Trimming Goat Feet.

Are your ready to start doing your own goat's feet? It is not hard and you will get more confident the more you do it. When we first started doing our goat's feet we did not know exactly what we were doing either and our goats have survived our trial and error of doing their feet! We did have experience doing horse feet but goat feet are a little bit different.

It definitely helps to have a goat that has good feet to start out learning on. When we first purchased some of our goats the previous owners either neglected or did not know how to do feet and they were curled over and way over grown. Those kind of feet are harder to do.

Here is some tips to consider when you are doing your goat's feet and maybe a new idea for you on how to hold your goats while doing their feet.

Holding your goat still to do their feet may be the most frustrating thing about doing feet. Goats do not like (at least most goats) do not like to stand still and get their feet done. It is best if you have two people, one to hold the goat and one to do the feet. Unless you have a flip table or spin chute then you could do it alone very easily. A milking stand or goat stanchion could also make your life easier while doing feet. Some people just put a halter on their goat and tie them up really close to a fence. However, we do not use any of those tools when we do feet.

I've never seen anyone hold their goats the way we do. But I think it is the easiest way to hold a goat to do their feet. We lay them down on their side and hold them down gently on their neck and side. We make sure their feet are not under them when we lay them down. It may be a little hard to understand so we made a video of how we hold our goats to do their feet so you can see. They still struggle a little to get up but if you keep their head down and feet out from under them you will be in control.

Video

Take small amounts off at a time. This will lessen the chance of a big mistake. Don't worry too much about them bleeding. That being said do your best not to make them bleed, but if you do (and we have at times) make them bleed just clean it, spray some wound antiseptic on it and wrap it for a day to two. If it is not bad and stops bleeding right away we do not worry about wrapping it. But we do keep an eye on them as they will probably limp for a few days.

Watch videos. It seems like each goat's hoof is different. So learn what you can from others and then start your own journey into goat feet.

It should be box like. I find that front feet are easier then back feet. Basically you will cut the two tips of their toes a little bit. Any sides that are curled over or extra long and then maybe a little bit on the heel. If you have rocks in your pasture you will probably find that you do not have to do their feet as often then if they are kept in a barn. The rocks will help keep their feet in good shape as the goats climb and play on the rocks. It is the rough surface that will work in your benefit.

Time. It takes time to do their feet. It take time and experience to become better and better at it. Even after doing lots and lots of goat feet (I have no idea how many) we still do not feel like we are professional.