When to band and disbud?

[DoxieMom]

My little Fainter buck is almost 4 weeks old now. If I don't decide to sell him as a buck, when should he banded? When should he be disbudded? I can feel his little horn buds now.

[DocM]

Smaller breeds can be done a bit later, I do a lot of ND and pygmies for locals, and typically band and disbud at the same time, somewhere around 4-5 weeks. Dairy breeds I disbud much earlier, but I usually band those boys at around 4 weeks also. YMMV.

[suzyhomemaker09]

He should have been disbudded already...I don't band my bucklings I do the cut thing, that is usually done around this age if not earlier.

[moonspinner]

You're lucky if a 4 wk old buck still only has small buds. Definitely disbud him now. As for castration, I band between 6-8 weeks. But as long as the scrotum can fit in the band it can be done. But you probably want to get it done before that point.

[Feral Nature]

I like to disbud at 4 days of age (that's 4 days not weeks). I castrate with the knife at 2 weeks....less trauma and less bleeding. I have never banded.

[HazyDay]

Hi
I disbud at any-ways from 2 cdays to 1 month Nubain does horns grow so slow that if you get them to early you are juts burning her! Bucks tend to have them done within the first week or horns or worse scurs will come! Bandind should be done at about 1 month is makes them healthy and less of a chance of cyrstels. Last note is that with your breed you rasie just feel their nubs every day and if they feel like they are going tgo come out then it's time! (my 2 bucks were disbudded at 1 1/2 weeks they had a very slow start)