The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: langdon on January 25, 2010, 09:22:13 pm

Title: foot trimming
Post by: langdon on January 25, 2010, 09:22:13 pm

i think milly and molly will be needing their feet looking at soon,
we bought the shears and knife.
like everything else i am asking for every bit of advice ther is to offer!!!!
i have a fair idea as what to do, but with yer advice and reasurance i'll
be more confident as what im doing :goat: ;)

Title: Re: foot trimming
Post by: Crofter on January 25, 2010, 09:43:54 pm

Have a look at this.  Mind you, the poor goats feet are way overgrown and look like they should have been trimmed 6 months ago!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdmtT4Pj46g

Dave

Title: Re: foot trimming
Post by: langdon on January 25, 2010, 10:00:12 pm

thanks mate for that ;)
was that a sheep or goat, looked like it was sheared.
anyway thank's again im sure i'll be fine

Title: Re: foot trimming
Post by: jameslindsay on January 27, 2010, 01:37:03 pm

Just relax and you will be fine, if the goats see you are in the slightest bit worried they will play on it. I have 13 goats and some of them have no problems with this job but others of them just hate it. The Pygmy's are easy I can sit them on my knee but not as easy to do with the large ones. Good luck.

Title: Re: foot trimming
Post by: Anke on January 28, 2010, 08:12:20 pm

If you have them runnig touside first on wet ground, their horn becomes quite soft and much easier to cut.

Title: Re: foot trimming
Post by: ballingall on January 28, 2010, 09:53:03 pm

Sometimes goats can get really hard horn on their feet- the males are worse for it. I have even been know to soak my billy's feet in hot water to make them easier to cut. Fortunately he actually stands pretty well, because if he didn't want his feet cut- I doubt I could manage!

I think I might have some pictures of feet trimming too.

I'll have a look.

Remember their feet tend to grow quicker in the summer if they are getting acess to nice grass which is full of protein- so they might need their feet cut more often.


Beth