Caring for hooves

[Cottage Cheese]

I have two pygmy girls who have hooves that I would like to shape up with our file for them. The only problem is that every time I try to care for them, they try to butt me with their horns. I have been rubbing and holding their hooves when I go in their pen so they can get used to the feeling. Any more ideas?

 

[Cottage Cheese]

Also, do they need a tetanus vacc. before we trim their hooves?

 

[TxMom]

I really need to trim my goats hooves... I have been putting it off because they've been under so much stress, I didn't want to add to it.

Do you have a double ended lead, to hold them securely to the fence? That's what I will use, and hopefully they won't be able to use their horns on me...

 

[onedozenphyllises]

We trim our goats' hooves while they're busy eating. They're too preoccupied to mind.

 

[lilhill]

We have a stanchion that we put the goats into to do hoof trimming. They get a snack and we get their feet all prettied up.

 

[Cottage Cheese]

Um, I hate to say this, but is anyone going to answer my ??

 

[trestlecreek]

Take 2 long dog leads and clip one end around the goats neck. Take the remaining length and secure the goats whole body to a fenceline by wrapping it around the goat and through the fence. This will secure them enough to do the hooves and their shots.
You can get the goats used to you, but you will have to spend weeks-months just sitting out there with them and offering treats as they come up to you.

 

[onedozenphyllises]

Um, I hate to say this, but is anyone going to answer my ??

Sorry, I thought we were offering suggestions.

 

[Mini-M Ranch]

Um, I hate to say this, but is anyone going to answer my ??

Sorry, I thought we were offering suggestions.

yeah...I thought so, too...weird

 

[onedozenphyllises]

Oh! I totally missed the follow up question about the tetanus vaccine. Sorry. I'm not too experienced, so others will please correct me if I'm wrong here, but it is my understanding that they should have one periodically just as a matter of course, but not every time you need to do a hoof trimming (we do hooves about once a month).