goat help needed

[lyne]

i have 2 goats ages 8yrs and 5yrs. when i lived in az i did not need to worry about their hoofs since the rocky ground kept them short. since moving to missouri i have had to trim their hooves, a chore for all of us. i have tried putting them on a table, tying them to a fence post, etc. and none of this seems to work. we usually end up with some one holding them done while the other person tries to trim the hooves, a trauma for all of us. is there any thing i can giv them to knot them out while i trim their hooves? thanks lyne

[fnfredux]

i have 2 goats ages 8yrs and 5yrs. *when i lived in az i did not need to worry about their hoofs since the rocky ground kept them short. *since moving to missouri i have had to trim their hooves, a chore for all of us. *i have tried putting them on a table, tying them to a fence post, etc. *and none of this seems to work. *we usually end up with some one holding them done while the other person tries to trim the hooves, a trauma for all of us. *is there any thing i can giv them to knot them out while i trim their hooves? *thanks lyne

Not that I know of, but try this method. Easiest of all a milking stand, if you don't have one try this.
I "stradle" my goats (don't actually sit on them) facing the rear, I trap them between my knees. I then pick up their feet one at a time and trim their hoofs with garden pruners. I keep a pair just for hoofs. My girls are pretty tame and this works. They trust me and I guess that's important, but I've never had one try to escape or butt me. I think there is something to being "prey" animals that may make them stand quietly when trapped *between my knees. Make sure the pruners are SHARP. the faster you go the better the results and the happier your goats. Another thing you might try is distraction. Corn is a GREAT distractor when working with goats. Try tying your goat and putting a feeder of corn up by its head with someone holding it just within reach, or just feeding out of hand a bit at a time.

[fnfredux]

oh, and welcome to MO. How are you liking this winter? it's not always like thios brrrrr

[lyne]

although it is cold it is way better than last year. unlike most of the area we only lost electricity for about a week. lyne

[bookwormom]

have to agree with fnfredux. we do iton the milkstand, put a little alfalfa hay in front of them and they don'tmind standing on three feet while the fourth one is manicured. we have extra clippers for it, but the pruning shears sound like a good idea.

[silvergramma]

maybe this might help also.. the corn feeder thing is the way to go but also when you feed and milk,, or finish milking ,,, handle their feet.. while they are feeding i have recently bought an untrained yearling colt that wasnt even halter broke whenwe arrived to pick him up with the horse trailer..
needless to say he is now.. but i had to also realize that he was going to need to be seen by the farrier soon so i started handling his legs and feet each time i fed him on the ground in a bowl i have six horses so they all basically are lined up against the fence and i drop their bowls of grain and supplements just under the last wire..since Hobo has been here i feed him last since he was the last to join the herd and i spend more time with him.. rubbing his head face legs.. body.. desensitizing him and teaching him voice commands... when i squeeze firmly on his knee,, i say pick up and snap my fingers three times.. then i basically push against his shoulder and shift his weight..so i can pick up the foot myself.. after several times of doing this all i had to do was stand next to hiim,, snap my fingers three times.. place my hand on his knee and he would auto matically give me his foot...
why wouldnt this work for your goats...? you never know!!!