Posted by Karen on November 01, 2002 at 20:28:42:
In Reply to: Whats the easiest way? posted by CJ on November 01, 2002 at 09:10:28:
The catching can be hard for this (I can't run) I use the boys or grain to get them locked up in the barn. Or when I am lucky Goathater is home and he can rope them for me. Using the boys or Goathater has it's own set of problems as they all get distracted. Caleb(7) just rides the goats, Levi(5) chases whoever runs and Goathater well he will rope anything....even me. Or even my uncatchables will come up to me if I have some sort of treat and no lead in sight, I hide them in my pockets : ). Since I still don't have a stanchen I tie them up to a wood post. The bad ones get tied in a corner, up high, and next to a cattle panel. Of course you have to watch how tight you tie them and it's a good idea to use a knot thats easy to untie as sometimes they get so mad the just fall down. I have also had some of them get so bad that I just lay them out on the ground. You have to be careful doing this because they don't want to be knocked over and if they kick you in the process it does hurt, not as bad as when they get you with their heads but still it hurts. And of course you need to watch where you knock them down at so as not to have them get hurt on rocks or anything. I have only had to do that to a couple of goats and only once or twice at that. They are smart and soon learn that standing for 5 minutes is easier than fighting. No matter how you do it tell them how wonderful they were (goats like that),give them a treat and hopefully they will get better. If you would like to practace I have about 20 goats and 50 woolies that really need to be trimmed I would be more than happy to show you how and let you practice. If you really get the hang of it we could even move up to the 7 horses.....they all stand well. Hope this helps sorry to be so goofy I am just woooped for some reason. I think I am comming down from the Holloween induced sugar buzz.....I LOVE HOLLOWEEN : ).