Big Bolusing Day

[BlueHeronFarm]

We copper bolused our adults today. This is our second time and it was SO much easier. Only one of seven spit hers out...though one coughed hers back up with a cud...which was VERY weird and unexpected. She had to be re-done.

Anyway-- if you haven't done it before or have only done it once, I just wanted to be the cheerleader. It gets easier every time you do it.

All set for another 5-6 months.

[deafgoatlady]

Oh wow. I am happy for u. But I am very much perferred to use is... 1 percent Solution copper.. I have the website for that.. Here is the website if people feels comfortable to use this..

http://www.u-sayranch.com/goats/coppersulfate.html

[southerngurl]

How do you know if you need to bolus?

[BlueHeronFarm]

In addition to having our soil tested (very copper deficient) and knowing they don't get much in graze/browse - almost all of our girls had classic signs. Fishtail on several and rusty patches on the black doe - ghosting around the eyes on others.

Our spring kids were showing signs, too- so they just got their first boluses, as well. Just smaller ones.

It is amazing the difference it makes. Even the does who didn't have really obvious signs got a much nicer, sleeker coat after our first time.

[deafgoatlady]

Southerngirl.. Here is the website that I just posted it. They will tell u the information and they will tell u the signs..

http://www.u-sayranch.com/goats/coppersulfate.html

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

We have had this conversation many times on this list, and please read the copper information done on goats, tests ran on liver biopsy and blood work on hundreds of goats. saanendoah.com Also please read the warnings of feeding certain types of copper like is suggested in Diane Ramzey's article.

Just search copper sulfate in the goat forum...Also look at the photos of folks goats when giving you information...best of course is always to take information from someone in your area, at least in your state who has animals you admire. Vicki

[Alice In TX/MO]

I wish someone would post pictures of the bolusing process. Please.

[BlueHeronFarm]

Photos of making the boluses or of administering?
I guess we could fake it for ya...but here is a site with photos of the supplies...
http://www.u-sayranch.com/goats/copper.html

We don't use a drench gun- we use a cheap, plastic balling gun (pill shooter).

I'll see if my husband is game to shoot photos at milking time tonight.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I need photos of administering with captions. I'm a visual learner.

[BlueHeronFarm]

Can do-- I'll try to get it posted soon. ...the administering is a two-man job in our house: one holds the goat still and opens her mouth, the other puts the balling gun in, to the back of her throat and shoots the pill-- so we'll need a 3rd person to take the photo.

[yarrow]

guess we are REALLY low tech... I push the goat up against a solid wall. My daughter continues to hold the *victim* against the wall, while also holding on to the neck. I keep my hip against the outside shoulder. I have the bolus in one hand (my right). I use the other hand to open/hold the mouth. I just shove the pills down and back. (if I have someone who is BIG or really fights) I use one of the cheap plastic (less then 2.00) pet-pillers. We can do the entire herd (25) in less then half an hour. I LOVE what the copper has done for my entire herd. They looked good before. No signs of NEEDING more copper, but we began to bolus anyway. I was amazed within 3 weeks. We will ALWAYS give extra copper from now on. Seeing made a believer out of me.
susie, mo ozarks

[christij]

I keep meaning to take pics of my goats that show signs of Copper def so others can see the signs.... I will try to do that this week before I bolus!