[langdon]

we watched a video on the internet tonight of a goat keeper clipping the
goats hoofs, the goats was lying on its back, just like when a sheep is having its wool sheared.
does anyone use this method.

[doganjo]

I cut my dogs' claws that way.

[langdon]

bu what about  :goat:s 

[Roxy]

My ex partner was a sheep farmer, and he used to trim my goats hooves, and always tipped them over like he did with the sheep.  Once over on their back they cannot struggle and are much easier to deal with.  You have to have the knack of getting them over though.  I tend to just back my goats up into a corner and lift their hooves up.

[ballingall]

I don't tip them over either. It probably can be done just like sheep, but I prefer not to.


Beth

[Roxy]

Langdon, you will be wanting to try shearing next?  Fancy a go at our llama??  He has a wonderful fleece.  Think he may object to being tipped up though.

[langdon]

as i may have said before, if we ever found ourselves in a lucky position in the
future we would love to have sheep, so learning to shear would be great.
my uncle had sheep, did i ever say my uncle back home in ireland is a farmer,
mind you he had to go back working as a carpenter to earn a steady income.
they do say its in the blood, i loved been on that farm as a kid

[ballingall]

By the way, I was thinking about turning a goat onto its back today to cut it's feet. And whilst I think it's fine to do that with a goat that isn't in milk, I wouldn't do it to a dairy goat in milk.  Dairy goats have big udders, and there is no gaurantee they wouldn't bruise it on the way down, or kick it themselves. As even a bruise can cause mastitis, I would avoid it. No harm doing it on other goats though.

Beth

[langdon]

thanks beth, think i will keep trying the standing up method,
cant wait till milk stand is finished then will be able to use that.
havent started yet as im now working for my freind who owns the pig farm that we bought our
first pigs off.

[chickenfeed]

  dad uses a knife and surform whilst the goat is standing it takes no time at all.

[langdon]

surform

[chickenfeed]

  surform is a hand tool from diy or builder merchants a bit like a hand held cheese grater.

[ballingall]

Oh yes I know what you mean- never knew it was called a surform though. We always used to use one, but haven't for a few years.


Beth