Newby question: how do I "break in" my goat?

[Granolamom]

Thanks to all of you for the great advice!
I think she's trying to wean them, because she only lets them nurse for about 10 seconds, and then walks away. She still seems to have tons of milk, though, if the size of her milkbag is any indication.
I will give it another week or so, with daily petting, handfeeding, and just hanging out with her in the pen, and then we'll try to get a leash on that collar, and take it from there.
My biggest concern right now is not so much the milking (even though I REALLY want to have some of her milk), but on how to trim her hoofs.
She's never had anything done to her hoofs, and I don't really know how to tell what conditions they're in. I see no overgrowths or cracks, but I know for sure that the previous owner did not trim them. Also, he did not worm them, either, and I'd love to have some input on easy-to-administer, low-chemical worm treatments, that the little 4-month olds can take, as well.

 

[Chirpy]

I totally agree with everyone who said to take it slow and win her trust.

Now, having said that I am also concerned with the condition of her feet. Goats can end up with serious health issues if their feet aren't kept properly trimmed. She could get foot rot or end up lame if walking on hooves that are completely turned under.

When I got my goats I was told that I'd probably need to trim their feet twice a year. I trimmed them all last fall. The one that I trimmed in December I noticed a few days ago that her feet didn't look right so I checked and OMGosh!! they were already turned under! (I wish my garden would grow so quickly.

) So, yesterday I went through the entire herd and did everybody's feet. All but one (I have seven goats) badly needed their feet done. I learned a new lesson... I have to trim my goats feet every couple of months. I also learned that their feet are like horse hooves... in really dry weather they get so hard I can hardly close the trimmer to cut through the hoof.

Now, the reason for this story... I have a new, around 200 lb., 3 yr. old wether who I have never touched his feet. He is a sweetheart though and loves attention. He's never been on a milk stand and even with my two teenage sons help we couldn't get him up there. So, it ended up that I sat on the milk stand holding his head, feeding him a little bit of feed, scratching his ears and neck while my two sons held his feet and trimmed him. It actually went pretty good.

You may need to physically get some help and get her feet trimmed sooner than later. I just don't have the long term experience to know if that's the best way to go forward right now with her.

I'm hoping some real experienced people will see this thread and chime in on what they would do.