| Author | Message | ||
     Lee Ann Corbett New member Username: laturcotte Post Number: 10 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 24.63.15.218 Rating: N/A |
I did find the wormer the easiest. I paste it between ritz crackers and they all want some. Of course they don't know which ones have the meds in it. So far that is all I have had to do. | ||
| Gary Pfalzbot Board Administrator Username: admin Post Number: 78 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 67.142.130.19  Rating: N/A |
Speaking of going solo...I've handled a number of goats over the years big and small and come to the conclusion that the best way for me to handle them and be able to treat them when needed (aside from heading to the pasture with a lariat in hand) is to try to daily be in with your goats for 20 minutes to an hour. Bring treats with you and sooner or later you'll bend the will of even the most stubborn goat. Food and treats seems to be the greatest reward for a goat and use these treats in tandem with everything that you want to do with them. A few years ago I developed a nifty trick to worm my goats: I used the large pelleted cattle cubes and would measure out the portion of wormer I needed into a syringe without a needle. I would taint each cube with a small amount of the wormer and then make sure the proper got received the tainted cube. It might take five or ten cubes to get the correct dose into the goat, but it sure beat trying to wrestle with a goat head and getting the dosage down them without a lot going to waste on the ground, or on you. And with the price of wormers, it only seemed to make good sense. Best regards, GP Gary Pfalzbot, GoatWorld | ||
| Dwight & Kathy Currie New member Username: crookedtreefarm Post Number: 20 Registered: 08-2006 Posted From: 209.221.50.23 Rating: N/A |
I'm a new goat owner and have 25 with a few does ready to drop in the relatively near future. I do most of the handling and treating solo, and it can be a chore to worm them all or trim everybodys feet at the same time. I use collars or goat halters, and they both make life simpler for trimming, injecting, etc. I leave a horse lead rope with a snap tied to a good size post and lead them over to it, hook them up and they're there til I finish with them. It's easier on them and me. The halters cost about $5.00 thru Jeffers, and I get collars at flea markets for a few dollars. | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 1431 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.230.109  Rating: N/A |
A temporary collar or slip lead tied very short to a sturdy fence or wall works well. Fashion a custom restraint by using a sturdy dog leash, put the snap end through the loop of the handle and use that as a slip collar, the snap can then attach to an eyebolt in the wall or a fence post. Be sure it is very short and keeps the goat's head fairly tight to the wall or fencepost. Then you use your body and legs to press the goat firmly to the fence or wall. This works well for hoof trimming, shots or exams. Tipping the goat's head up throws them off balance and they move around less too. Try to do this as often as possible even just catching the goat up, restraining them and give a treat. Then a goat won't associate being caught and restrained as ALWAYS being a bad thing. It is not always possible to put eyedrops into a goat's eye. Luckily the injected LA 200 works well for treating pinkeye. Our stanchion is outside the barn... Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Lee Ann Corbett New member Username: laturcotte Post Number: 9 Registered: 09-2006 Posted From: 24.63.15.218 Rating: N/A |
It seems that goats get everything, yikes. When I listen to all of the illnesses and treatments I have one question. How the heck do you handle them? I have one guy that will let you do anything, but the other two will fight to the end. Are you guys doing this by yourself or do you have help. It took a vet and I and a lot of muscle to hold them to give them shots, temps etc. When we were done the next day my whole right arm to my hand was black and blue. I can just see my 175 pounder bending over for this temp!! I don't have a milking stand because I don't have any place to put it. They have lots of rocks to climb on so I haven't had to trim their hoofs yet but the time is coming!!!!! I just read someone giving them shots, putting drops in their eyes. Mine seem to be pretty healthy so far. |