dehorning age?

[hugs28]

I am hoping you guys here can give me more perspective, I got lots of great info and help from another board, but would like others opinions as well.

Ok I have a pygmy doeling that will be 2 wks old on Saturday, I want her dehorned. Now all the vets around here and even people that have steered me to the vets say that they do this at about a month old, on a doeling, a bit earlier for a buckling. I just talked to a guy from the 4-h club in my area and he said he takes all his goats to this same vet, and he said he does the job properly, but again, it is done at about a month.

Everyone I am talking to on another board, and everywhere I am reading is telling me 7-14 days on pygmy doelings and again a bit earlier on bucklings. I am not sure what to do, like I said she will be 2 wks on saturday and I don't want to miss that window of opportunity. The 4-h guy told me, this vet does a wonderful job and has never had any problems after it is done, though he does milk goats. But the lady who I used to breed my doe, she has the same guy do it and she seems pleased also.

Does anyone have any input on this? thanks
Dawn

[ozark_jewels]

For actual *dehorning* you would wait for a month. That is actual physical removal of the existing, growing horns. But that is much more painful and traumatic on the kid than a simple disbudding at 3-14 days on most doelings, 3-7 days on most bucklings. So it may be a misunderstanding in terms.
The dehorning of calves at weaning age or a little younger is very common, but it is not common in goats for the simple reason that disbudding is SO much a better way to go for goats!
Yes, your right, you want the buds burnt and killed at before two weeks of age.

[moonspinner]

I have found as a general statement most vets prefer to wait on disbudding. I had a friend whose vet told her he didn't want to see her nigerians for a month so he could "have something to work with." I believe the real reason is most vets use rompum and they figure an older goat will handle the sedation better. For me, I can't imagine wanting more horn to work with. The smaller the buds are and haven't quite broken through, the easier the job, the easier IMO on goats too. My older ones tend to fuss more, they're older and wiser and bigger, etc. I do my boys around 4/5 days and find even waiting a day or two more makes it tougher and more leeway for scur growth. Does have a far wider window of opportunity. I've done my real little girls at 3 weeks. But does in general I do 6/7 days.

[hugs28]

Ok I am sorry, I thought it was the same thing, I meant disbudding, cause I know there is the HOT iron used. thanks
dawn