The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: benkt on June 04, 2012, 08:34:28 pm
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After examination this evening, it is pretty clear that my girls need their hooves trimming. I've got trimmers and had a look at some instructions on the web - but is it easy enough to try myself or should I call in a favour with our local goat expert and get her to help and show me how its done? I don' t want to bother her unnecessarily but equally don't want to mess it up if its going to be tricky.
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I don't think you can beat having a mentor - so I'd go for local goat expert, get her to show you then to watch you having a go yourself.
I'm sure she'll be happy to help - most folk are :thumbsup:
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If you have never done goats or sheep before, get someone else to show you. Also it is a lot easier if the hoofs are soft - when the goats have been outside in damp grass. Have a second helper there, you will need someone to hold the goat (or use the milking stand depending on what you have got). Mine really do not like it...
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I wish I'd had a mentor when I first started doing hoofs. I really struggled.
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ben if you can get someone to show you it would be best for both you and the girls, is it ellie that will be guiding you ? if you get stuck you know where we are (inbetween shows atm ;D best in show this weekend along with a few more reds)
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Thanks all. Decision made: I'll pop in and see Ellie on Thursday when I'll be passing her place anyway and see if she can give me a hand.
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Is there time to wait and see when Ellie (or anyone else) will be doing their own (goats :) ), then you could call in and watch, rather than getting someone to come to your place?
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would it not have been better to sort out things like learning to trim the goats feet BEFORE getting any stock -
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not that easy! getting advice before with goats, in my area there are only a couple of goat keepers one i wouldn't go anywhere near, and another who was as clueless as me. Animal health were going to put me in touch with someone and I'm still waiting. It was only after a few months I found someone who gave sensible advice and was really close but in a different county
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would it not have been better to sort out things like learning to trim the goats feet BEFORE getting any stock -
My first sheep arrived with me never having done a hoof in my life before.... you just get on with it, read all you can and if possible get someone else to show you how. If we would always train up to the nines with any new project we would never start anything new!
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Yes a mentor is good - we do our goaties every month though - goats can get foot rot quite easily if clods of dirt get stuck in their hoofies. Sometimes the nail grows very quickly and you can lose the shape you need if you don't keep on top of them. We have to deck our goats - OH 'sits' on them (not quite) and I hold the horns end to stop them butting his bottom while he's doing it - some goats you can do standing up but we found that all the pics in books were completely irrelevant when it came to doing ours. Our last goats never forgave us doing it - they hated it - our present goats don't like it either but they forget after a dried apricot treat at the end and they nibble our clothes while their friends are being done. The difficulty is getting to know what you should be cutting off - its not always as simple as the diagrams in books because all their feet are a bit different. Don't be too tentative I would say and always check in between their toes. You may find the way your mentor does it may not suit your goats, get the general idea and then do one yourself while she's there - I couldn't see anyone doing this job alone, you need 2. Good luck.
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I can tie my older girls up but it's easier if OH is there, after a few times they usually accept it and stand OK.
I trim them in the 'horse shoeing' positions, but don't try and left the leg up too high, that may make them umcomfortable and then they may dislike you handling feet in future.
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its not about training up to the nines its about getting some knowledge before you get the animals. we are supposed to be looking after them for milk friendship or even meat...
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It does seem difficult finding other goat keepers, even the vets here only knew a couple of people and the locals swore no-one keeps goats around here. Only someone about a mile away who's had them for years. ::) Perhaps we're just a bashful bunch.
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I have done mine on my own but it's much easier with two. Or even three.
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I have found I can manage mine on my own if I use the milking stand, as long as I have access to both sides,
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Yes, Jaykay put link on another thread about milk stands which gives you plans for one which is easy peasy to make - think I'll try that and see if its suitable for doing their feet, that way I wont have to bother OH.
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I have anchor points on the fence where we tie the goats lead/collar - pop a hay net there - run their body along the fence (no escape route for the back end haha) and then gently lean on the side a bit so they are under your control.
All 4 of mine are used to being anchored now (even the baby) and will happily stand/lie chewing the cud while they wait for their turn to be foot trimmed/drenched/bathed/groomed etc
the you give them a treat after :) [size=78%] [/size]