OH MY GOSH it was horrible trimming the hooves.

[deafgoatlady]

I trimmed the hooves today for only two adult goats. Not the babies. Well. One of them is mine. One of them is MIL. OH MY GOSH. I cannot imagine it. It was AWFUL! I have never dealt with it before. EEWW. The hooves is like very LONG and very very SOFT. I am surrpised it is soft. I wondered why. Becuz my doe's hooves is small and I only trim her hooves once a year becuz it wont grow that much. I dont understand why. Anyways. MIL's goat here. Her hooves is like LONG and SOFT and bloody when i cut. And She is 12 years old. Very very very different than my doe! It amaze me. WOW. It stinks too. Not like my doe. I do know that MIL dont trim hooves very often only like twice a year. With that doe that is mine I only trim hers once a year becuz it wont get long hardly. And I wondered if it is becuz of the mineral lack??? Becuz MIL never gives her goats the loose mineral. I am just wondering. It just soo SOFT hooves wow..

[Fauna]

It might have something to do with all the rain we've had here in MO here lately and maybe she's got a case of hoof rot starting what with the foul smell and the very soft hooves?

I know mine are certainly much much softer with all the rain and I have 1 that just started to get a case of hoof rot as there's not much dry space for them in the pasture, unless they stay in their shelter!

Just a thought....
Fauna

[goatsareus]

I'm sorry your hoof trimming was so bad. We use wet grass to our advantage when trimming hooves. I make sure the goats have been out in the morning dew before we start to trim. It really softens up the hooves and makes it considerably easier to trim. We need to trim our goats' hooves about every 5 weeks.

[deafgoatlady]

Well Yes but they were inside the shelter all day. Anyways. I dont know why hers is so soft. My doe's hooves is not soft. (chuckle) I just ask MIL and she said that her hooves is ALWAYS soft!. I was surprised. WOW.

[Alice In TX/MO]

If they go out in the dew and on the damp ground, it will soften them.

I trim mine at least once a month. If I don't, they fold under the bottom.

[Ernie]

I trim about every 3-5 months. One of my goats (a La Mancha) gets ridiculously long Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves hooves (turned up at the toes) if I wait too long. The hooves are never soft on any of them though.

I've got to say that it is one of the most disagreeable farm tasks. It's disgusting and smells awful.

[CarolynRenee]

My goats must be angels. I trim my milker on the stand & she just kinda looks back once in a while from her grain pail. The other two kick once or twice & then figure they're stuck so get it over with.

I usually trim once a month, or maybe even more often, usually when I get the chance or if they are laying down & I'm sitting next to them I'll grab the hoof shears & snip off a bit here & there. But definately much easier when they have been in the wet grass or if it's bee raining (which is like every stinking day here in the ozarks lately).

[J.T.M.]

I leave a nail clipper in the barn for the ewes.They usually clip there own.Well except 611,she makes 525 do hers.

[crazygoatgal]

I do the same as CarolynRenee- I trim mine in the stand and offer them some food or hay to keep them busy and happy. I usually don't have a problem, but all mine are nd's and they seem to be easier to deal with than some of the bigger ones. Either way it's is one of those jobs that isn't high on the fun list.

[southerngurl]

I kinda enjoy hoof trimming. I usually trim mine about once a month. In fact, it is time right now for some of them...

[jBlaze]

You may want to learn more about hoof rot, I think it is contagious.
You said smelly, and some shemmy is hoof rot. I do not know enough to advise, only that it is something to watch for. When I bring a new animal to my place I try to trim hooves and dip in bleach solution before putting in our barn / pasture. same for anyone leaving the property, and our shoes when we look at other herds.

We trin hoves on our 'milk' stand and there is usually not a problem. I have oticed that some grow faster than others.

[thaiblue12]

I feel for you deafgoatlady. I did the "baby" herd last week and my year old Nubian wether had such hard hooves it was awful! I was trying so hard my hands were shaking and started to cramp. Then one girl hornless looked up as I went down and she got my on the side of my head. Then another with horns did not like me doing her back hooves and she was squirming away and lifted her head and both horns got my under both cheeks, lol. That did not hurt, the head one did. Makes me want to cover everything in concrete or rocks. I still have a few more to do and I have been trying to do 6 each weekend.

[fishhead]

I trimmed hooves last weekend and the 2 easiest ones decided to be the hardest. After fighting with them until the sweat was running down my glasses I threw them both down and finished it with them laying on their side. Later they both came up and wanted rubbing. I've got to put a hook on their shelter for next time so that I can fasten the collar to the wall.

[Minelson]

Frankie & Flossie are very easy! They sit in my lap and let me trim them Now Gretta...that's where the sweating starts, I tie her up and smoosh her against the wall and fight the whole time

[DixyDoodle]

When I got my last Nubian, her toes were long and pointed, like little spears? Not now, but she doesn't take kindly to restraint for trimming. Good thing hubby is stong enough to hold her. I wonder if this is why he's finally getting around to building a goat stanchion? LOL