The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Sue Burton on September 22, 2016, 03:59:06 am
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Hello
We are new to this site. Nice to meet you all.
Would anyone know anyone in the Brentwood /Chelmsford area who would be able to trim 50 sheep and 20 goat feet four times a year?
Please do get in touch if you do
Thanks for your time
Sue
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Well I can't remember when I last trimmed sheeps' feet... and goats need definitely more than 4 trims per year...
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The new info on sheep is only trim if absolutely necessary and not as routine. I have only trimmed once this year and that was just a tiny bit.
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Yep, can't comment on goats as we don't keep them but the advice on sheep is only trim if required - ie if they are lame. I do ours at lambing time. The rationale being that if you trim and overtrim, you can introduce infection.
Your shearer might do them for you.
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My parents live in Bishops strortford so I could come around Chelmsford once in a while when I'm in the area ;)
We used to check sheep once a year (about now) and only trim the ones with overgrown hooves, which was minority.
Never done goats though
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Goats' hooves are usually done every month to six weeks although mine tend to be left for a couple of months. No more than that though or they start limping.
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Try asking at Writtle college, don't know if they still do farm animal management courses but did a few years ago.
They'd probably know of someone or ask your vet to show you how.
Or local feed store for contacts with other goat keepers.