We did not get a chance to ride this past weekend -- bummer....wanted to, but there was just too much other stuff getting in the way. But we did manage to trim the goats' hooves and take care of an ailing chicken.
Trimming the goats' hooves is quite the chore. They really wear you out! We generally tether them to the stall door, John holds them, and I do the trimming. Sounds simple, right?? Well, not quite -- they jump and kick and generally act up. Especially Marco (the black goat). He is the smaller of the two, but definitely the worst behaved of the two. I am always telling him, "Marco, you are an ass!!" John just usually kicks him in the rear and says, "I'll kill ya!!!" (Of course he wouldn't really kill him -- but then you never know.....if we get a few of our Serb friends over he could just end up on the spit over the campfire!!) I realized that my trimmers need to be sharpened, but we finally got the job done. I think we need a chute to put them in for this task.
One of the chickens has been having a problem with her foot. I am not sure why, but she lost a toe recently. Then her foot started getting swollen, and she could not walk on it. I started soaking it in Epsom salts and Betadine (my cure for everything). I checked on the internet and found it could be what they call "Bumblefoot." The article said that you need to lance the spot and clean it out, put a bandage on it, etc., etc. I am having trouble getting John on board to help me do this. He wants me to keep trying the soaking -- I don't think that is going to take care of it. If I don't notice an improvement in a few days, then we are going to have to go the surgical route. Not looking forward to that, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I can't just leave her with this problem. Boy, it just never ends. I feel like a veterinary student sometimes!! 
5 comments:
What a cute picture of you soaking your chicks foot! I think we all have some sort of challenge with our critters! Mine is worming,bathes and the dreaded fly spray! That is 3 biggies!
Goodness, I just love the picture of you soaking the chicken foot! ;) That combo would work well on a horse hoof abscess too, I'm assuming?
My sister says that trimming her goat hooves are not easy! I noticed them the other day. They aren't long, but I never saw them trim them and was wondering if they had to. Thank goodness you don't have to do it as often as horse hooves, eh? ;)
I totally understand the goat hoof trimming! They are such big pain in the asses! My other half holds onto them for dear life while I try to get a leg and trim the hoof. Sometimes I just pay my horseshoer to do it, it is easier but I'd rather save the money and do it myself. It is amazing how strong they are!
Sorry to hear about your chickens foot. Hopefully it'll heal soon!
Yes...the soaking chicken foot picture is the clear winner!LOL what we won't do for our critters!!!
Hey everyone! Glad you like the chicken picture.....and Pony Girl, I think the Epsom Salts/Betadine solution would work for horse hoof abscess. Glad to report the chicken seems to be doing better....Thanks to all of you!
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