Today in the shop (fixing the goat)
Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 2:20 pm
Our goat has been ailing for the last while so I figured it was time to play Dr. and fix it. I know what you are thinking, no I'm not a doctor but I can make believe I am for this project.
The problem started a few years back. I think the area where it lived was just too wet and some hoof rot stated. Part of that is my fault for not taking better care of the situation sooner. It is just that life get busy and something you just let things go.
The hoof rot started to go up the leg, it has gone to the point the hoof was gone and it has been standing on only 3 legs. It was one of the back legs so it wasn't all that critical for it to stay standing but it did need attention if I wanted to keep the goat much longer.
I figured some of the left overs from my garden box divider would make a good new foot and lower leg. I know this sounds a bit strange but as I will explain why I went that way.
The goat came through the surgery fine. It was a bit of a problem attaching and clamping the new leg to the existing one where I had amputated it but I got around that by using a clamping fixture. He came out of the clamps today and is standing already. All in all I think it was a success but time will tell.
When I first did the goat I attached cedar leg ends where ground contact would occur, the rest of the goat is exterior plywood. That hoof was piece was short so the water wicked up and got into the plywood and things when from there. The other legs did fine so that is why I went back to cedar again for the fix.
Of course I took a few pictures. They should be pretty clear on there own so if something confuses you please ask about it.
Next up will be some fresh paint and the wife wants me to add some ears for a 3-d effect (see first picture). The skunk is ready for his paint too. Have to find his pattern (stencil).
Ed
The problem started a few years back. I think the area where it lived was just too wet and some hoof rot stated. Part of that is my fault for not taking better care of the situation sooner. It is just that life get busy and something you just let things go.
The hoof rot started to go up the leg, it has gone to the point the hoof was gone and it has been standing on only 3 legs. It was one of the back legs so it wasn't all that critical for it to stay standing but it did need attention if I wanted to keep the goat much longer.
I figured some of the left overs from my garden box divider would make a good new foot and lower leg. I know this sounds a bit strange but as I will explain why I went that way.
The goat came through the surgery fine. It was a bit of a problem attaching and clamping the new leg to the existing one where I had amputated it but I got around that by using a clamping fixture. He came out of the clamps today and is standing already. All in all I think it was a success but time will tell.
When I first did the goat I attached cedar leg ends where ground contact would occur, the rest of the goat is exterior plywood. That hoof was piece was short so the water wicked up and got into the plywood and things when from there. The other legs did fine so that is why I went back to cedar again for the fix.
Of course I took a few pictures. They should be pretty clear on there own so if something confuses you please ask about it.
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- IMG_6882sc.jpg (92.29 KiB) Viewed 3864 times
- IMG_6885sc.jpg (105.42 KiB) Viewed 3864 times
Ed
They may be indestructible 
.
We used to hunt them and eat them all the time when I lived in Pennsylvania as a kid. They taset great.