to keep her company while she waited her turn. Once all the shearing was done, the animals were given hay and seemed visibly relieved — and honestly, so was I.
Tips for First-Time Valais Blacknose Sheep Owners on Shearing Day
A few things we learned that we'd pass on to any new Valais Blacknose owner:
Keep the wool dry — plan ahead for weather, even if it means keeping them in overnight. For us, we actually brought them in Saturday afternoon and shearing was Monday morning.
Hire an experienced shearer for your first time. The confidence and knowledge they bring is invaluable.
Prepare for the herd stress — sheep do not like being separated, even temporarily.
Have hay and water ready for immediately after — they'll be hungry and ready to settle. We took them off hay and water about 18 hours beforehand.
Know what you'll do with the wool before shearing day. We did not do this and now we have an impressive pile staring at us.
Other Week 5 Farm Updates: Llama Training, Escaped Rams & Barn Cat Drama
Halter Training Candy the Llama
We've been working on getting Candy, one of our llamas, comfortable on a halter. She's not naturally the most handleable animal, but she did great this week. Slow and steady progress — this is very much a trust-building exercise, and it's rewarding to see her respond.
The Great Ram Escape (A 9:30 PM Adventure)
One evening, I forgot to latch the gate — and Ian, our most curious Valais Blacknose ram, saw his opportunity. He led the whole crew out. I found myself back at the barn at 9:30 at night wrangling everyone back into the stall. Lesson learned: always double-check the gate. The boys are going to keep us on our toes.
Failed Barn Cat Update: Everest's Great Wall Escape
Our failed barn cat Everest managed to find a gap in the wall and got himself stuck inside it. After 24 hours with no food or water and a failed humane trap attempt, I got creative — I tied a string to the trap door, set my alarm, and sat in the bathroom in the middle of the night waiting. It worked. Scratches were sustained. No regrets.
The silver lining? While Everest was missing, his barn mate Tundra — who is still learning to trust humans — climbed right up into my lap. This journey is slow, but moments like that make everything worth it. Everest is back, Tundra is warming up, and all is well at Wool & Wonder Farm.
Final Thoughts: Life with Valais Blacknose Sheep Is a Wild, Wonderful Ride
Week five taught us that farm life is never fully predictable — but it's always worth it. Our first Valais Blacknose sheep shearing day is officially behind us, and while it wasn't without stress (or rain), we came out the other side with more knowledge, more confidence, and a truly impressive pile of wool.
If you're on your own Valais Blacknose journey — whether you're just researching the breed or knee-deep in your first shearing season — we hope this gives you a realistic, encouraging peek at what it actually looks like. Follow along each week as we document the highs, the late-night gate checks, and everything in between.
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