This is a job we do every three months here at Connaty Farms. Just like your own fingernails, goats have hooves that grow and can get too long. In order to keep the goats healthy and prevent hoof rot (because we have such wet ground here) we have to cut the hooves of the goats. I'm glad its only an "occasional job" because the girls don't like it very much, but they are much happier afterwards! Goats that live in the wild will often find rocks to wear their hooves down on so they don't need to be trimmed, but domesticated goats need a little help from their owners.
This is the stanchion that Merritt and I built to hold the goats in place. There is a feed bucket to keep them occupied so I can cut their nails (or milk the goats, but we're not doing that at the moment).
Bleeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh! Bleeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh!
Goat hooves have softer parts on the bottom, but the nails grow and curl over. Trimming the excess nail helps to prevent dirt and poop from getting stuck underneath and causing problems.
I use straight trimming shears, these ones are specifically for doing hooves so I keep them nice and sharp.
Cuddling with Sue to trim her hooves. She is the smallest one, so its easier to hold her rather than put her in the stanchion.
Great job Myra!