Well I did it......I trimmed the goats hooves for the first time ever...Just like the Youtube video showed me...
WELL maybe not quite JUST like the video...
First I don't have a milk stand.
Second my goats did not stand still.
Instead I tethered them to the fence with a dog lead and executed various wrestling moves on them as gently as I could until I could both pin them and access each hoof to trim and file it....
Took about 45minutes to do two little goats...They are surprisingly strong (and good wrestlers) for such small goats...I am exhausted and my legs were wobbly from the experience...BUT they have nice trimmed hooves...well maybe not quite as close a trim as other more experienced ppl might give them...but they are a big improvement on what they were....I will prob try a little touch up in a week or two and maybe they will get used to the idea over time and be more co-operative...
A nice lady from the goat forum suggested that I try handling their feet more when we go and play and pet the goats so they will be less nervous about having them touched...Also I think next time I will have hubby help hold them while I trim...Has got to be easier :)
This photo is over a month old, they are MUCH fatter now
Also turns out if you feed 2 little goats, this much oak leaves a day x2 (morning and night)...and a hay segment twice a day (morning and night) they will still be short goats but they will get rather wide...Boots was looking wider than tall...I should have tried to get a photo of it but well...I did not :(
As of 2 days ago they are on a diet...Just one segment of hay at night and a small oak branch to nibble on as a treat or an enticement to come back into the pen when we leave the gate open and they bolt (as fast as fat little goats can bolt that is) 2 feet outside their yard and nibble the fabled greener grass...
We hope soon the sorghum will be harvested at the back of our property and we will have room to fence another grazing area, then I will prob withdraw the evening hay on the days they are able to graze the new green grass in it.
As of 2 days ago they are on a diet...Just one segment of hay at night and a small oak branch to nibble on as a treat or an enticement to come back into the pen when we leave the gate open and they bolt (as fast as fat little goats can bolt that is) 2 feet outside their yard and nibble the fabled greener grass...
We hope soon the sorghum will be harvested at the back of our property and we will have room to fence another grazing area, then I will prob withdraw the evening hay on the days they are able to graze the new green grass in it.
Blessing Kelsie
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Homestead Barn Hop @ http://www.theprairiehomestead.com
10 comments:
They are precious! Even being fast and wide!
Oh you bet with the having your hubby hold them! :) I have two goats that will lie in my lap while I trim their hooves - both bottle raised and general sucks. They slept in my lap a lot as kids so they are used to lying like that. All the other goats, someone has to hold them. Touching their feet doesn't really help I find - unless you do it early on. Have someone hold them... less stressful on you and them, and you'll be a lot less sore and get it done quicker! But good for you... it's kind of calming once you get the hang of it and have them still.
I can't believe how spoilt your little fat goats are Kelsie!! Glad we don't have to trim our sheep feet as much as you do the goats!!
I laughed out loud picturing you wrestling two little goats trying to trim their hooves. We've had goats so I know how strong they can be. They sure are cute little things.
We will be getting some goats in 2012 and I so thrilled. I guess I better keep reading about my blog buddie's experiences with goats because we are so not knowledgeable about goats!! But, we'll learn.
Lana
Hey Kelsie! Congrats on tackling the hooves. My first time sounds a lot like yours. Fortunately it got easier each time. Now it takes about 10 min. per goat. Lots better than the first time. Having a milking stand helps a lot, as does feeding them something they like to take their mind off of what you're doing to them. :)
It is hard keeping the weight off of these little goats. I'm always surprised what easy keepers they are.
I MISS mine so much. Less than a week and they're coming home. I can't wait to get them back home safe and sound, and hopefully pregnant, even if they're going to be very stinky girls for a long time.
I'm also a "stereo grinch". I think that playing music in a noisy house is only so much more noise. Maybe that's why I keep the stereo so inaccessible. ;)
Merry Christmas!
What a work out. No video or gym needed.
Kelsie,
Trimming hooves...who knew? Always something new to learn when there's livestock on the farm!
Fondly,
Pat
Beautiful lyrics, Christmas is endearing,
These days I wish peace and happiness come to your house.
Happy Holidays!.
a hug.
Okay I now have a mental picture of you giving a goat a pedicure, giggle. Hugs!
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