De-horning cream???

[JR05]

Well, I have started kidding and normally we take the kids to the vet and he de-horns them as we don't have an iron or know how to do it. This year we just don't have the money to do this with so many kids due. What is the thoughts on using the de-horning paste and how did you do it and what day did you use it? Can you wrap thier heads while you are waiting for the paste to work? Have the 1st 4 kids on the ground, just born, 3 toggs and one nubian,with 5 more does due to pop any time!

jr05

[deafgoatlady]

Oh my gosh. The de horning cream is the MOST painful for the goats. I would disbudd with iron. I do know that some lady who cannot afford anything. She look for the iron that looks like circle and she start the fire and put the iron out and get it heated up then disbudded it. And it works great for her.

[topside1]

This cream can end up in your eyes, kids eyes, not many folks ever try the cream for the reasons mentioned.

[topside1]

you could heat up a ratchet wrench socket (1/2 socket maybe the right size) or a piece of pipe and dehorn your kids.

[topside1]

Do some bartering with other goat or cattle owners in your area.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Vet tried it on a mini I had a couple of years ago. It didn't work.

[yarrow]

Originally Posted by Rose

Vet tried it on a mini I had a couple of years ago. It didn't work.

Would this happen to have been the vet office (which shall remain nameless LOL, over near the wally-world?) Have you bought your own iron yet? it really is easy once you do it a time or two...(I'd offer to do it for you, but with you *wintering* over in TX.. that's a bit of a drive for a couple minute procedure)
susie

[Alice In TX/MO]

No, this was a vet in Texas. I don't think they had ever had a goat in their office before.

I've ordered the disbudding iron. NOT looking forward to using it. At all.

As far as I can find out, we have the only dairy goats in about a four or five county area.

[yarrow]

Ah, tx. vet.. I was curious if it was the local clinic.. saw the *LOVELY* ..NOT.. job he did of CHOPPING off the horns on a couple kids of Oretta's. Two days after the deed, she called me to come and try to save one of them. He made it, but they all three sure ended up with ugly heads. I'm going to have to try to band the horrid scurs for her.
susie

[goatkid]

I would not use the dehorning paste. I've heard it's very caustic and can wind up hurting the kids. Maybe some other goat person or 4H person in your area can help you out. Rhinehart makes a disbudding iron that's about $60. It will definately pay for itself in the long run. I was scared the first time I disbudded, but had a goat friend to take me through the process. It gets easier with practice.

[collegeboundgal]

JR where are you located? maybe someone near you can do it for MUCH less than the vet will?

-Melissa

[ozark_jewels]

Yeah where are you?? I disbudd for lots of folks who don't have an iron......