Trimming Goats??

learningthedance · Trimming Goats??

Anyone have any first hand experience and/or information you can pass along?

Thanks in advance.

hkfarms

http://www.boergoatshome.com/hooves.php

it's not very hard, just basically trim the the part that is curving under and a little toe

Newfman

Good sharp trimmers! If you have a stand and they are used to it, you are in good shape. You can put a bowl of black oil sunflower seeds in front of them to entertain them. If no stand and they aren't used to it, I hope you like goat wrestling!

The hoof walls are thin, more like heavy duty finger nail. They curl and old around the foot like a pasta shell. I work my shears into the curl and nip away following the top of the foot. Tis better to take less and work down, than take too much and deal with the blood. Be careful at the tip of the toe. I nip it back slowly and watch the color of the tissue. It is like a dogs toenail. You can tell when you are getting to live, sensitive, vascular tissue.

If they are super long and look like horns, it is similar to a horse. The foot is in there, you just have to go find it. You have to be patient with these guys so you don't hurt them. If they are wriggling around, that can be difficult. You also need to be really good at scolding owners, just enough to make a point, but not enough to get discharged before completing the trim, yet, you want to never get asked back again.

Yes, I hate trimming goats.

Ah yes, I forgot. Some people finish the trim with a small carpenters rasp. Stanley tools makes one, and it is called a 'Sure Form'. I haven't tried it, as I usually just stick with the nippers (shears). My shears don't have a name brand, they are made in Japan and has a tag on it that I think is a model number-S215.

I bet there are a lot of good web sites on this.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Can't you get one of those men who stare at goats to stare until the goat passes out, and then trim it while it's asleep?

If you can get George Clooney, I'm buying a goat!

Newfman

I tried that. I stared at Sydney, and Sydney stared back at me. Eventually, I woke up and the goats had buried me under a pile of hay and were standing on top of me. Never found those trimmers again. Had to get new ones.

"You are feeling sleeeeeeepy. . . ."

.

learningthedance

Did I happen to tell you how much I missed you?? LOL

Newfman

That is nice to know. Backatcha'!