Alaskan Lawn Mower Update

That's "Oddball" out front thinking he can herd the goats!

Crooked Goat Grazing

Now I never said that the Alaskan Goat Mower would cut and trim your lawn in a neat and orderly fashion. I never said you could play golf on the turf when the critters were finished grazing. I did lay claim to the fact that you could cut down on your feed bill and keep the goats from eating all the stuff that you want to keep them away from. The goats have actually learned to push the Alaskan Goat Mower with their head when they want to munch on some new grass!

Other Henry Milker "Goat Shorts" you may be interested in reading. 
Alaskan Lawn Mower

Goats Grazing 

How To Build a Hanging Hay Feeder
Goat Feeding Schedule and Good Health
Don't throw it, feed it!
Hay an Important Roughage For Your Goat 

Goat Feeders - Start Having FUN - No Hassle

Alaskan Lawn Mower

The Henry Milker Mower

   It is so hard to put the goats in the backyard and get 'em to eat what you want them to eat. When left to run free, my goats go to my wife's prized hedge, the shrubs my mother-in-law planted in the backyard then to the house-wood siding near  Phoebe's bedroom. Now they are contained.

   When the goats jump on the gate side of the rolling pasture it moves just a bit to give them some more tasty grass (and dandelions) to eat.

   The plans for this goat feeder have not been put together yet but I would be pleased to answer any questions that you may have. Just send me an email.

Other Henry Milker "Goat Shorts" you may be interested in reading. 

Goats Grazing 

How To Build a Hanging Hay Feeder
Goat Feeding Schedule and Good Health
Don't throw it, feed it!
Hay an Important Roughage For Your Goat 

Goat Feeders - Start Having FUN - No Hassle

How To build A Feed Scoop

 
Easy To Build Feed Scoop

I think I own more feed scoops than anyone. They are like my reading glasses; I can never find one when I need it. I tried making one of these feed scoops and it is as easy as it looks. Start saving those plastic jugs and putting them to good use. I have a giant list of friends and family who will be getting one of these for Christmas. I think I'll start with the first homemade gift going to my mother-in-law. I think I'll build her a dust pan.


Other Henry Milker "Goat Shorts" you may be interested in reading.
How To Build a Hanging Hay Feeder
Goat Feeding Schedule and Good Health
Don't throw it, feed it!
Hay an Important Roughage For Your Goat 
Goat Feeders - Start Having FUN - No Hassle

How to Dehorn a Goat

Dehorning with Elastrator Bands

Let me start by saying that I believe all goats should be disbudded at a very young age to avoid the eventual chore of having to remove the actual horns. This young goat did not get disbudded as a kid and needs to have his horns removed to avoid injury to others. 

There is more than one way to remove a goat's horns. I favor using bands and not just cutting them off with a saw or a dehorning tool. Whatever method you use to complete the task it is important to secure the goat, a milk stand works great. 

When using elastrator bands (also used for castration) it is critical that you cut a groove in the horn for the band to stay put. A saw or file can be used but I much prefer the "wire saw".  The groove does not have to surround the entire horn but  should be ample to hold the band from not slipping off. An emasculation tool makes the job much easier to get the band over the horn and down close to the groove you cut. Once the band is on the horn, it's easily rolled down to fit snug into the groove.

The last step is to protect the band from being rubbed off by the goat. Using brightly colored tape will allow you check to see each day to insure that everything is still in place. If one of the bands gets knocked off just put another on and re-tape.

The band is cutting off the blood supply to the horn and will eventually cause the horns to fall off. As the horns begin to fall off, do not attempt to help, just let the process work.

Other information on dehorning.