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Black Velvet's Haircut

Clipping a fiber goat can be a chore, but it's also an occasion when breeder and critter can connect and spend "quality time" together. Since our herd is small, there is ample time and energy for one-on-one. Thus, we tend to scissors-clip the girls, allowing lots of opportunity for petting and conversation. This hands-on process also works well for: 1) doing a thorough health and condition check, 2) avoiding those nasty "second cuts" that spinners hate, and 3) being able to feel and assess fiber on different parts of the goat's body. This is the story of Black Velvet's recent haircut--how it was done and what really went on. . .

"Velvet" is just what we hoped for when we bred her mom, VV Molly Malone, to the handsome show-stopper Peppermint Pastures Morris. Their daughter is large, covered with extremely long, silky black type B fleece, and is very, very sweet. Velvet needs a haircut at least twice a year and, each time, the result is a large box overflowing with gorgeous fiber.

Velvet is lured up onto the goat stand with some of her favorite grain ration. She doesn't flinch when her thick soft neck curls are parted by the stand's head restrain while she busily gobbles her treat. Pat begins the clean-up process removing bits of hay, seeds and other vegetation with short upward strokes of the fiber brush. Little pieces of debris fly out and onto the floor. Velvet stands patiently while Pat brushes diligently, both knowing that everything eliminated now won't have to be picked out later when the fiber is off Velvet's body. Pat strokes Velvet's shoulder saying, "Good girl. You are so pretty. Look at your wonderful fleece!" Velvet peers back unimpressed--"What did you expect?" her dreamy eyes reply.

Velvet is used to being on a goat stand since all grooming and health care at Verdant Vistas is done on stands. It's really not so bad if you get a treat each time you hop up there!

But, Velvet's eyes open wide and she jumps as a loud noise and gust of wind hit her ears and tummy. Pat is aiming that black, noisy hose at her and brushing feverishly while more hay and seeds fly into the air (not having invested in an "official" fiber blower, we use the blowing end of our larger shop vac to get rid of another batch of pesty vegetation). Pat touches Velvet's cheek and says, "It's o.k. You're just fine." Velvet looks away pouting--"That's easy for you to say," she mutters--"Ma-a-a!"


The center part is the starting point for goat clipping, whether it is done with scissors or shears.
Then, Pat is using the brush and, sometimes, a comb to part Velvet's hair right down her backbone from neck to tail. This is the line where her haircut will begin. Velvet squirms when the comb gets to her tailbone--that tickles and, besides, she doesn't like being touched back there! Pat takes the spring-loaded scissors she has just sharpened and slips it sideways (parallel to V's body) along a quarter inch strip below and up to the hair part, going from tail to neck (see picture on right). Pat is right handed, so she stands on Velvet's left side. The scissors cut in long, smooth swipes and the clipped hair falls against Velvet's body. Pat says, "Hold really still. The first line is the hardest and then we can go faster." Velvet thinks to herself--"Yeah. Right! Not worth a comment."

The key to a close scissors cut without short second cuts is holding the scissors parallel with the goat's body and cutting narrow strips.

Clip, clip, back-to-front while Velvet's hair falls back in a large wave. When only about a quarter/three-eighths inch is taken in each sweep and the scissors are held parallel to the body, it's easier to avoid short second cuts that come from the preceding row--and, the final haircut is neat and even. Velvet appreciates not ending up looking all ragged and jagged; she knows her herdmates will give her a complete once-over after she's finished. After clipping several rows, Pat gathers up the wave of fiber and puts it carefully into Velvet's own personally-labeled box.

When clipping gets down to legs and the tummy, row-lines are not straight anymore but, instead, curve around Velvet's hills and valleys. Pat stops doing long rows and starts down Velvet's front leg, "Look at you! You have fleece down to your toes and it is so soft." Velvet turns her head and nuzzles the top of Pat's head (Pat is almost upside down now). It's nice to be appreciated.

Pat is careful not to pull on Velvet's fiber and clip without seeing where fiber ends and skin begins. Areas of V's body--such as her neck, behind her front and in front of her back legs are loose and easily cut. Her legs have tendons that can be hurt with a careless cut, especially if electric clippers are used. And there are those nipples that will be very important in a few weeks when Velvet's kids arrive (needless to say, the boys have other vital body parts that call for special care and attention when sharp tools are involved). If a nick happens--and it sometimes does--a quick spray of cooling antiseptic makes it feel better and prevents more serious after-effects.

But, no amount of care or caution makes Velvet comfortable having her back quarters clipped and she jumps and shifts whenever she feels the touch of the scissor blades. Luckily, we have rear-end, around-the head and belly reserves (each critter seems to have a favorite "no-touch" zone) and partner George is called into service for this final step of the job. His task is to hold the sensitive body part still allowing clipping to proceed without injury. Sometimes, this process involves stretching out a back leg; occasionally, he tips someone over and wraps his arms around her chest while she reclines upon the floor. Velvet only needs a leg-stretch and tummy-hold this time. (Since she will be delivering and nursing kids in a few weeks, we've been sure to "crouch" Velvet, i.e., to closely clip the hair and fiber around her vaginal and udder areas.)

Pat strokes Velvet's body from neck to rump, telling her how nice she looks. Velvet lets out a sigh as if to say, "Let's be done with this." "Not quite", says Pat. "We need to do those toes of yours." Hooves are checked about once a month at Verdant Vistas and always when a goat is up on the stand anyway. Pat uses small orange clippers and the job is over pretty quickly. A diluted chlorine bleach solution that dries fast is sprayed on Velvet's trimmed feet to disinfect them. Since Velvet and the other expectant moms will be getting their annual vaccinations and deworming treatments about 4 weeks before they are scheduled to kid, Velvet is finished for today. Pat puts a warm coat on her to replace the one she's just lost because there's a chill in the air that makes a girl shiver. Velvet will wear it a few days until she gets used to the change. She knows the other girls will give her a bad time when she returns to their ranks--but she'll do the same to them when it's their turn, so everything works out in the end. The job is over and Velvet is ready to get back to the important work of eating down the pasture.




The tools of the trade: clockwise from top left, dematting comb, comb, hoof clippers, spring-loaded scissors, rubber brush.

Velvet's new coat--not as nice as the old!



Velvet's old coat in a box and ready for picking, dehairing, and onto making into yarn or using it for felting or other fiber art projects.