Sheep Farm Equipment & Estate Sale

Sheep Covers

You might also be interested in lot # 68 S  -  a roll of 60 in. "Codura " fabric, uncoated,  lightweight 400 denier nylon that was used to make sheep covers.

Lot C 1

These covers made from "Sunbrella" fabric have been here for a long time attesting to just how tough they are. Pros: very durable, fabric doesn't rot in sun, good wool protection from sun. Cons: need heavy duty sewing machine to get through more than 2 layers of fabric, coverage isn't quite as good over neck and shoulders.

Lot C 1 contains:

3 smalls  (B-C)

7 mediums (C-D)

9 large (D-E)

Lots C-2  - C-15

The majority of these covers are the Australian Matilda brand covers. The Matilda site that I used has been taken down but they are still selling them at Sheepman's Supply http://www.sheepman.com/ecommerce/ecomm_product_details.asp?prodid=833&source=cat&catid=55  (you will have to use cut and paste to go look). I used the Matilda sizes for all the covers regardless of the brand and the sizes are only approximations. I did not measure every coat. The gray coats are homemade copies of the Matilda's so they have the good shoulder coverage. They are made from 400 denier uncoated "Cordura" with light weight nylon leg straps. There are a few other brands and fabrics mixed in. I put the lots together in what I guess would be the most useful to the most people. Except for the "Sunbrella" lot there are different fabric types in each lot. The lamb coats are all homemade from different fabrics. They are grown out of soon so don't get as much wear. I was given the Matilda size B "Maxi" covers for rte same price as the regulars because that is all they had left. The "maxi" covers the neck and the tail.  The pros: good coverage, stay on the sheep well even when freshly shorn, they could be cut down easily. I liked them for my newly shorn sheep in Feb. The Cons: Can't see what is going on in the rear of expecting ewes, rear can get dirty and/or wet, would never use them in hot weather.

The lots are all set and can not be altered. Except for  lot 16 of new 'maxi" Bs they have all been used and will have some damage. They have been freshly washed but I did miss a few. Sorry. As with the rest of the sale these covers are sold "as is".  The covers in lots 1-15 may have some small rips but I felt that they would all stay on a sheep and keep the wool clean as they are. (The coats with larger rips went into lot 17).  However, experience has taught me that it is wisest to fix the small problems before they get to be large problems.

A bit about the sizes:  At shearing most of my adult ewes with full fleece would be wearing size f  and would go to a B - C when shorn. The size G  is huge and  is worn by an adult ram with full fleece. The light weight nylon fabric is easy to sew and I found it very handy to put two seams with a long basting stitch in a larger size coat then if you want just pull out the seam as the fleece grows and you don't have to change coats. you will find some of these seamed coats in these lots.

Lot  C 16

7 NEW  B "Maxi"

Lot C 17

Lot 17 contains 45 coats with the larger rips. Some will be quick, easy fixes and some will take some patches. Some are in there just for parts and some might even go in the trash. Included in the lot is the box full of repair supplies. It includes fabrics, heavy duty  thread, 2 rolls of nylon webbing and sundries. The nylon iron on tape was used for tents and purchased from a surplus store.