• Nigerian Dwarf Senior Does
  • Nigerian Dwarf Does
  • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
  • Nigerian Dwarf Kids By Year
    • 2019 Goat Kids
    • 2018 Goat Kids
    • 2017 Goat Kids
    • 2016 Goat Kids

Better Hens & Gardens

of Bramblestone Farm

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
    • Publication Credits
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart

Skills for Self-Reliance, Real Foods & Sustainable Living

  • Chickens
    • Basic Care
    • Breeds
    • All About Eggs
    • Feeding
    • Health Issues
    • Housing
  • Farm
    • Farm news
    • Help
    • Structures
    • Wild Things
  • Garden
    • Ornamentals
    • Seeds & Saving Them
    • How To Grow “X”
    • Starting Plants
    • Preparation & Tools
    • Pest Control
    • Varieties To Try
  • Goats
    • Basic Care
    • Conformation
    • Doe & Kidding Care
    • Feeding
    • Herd Basics & Behavior
    • Milk & Milking
    • Supplies & Equipment
  • Honey Bees
    • Feeding
    • Getting Started
    • Hive Management
    • Honey & Wax
  • Homemade
    • Beauty Products
    • Cleaning Supplies
    • Decorations
    • Miscellaneous
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Main Dish
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Vegetables
  • Pantry
    • Quality Choices
    • Canning
    • Condiments & Flavorings
    • Dairy
    • Drying
    • Freezing
    • Root Cellaring

Better Hens and Gardens may earn a commission for purchases made after clicking on links on this page. Learn More

4 Comments

Clipping Goats

It’s a good idea to clip goats in springtime – it gets rid of the excess hair before summer’s hot weather, makes Clipping Goats Collage the goat a “bad” place for lice to hangout, and gives them a nice neat appearance (so everyone can see what the goat really looks like). But, the goats don’t necessarily appreciate the clipping process, so we use the milking stand to hold them while clipping. 

We generally clip adults in spring after the weather has warmed up in the daytime to the 60’s, but might not clip any of the current year’s kids until it’s a little warmer so they don’t get chilled. 

Recommended Clippers

We use an Andis (model AGC2) pet clipper (the type that is sold for dogs) because we have Nigerian Dwarf goats and the smaller blades on these types of clippers follow the contours of the smaller Nigerian Dwarf bodies better than larger clippers. Oster also makes similar clippers. For standard size goats, the Lister Star or clippers by Premier 1 Supply also do a good job and have larger blades (about 3″ wide) that get the job done quickly for the larger breeds.


When getting the Andis or Oster type pet clipper, it’s a good idea to get a 2 speed version because the faster speed performs better on longer hair. A professional model is also recommended if you’re going to be trimming many goats. Finally, make sure that the clipper runs quietly, goats don’t like being clipped with loud clippers.

Celtic Quinn Prior to 2016 Spring Trim

Bramblestone Celtic Quinn Prior To Spring Clipping

Which Blades & Other Essentials

In the springtime, a #4 blade for the bodies and #10 blade for the legs/face is a good place to start when the weather is still cool. If the weather is warmer, then a #7 blade for the bodies and #10 for the legs/face work well. For the Lister Star type clipper, starting with the “coarse” blade in springtime is recommended if it’s still cool at night. The “medium” blade is usually adequate in hot weather. 

Celtic Quinn After 2016 Spring Trim

Bramblestone Celtic Quinn After Spring Clipping

It’s important to have the recommended lubricant on hand for the clipper (they should be lubricated frequently – every 5 – 10 minutes), and it’s also convenient to have spray lubricant/coolant on hand for the blades. After prolonged clipping, they start getting warm quickly and the coolant/lubricant helps prevent them from getting too hot. Another idea is to have multiple blades of each size so they can be switched out when they get hot. 

Mighty Quinn Halfway Thru Spring 2016 Trim

Bramblestone Mighty Quinn Halfway Thru Clipping

The Spring Clipping Process

Starting with the #7 (or #4 if using) blade start at the rear hock and trim up following the flank of the goat in one long motion (always trim against the way the hair lies). For the next stroke, move over next to the first pass and follow the same path. Continue in this way and clip up the main body and stomach. For the front and neck, start at the knee and clip upward in one stroke following the neck upward. After clipping all of one side, start rear hock and repeat for the other side. 

Mighty Quinn After Spring 2016 Trim

Bramblestone Mighty Quinn – What Have You Done To Me?

Once the entire neck and body have been clipped, switch to the #10 blade and starting at the hoof, trim upward to the knee or hock – trimming in this manner all the way around all four legs. Then trim the tail, leaving at least a 1/2 tuft of hair on the end of the tail. For does, trim the udder very carefully, trimming agains t the way the hair lies on the udder (I switch to a #50 blade for the does udder, but that’s just the way I like to do it). Finally, trim against the way the hair lies on the face, being extremely careful around the eyes. For bucks, it’s standard practice to leave them with a “beard” to appear masculine. 

Mighty Quinn After Spring 2016 Trim 1

Bramblestone Mighty Quinn After Spring Clipping – Note Tail Tuft & Beard

If you’re planning to attend a show after clipping, it’s always a good idea to do the clipping about a week in advance. That way, you can “tidy-up” any areas you may have missed, and a little growth makes the coat look smooth. 

 

Related posts:

Goat Hoof Trimming (Illustrated)
How To Keep Goats & Chickens In The Same Yard
Goat Health Record Form (Downloadable)
4.3K shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

Filed Under: Basic Care

About Lesa

Lesa Wilke is a homesteader and freelance writer who loves to inspire others on their journey to more sustainable lifestyles. She accomplishes this by sharing the skills she’s learned (plus support, advice & tips) while farming goats, chickens, honeybees, and produce.

« Definition of a Pullet
First 2016 Goat Show »

Comments

  1. Heath says

    May 30, 2022 at 8:04 pm

    So I think I trimmed to much and now my goat is sunburn.. what can I do. We shaved him down due to lice and now he is so sun burn.. fyi we live in Florida. I feel horrible so please don’t make fun.. what can I do to help his pain?

    Reply
    • Lesa says

      June 2, 2022 at 10:55 pm

      Hi Heath,
      I wouldn’t make fun. The first time I trimmed our pink-skinned/white doe, she got sunburned too! Of course, now keep him in the shade if you can. To help prevent sunburn, we found that regular human sunscreen (the sports block aerosol kinds seem to work well) sprayed on susceptible areas helped. As far as what to do to help the pain now, I guess it depends on how bad it is. After sunburn, my goats seemed to spring back pretty well without additional help. But, if it was a really bad case, I would call the Vet. They can help with medications for pain relief or cremes for skin relief.

      Reply
  2. kourtney says

    May 18, 2016 at 1:48 pm

    Just so I understand, you went backwards against the hair with a #7? So did that give you a #10 finish? I’m asking because I’m thinking about using a #10 all over instead, but I’m not sure if the backwards #7 would leave a smoother appearance (less lines). Sorry for all of the questions! Love your blog 🙂

    Reply
    • Lesa says

      May 20, 2016 at 8:12 am

      Hi Kourtney, yes I went backwards against the hair with a #7 on the body. When I use a #10 I also go backwards against the hair. So, no the #7 does not give me as close a cut as the #10, but that’s what I’m looking for. A slightly longer trim on the body with the #7, and a closer trim on the legs and face with the #10. I’m sure you could use a #10 all over, it would give you a very close trim.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Oh, hi there! I’m Lesa,

and this blog is all about learning new skills around chickens, goats, gardens, honey bees, and DIY. Read more…

Read My Dairy Goat Books

  • Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201 - Getting Started Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201: Getting Started
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $6.99
  • Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101 Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101: Background & Basics
    Rated 4.95 out of 5
    $4.99

Visit Our Social Sites

Website Categories

The contents of this site are the property of Better Hens and Gardens. All content contained herein is copyrighted. We love it when you share, but if you do, please link back to the original post. Material included here is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, the giving of medical advice. This blogs content is for informational purposes only and Better Hens and Gardens or others associated with this site shall not be held liable for any damages incurred through the use of information provided in this blog. Better Hens and Gardens accepts products for review and other forms of paid advertising; however, although compensation received may influence the content or topics covered in this blog, it will never influence our opinion of any product. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are purely those of Better Hens and Gardens. Any product claim or other representation about a product or service should be verified by the manufacturer. Better Hens and Gardens is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright © 2023 · Design by Erica Mueller Designs

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Pinterest
4.3K shares