hoof trimming & the right tool

mzgarden · #1 11/30/14, 06:50 AM

i'll start by saying I have a fair amount of nerve damage in my dominant hand and while I can operate scissor like hoof trimmers, it's hard for me to squeeze hard enough sometimes. The hoof walls and toe ends aren't too bad to do, like trimming toenails. But squeezing the scissors to trim the the heel pad more flat can be pretty hard for me to get more than just tiny smidgens at a time. Makes the job long and harder on my goatie girls.

Anyone else use a different tool to trim that would require less hand strength heel for pad trimming?

xymenah · #2 11/30/14, 07:12 AM

I use a small wood plane to shave the bottom down flat after trimming. It might be easier for you as long as they don't have allot of growth. http://t.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-6-i...-399/202262007

Tim D Pruitt · #3 11/30/14, 08:08 AM

Keeping your hoof trimmers good and sharp will help a lot. Other than that, I would use a box knife with razor type blades. I use the kind that you can break off the blade when a portion gets dull. I recommend that you always use a good leather glove when hoof trimming.

Tim D. Pruitt
www.pruittvillefarms.com

Clovers_Clan · #4 11/30/14, 01:21 PM

Soaking hooves before trimming also helps. I trim a little more frequently than necessary and take every opportunity to trim the day after a good rain. Yes, sharp tools are always a must!!!

msscamp · #5 12/01/14, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzgarden

Anyone else use a different tool to trim that would require less hand strength heel for pad trimming?

Yep! As the owner of 77 head of goats, and my farrier moving far enough way that she is no longer available, I invested in an electric hoof knife - that is the name of the tool. It is basically a grinder that grinds off the hoof wall, but does not cause the hoof to heat up. I can do several feet in the time it used to take me to do just one. It is not cheap - I forked out $350.00 for mine, but is it well worth it IMHO! Check into basic grinders, but be careful with them because they can cause the hoof to heat up.

boerboy · #6 07/22/15, 12:32 AM

Very useful info

I use just shears. But I use a file to sharpen the shears. It takes two hours to trim around 8 goats.

I was planning to try grinders but not sure.

258Pots · #7 07/22/15, 03:08 PM

I used a aviation snips, I think I am going to find a better snips, I was unimpressed with the hoof trimmer I bought. Maybe a dykes? I think craftsman might have one with a leverage advantage, even. Either them or Home Depot...

Alice In TX/MO · #8 07/23/15, 10:58 AM

http://www.electrichoofknife.com/GoatsSheep.html

I know folks who have this and love it. I sometimes use a 4" right angle grinder.

terri9630 · #9 07/23/15, 02:32 PM

I just use hoof rot shears and check feet every milking. If someone needs to be trimmed they are done before they are let off the milk stand. This way I'm only doing one at a time and not all of them at once. Much easier on arthritic hands. I also have the rasp/plane that someone else mentioned for heels. Much easier to use. Definitely wear gloves as its like a cheese grater and will "grate" your hands if it misses the hoof.

mzgarden · #10 07/24/15, 05:13 AM

terri, I love the idea of checking and trimming feet at milking. Our girls haven't freshened yet but I'm keeping that idea for the future. I did buy a rasp so hopefully that'll help as well.

terri9630 · #11 07/24/15, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mzgarden

terri, I love the idea of checking and trimming feet at milking. Our girls haven't freshened yet but I'm keeping that idea for the future. I did buy a rasp so hopefully that'll help as well.

I feed everyone on the milk stand. Even those not milking. It teaches the young ones to jump up and makes it easier to make sure everyone is healthy. The ones not milking only get a hand full every couple of days since they don't really need it. Just keeps them in the habit and teaches the young ones and weathers that there is nothing wrong with the stand. The only one who doesn't get fed on the stand is my buck since hes too big for it.

rachelmcmurtrie · #12 07/24/15, 07:02 PM

I am no expert on goat hooves and/or trimming them, but if they are anything like pig hooves you could try placing rocks around a spot you know they'll congregate such as where they drink their water. This was suggested by Walter from Sugar mountain farms and he has never had to trim the hooves of his several hundreds of pigs in years, the rocks do all work.

motdaugrnds · #13 07/27/15, 08:59 AM

I've started trimming all "doe" hooves on the milking stand immediately after milking them. (The buck I stand up in the milking area where he is "cornered" and cannot move around much and I can sit down to rest between hooves.)

My herd is quite small so I only use a small scissor-type trimmer and level the hooves with a box cutter; however, should I let the herd get larger, I would purchase one of those electric hoof-trimmers I learned about from another poster here, i.e. Backforty.

Bearfootfarm · #14 07/27/15, 10:31 AM

Since you're milking and handling them daily, I'd use a large farrier rasp and do them often

http://www.horse.com/farrier-supplie...oof-picks/757/

boerboy · #15 07/27/15, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

Since you're milking and handling them daily, I'd use a large farrier rasp and do them often

http://www.horse.com/farrier-supplie...oof-picks/757/

I just ordered the farrier rasp

The electric hoof knife is in the wish list

Bearfootfarm · #16 07/28/15, 10:10 AM

I also put down 16" X 16" rough concrete pavers around my water troughs and at the barn doors to help them wear down naturally.

Our sandy soil doesn't do much on it's own but walking on the rough concrete seems to help

terri9630 · #17 07/29/15, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

I also put down 16" X 16" rough concrete pavers around my water troughs and at the barn doors to help them wear down naturally.

Our sandy soil doesn't do much on it's own but walking on the rough concrete seems to help

I haven't done the pavers but I have cantaloupe sized rocks piled up for the kids to play on and it helps wear down the feet a bit.

boerboy · #18 07/29/15, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

I also put down 16" X 16" rough concrete pavers around my water troughs and at the barn doors to help them wear down naturally.

Ours is all clay, worst still...
I have been wanting to throw bunch of rough concrete pavers or boulders for them to play... Need to do it

terri9630 · #19 07/29/15, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boerboy

Ours is all clay, worst still...
I have been wanting to throw bunch of rough concrete pavers or boulders for them to play... Need to do it

Anything you give them to play on will help and they will love it. I got a couple of the big wire spindles and the kids love to play king of the hill on them.