hoof trimming fiasco...

wintrrwolf · #1 01/15/10, 10:00 AM

So I bit the bullet and tried to trim Sugarbaby's hooves last night. Tied her to post with a bit of grain. Needless to say I was able to trim one clove? of 1 hoof before she and I started to dance..up down this way that way jerk jerk and for the first time ever she tried to hook me with her horn. So this weekend am going to work on building a stand and see if that might make her a little less mobile for me. She weighs as much as I do, so a wrestling match is not a good idea. Any other suggestions? For the most part her hooves dont look to bad a couple on the back are growing out a little long.
Gypsy will let me pick up her front feet but when I tried her back feet she freaked out, that doesn't include trying to trim em. By that time I was so tired I didn't even work with Cletus.

Illini · #2 01/15/10, 10:57 AM

I feel your pain . . .

The surest, most hassle-free method I've used is to wait until DS (a big, STRONG fellow) is available. He sits on the milking stand with each one, their back to him, in an almost reclining position, and I go to work. Quick and struggle free.

Could you recruit someone like that to help you? It only costs me a good meal but, if you did actually have to hire someone, it would only be once every month or two.

Best of luck to you!

Natalie Rose · #3 01/15/10, 11:30 AM

That is the same way we do it here. Its not worth struggling with them by yourself, especially if they are as big as you, defintely not worth getting hurt over.
If you don't have anyone at home that could help maybe you could as around at local farms, 4 H and other goat keepers for a little help.

Jay27 · #4 01/15/10, 11:36 AM

I had my husband construct a headgate/stanchion. My girls are nigerian dwarf so I can win in a wrestling match. I had one that was just a bugger with her back feet... I tied the foot up and let her fight it out for 30 minutes. Now she's a dream.

wintrrwolf · #5 01/15/10, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illini

I feel your pain . . .

The surest, most hassle-free method I've used is to wait until DS (a big, STRONG fellow) is available. He sits on the milking stand with each one, their back to him, in an almost reclining position, and I go to work. Quick and struggle free.
Could you recruit someone like that to help you? It only costs me a good meal but, if you did actually have to hire someone, it would only be once every month or two.

Best of luck to you!

so they recline with the goat on her back? I have a young son 16 and another son 22 (big boy) if i give him gas money he might come up from columbia, mo once a month for his mommy, maybe

I am just new at doing goat hoofs I don't want to do more damage then good.
For Gypsy the tying the hoof might be a good resolve for her.
Would rasping/filing them at first be better then cutting just to get em used to me?

Illini · #6 01/15/10, 12:23 PM

Hi, wintrrwolf.

DS sits, and the lucky doe or buck reclines against his front, sitting on their backside but tipped back a bit. Does that make sense? We did this because I had read that that is how they keep sheep still for shearing, and it seemed like a good plan. Works so far!

I have never used a rasp. I use hoof trimmers. Some people use plain old garden secateurs. I work towards that "perfect" hoof, but I go slowly and watch for any pink - a sign that I'm close to the blood supply. Having DS immobilize the goat means that I don't need to hurry and risk cutting too deep.

Hope this helps!

fishhead · #7 01/15/10, 01:11 PM

My goats outweigh me too so I just put a collar on them and fasten them to a wall. I put my knee under their gut right in front of the hind leg to support them and do the hind leg closest to me. Turn them to do the other side. For the front make them back up until they run out of rope and press them into the wall before lifting the front foot.

Carolyn · #8 01/15/10, 01:14 PM

my son and ex husband used to do the goats this way, it is in one of the goat books, but I since heard that it could damage the tail or their spine--don't know if that is true or not, but we started working with them in a stantion. If it the same way ex did it-the person sits on a chair or stool, tipping the goat on its rear with the goats back inbetween persons legs. they then trimmed the hooves. We used on the angoras and the dairy goats until an older gentleman we got some of our Nubians from told us it wasn't a good idea. If it would do no damage, it is easy to do--anyone else here know?

Minelson · #9 01/15/10, 02:57 PM

I do it like Fishhead. Collar that is fastened to a wall, with little slack. I use my body to keep them from moving backward or out. The collar keeps them from moving forward and the wall keeps them steady. If they start to kick out and struggle with the back leg I stop and just hang on to it until they stop...while saying "hey! quit it!". Mine are mini's so probably a little easier to muscle. My thighs are always sore the next day though..

Goat Servant · #10 01/15/10, 03:32 PM

For the first year or so we didnt have a stanchion. Dont know how we got along without one.
They always get a treat soon as they get up & are locked in. And yes , no one likes rear feet handled, but too bad.
I hang on & dont let go, even telling them how good they are when being stinkers.
I have also found it easier to work the rear feet from the same side.

Briza · #11 01/15/10, 08:45 PM

Might want to try a halter clipped very snugly to the fence. Press the goat's body with your hip and knee so they feel controlled and confined. One foot at a time on that side then rotate them still tied up to face the other way and then do the other 2.
Just don't let them get their bluff in. The first time they try to move press harder against them until they freeze. You have to be the boss or they never quit challenging. Our buck likes the attention so much he will just stand there looking around like he is saying Why is that fun for you? If he was not like that I doubt I could make him stand.
I can't imagine flipping my 200 pound Nubian does- they need to stand on their own 3 feets! There is no way the would let me do that but they all get trimmed from kids on and learn to just stand there some not even tied. After once a month for years they know it is just part of life. Get them in the habit and it will go very quickly and not seem like such a chore.
B~

Helena · #12 01/15/10, 08:51 PM

Have always trained the does to the milking stand and they will still fuss when their hooves get done..as long as they have grain in their feeding tray they are usually OK..Bucky I can't get his head into the slot..so I usually do one or 2 hooves at a time while he eats his grain and go back in a day or two. They just don't like standing on 3 feet..spoiled..

wintrrwolf · #13 01/16/10, 07:46 AM

Yeah I think out of all 3 goats I have Cletus the buck is the only one used to having his feet handled, his were fresh trimmed when I got him and still looking good. Now my 2 doe's seriously? What the heck did I get myself into! I did a lot of body handling with Sugar when I first got her so I count myself lucky she will even let me pick her feet up same for Gypsy. Yes I did the big

and fell for the almost wild goats I am such a sucker! I know I am on the right track though Gypsy doesn't flinch and run when I pet her anymore, and Sugar will actually start to go to sleep when I give her body rubs she still tightens up her body when I rub her underbelly or check her udder, but I think they are both starting to trust me. Was thinking of using a sanding block simply because I could file edges quick until I get to the day that my ladies aren't afraid of being handled or am I just woosing out?

Backfourty,MI. · #14 01/16/10, 08:41 AM

When we do ours which are Nigerian Dwarfs so they are small but as you know all goats are pretty strong. Dh holds them usually by the collar & I stradle them backwards & use my legs to hold there side while I bend one leg at a time & trim. Works pretty good for us. Never tried to do it bymyself except for a wether we had once & he was so laid back, I got 2 done before he decided that was enough.

You might not even have to trim them once a month, not all goats have hoofs that grow fast but I would still check them to make sure.

garyh141 · #15 01/16/10, 11:37 AM

We also have nigerians so is much easier. Most of the time we use the 2 person approach but we put them in the milk stand w/grain or we put them up on the (home-made) house that puts them at the right height that WE don't have to bend over. I hold them in my arms, sorta snuggled with no weight-bearing on me. Hubby trims, I hold. We use trimmers, pick/hook and rasp (but I hate the rasp, it just chews it off and does not do a good job). We keep ours trimmed regularly so is usually not a problem.

One thing I would add that hasn't been said above...when working with the back legs, keep the leg tucked into the body (don't pull it straight out). This helps to keep their balance and keeps them from fighting you. This is where the "push them into the wall" comes in handy or having that second person to hold them. Even with the front legs, tuck it under and figure out a way to work with the hooves that would be more natural to the goat. If he/she is more secure in balance, it will fight you less.

We have one goat (Queen Bee herself, stubborn old goat!) that lays down on us so we just roll her foot out enough to work on it and she gets trimmed anyway.

I have trimmed the bucks (2-3 year olds) by myself tying them to a tree one time only. (One of them was a full size (Alpine/Nubian) buck but was raised by us and he was a big teddy bear. His was the easiest.) I would probably have won America's Funniest Videos if someone had taken pics. I don't do that anymore. I give them a "stinky buck" bath the same way and just make sure it's really hot and I have "gonna get wet for sure" clothes on.

Ours always get treats when done so they know to expect it now and although they don't look forward to the trimming, they do so love those treats.

I know this sounds stupid, but talk to them. Tell them what you are doing and why you are doing it. Who knows if it helps or not, but maybe the sound of your voice rather than your words will help soothe them. If you aer aggitated, they will pick up on that.

Sandra

airotciv · #16 01/16/10, 03:01 PM

Being new to goats and sheep, have only had them for about 6 months. I had the Vet come out and show me how to trim thier feet. It was so easy for him to do them that a thought, easy enough. Well I went to do the goats feet the other day and it wasn't as easy as it looked. Well a nieghbor came by and saw me struggling. He LOL and then said you can not tie a goat with a rope or colar, you need a halter. He went home and got a halter and tied the goats up one by one and he had no problem. Now was it the halter or his confidence in knowing what he was doing?

wintrrwolf · #17 01/16/10, 03:51 PM

HMM not sure but if that was me, I would offer to pay the dud to come back and do my goats!!

Will say when I used the halti on sugar she behaved much better then when I used a collar, with a collar she just pulled me around the halti would guide her head back to me so she couldnt do that. But the halti is actually made for dogs (heh) just based on the design of a halter.

Goat Servant · #18 01/16/10, 10:35 PM

Gary made some good points, keep the rear legs tucked in (you described that very well) & talk to them. Yes they pick up on if you are stressed out.
We start gettin em on the stand; one of us will talk to the goat, petting & re assuring while the other picks & cuts.

Airo he just knew what he was doing hehehe.
We just casually walk out with a collar & lead, grab a whale & take her to the stand.
If triming takes an extra 5 or 10 minutes it's ok. We never rush the goat or the job.

wintrrwolf · #19 01/17/10, 10:30 AM

yes need to make a stand. have a pallet perfect size and length, bolt some legs on, the hardest part is going to be making the head stall? Just been really tired and sick for the last 4 weeks, caught a stupid cold and its not going away. I miss being with my goats, not sure if they miss me though

have one more day off this weekend so will try to get the stand done, feeling that will help a lot in getting them trained. So much to do so little time.

willow_girl · #20 01/17/10, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Might want to try a halter clipped very snugly to the fence. Press the goat's body with your hip and knee so they feel controlled and confined. One foot at a time on that side then rotate them still tied up to face the other way and then do the other 2.

This is how I do it, too. I snug her up to the fence, pick up her foot, and wait until she stops thrashing around before I start cutting. For the back hooves, I try to get my knee up under her body a little, right where the front of the leg meets the body, then lift and extend her hind leg out behind her. Usually she isn't as ornery about having her front hooves trimmed, so I don't have to smash her against the fence.

Mine is polite and won't hook me with her horns, but if she ever tried, I would snub her head up TIGHT to that fence! The less they can wiggle around, the better -- less chance of making a bad cut.