Goat People - Need Your Opinion

[Broke Down Ranch]

OK, so DH hasn't worked since July of last year. I mean, odd jobs here and there but no steady paycheck. I have been a stay-at-home-mom for years so I would be lucky to get hired as a grocery clerk. So I was trying to think of something to do that might help bring in a few $$ and thought of this: advertise on Craigslist and in our local paper to trim goat hooves and disbud kids (less than 2 weeks old). It seems everyone dislikes the horns but no one either wants to buy the iron or doesn't have time. And I can't tell you how many people haven't a clue about hooves.

Anyway, what do you think? I was thinking $15 per goat for hooves and $5 per kid with $10 minimum.

Please give pros and cons in a diplomatic way...thanks!

 

[Dorothy1324]

we have someone around here that advertises doing just that. I am not sure how well he or she does but i would call and have some one help if i had many many goats.

 

[cutiepieacres]

I do it for friends but do not charge, sometimes they give me donations somtimes they dont. If you advertise and charge people for a service there is liability, what if somthing goes wrong. It rarely does but it can happen. I still take a chance even with friends and I always tell them all the risks of whatever I am doing including death with disbudding and shots. I guess I could make money offering it to others I just wont risk it, there is a lot I could lose if I came across the wrong person.

 

[mekasmom]

My vet charges $5 for nail trims and $10 for debudding. He bands to whether for $10, less on smaller kids. On older goats he will band the horns for $2, but won't use the hot iron to debud. I don't know if he does this price for everyone. We do a lot of business there, and this is what he charges for us if we take them in. We are very repetitive customers. House calls are more than simply taking the goats/cows/dogs into the vet.

My only point in saying this is that you might check prices at vets around your area. Vets have a degree and malpractice insurance, you don't. You will want to do it for less than they do because you aren't a doctor.

Remember, you do take on a liability when you do any procedure. I would make up a contract for the owners to sign just to cover your own liability. Accidents can happen through no fault of yours. A kid might die after disbudding for a completely different reason, but you could be blamed simply because you did the procedure. You want to protect yourself from being sued for some huge amount just because a kid coincidentally dies from scours or an accident after you clip their hooves. Even though it would have nothing to do with your care, they could sue you for the cost of the kid and/or medical care. You open yourself up to liability when you work with other people's animals. So be sure to have a contract.

 

[gaited horse]

have them sign a wavier

 

[bheila]

Quote:
I agree! I took one of my does to have her hooves trimmed by someone who advertised on CL. I was not impressed. Be sure to have a ton of references.

 

[brandywine]

I'd pay for disbudding, but not for hoof trimming.

Will you refund money if the kid grows scurs?

You should check out your state's veterinary practice law. Not something you want to run afoul of, as the vets can be very territorial. Some laws are written so broadly that you could be construed as practicing veterinary medicine without a license.

Me, I think it's animal husbandry, same as sheep-sheering or dog grooming.

 

[pattyjean73]

I have yet to do either... debud or trim hooves. Being a "newbie" I am a bit anxious about my first try. I would soooo hire someone to come out at least once to show me how to do it. And honestly... if the price was good I would be willing to pay someone just because of the convenience. I couldn't afford to do that with a large herd but with my small herd? Absolutely.

 

[Blooming chicks]

I agree with those that say you need a waiver. Maybe even some bonding or insurance of some sort to cover any accidents. I had to call a vet for disbudding and even though the cost was only $25, that didn't include the $60 farm call. So I would use this service, with a reference or two from others.

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

Thanks everyone for your input. I was thinking I would draw up a waiver stating that the owner understands I am NOT licensed and not responsible for possible complications. If a kid develops scurs I would offer to redo one time for free. I would not even consider trying to do a kid with decent horns already developed. And of course I would offer a bulk rate discount.....

Hum, sounds like maybe I'll have a possible side job.....