I feel awful, but it is done

[thaiblue12]

I found a guy fairly close by that disbuds. He was a lucky find. So I rounded up 12 kids this morning and took them. I had freaked myself out so much that I said I will see an actual disbudding and maybe I can handle it or even learn to do it. All I can say is NO WAY!
They were so good in the back of my SUV, not a peep and not running around. I had a knot in my stomach the whole way.
So we take them two at a time from the car and go to the barn. I was going to see the first one done.
The minute that iron touched her head, I saw smoke, smelled burning, she screamed and I was done. The last two, who are my favorites I refused to even hear them scream. I felt so mean. But had decided I could not raise goats for meat so if I go dairy the head frying must happen.
" Head in a bucket or burned for a few seconds? " Which can I live with more?
Well head burning as long as I am not the one holding the iron.
Out of the people I had spoke to 2 said use Furall spray after and one said not to so when I got them home and sprayed their little heads so now they are all yellowy.
I know I can take them to have it done but I know I cannot be the one who does it.
I hope they stop running from me, it makes me feel worse.

After the carnage, poor babies:

[deafgoatlady]

AAWWWW they are sooo cute. They look happy no matter what. OH u will be okay..

[BethW]

Ohh, they're so cute.

I agree that disbudding needs to be done, but there's no way on earth I could do it either. Just looking at their vulnerable little baby heads and thinking about it makes me want to cry, even when I know it's for the best.

Glad you found someone nearby who can do it for you. Just get a pair of earplugs and go stand behind the barn. And then go coddle them when you get home

[PETSNEGGS]

Oh they are so cute, I'm sure they are better already, It is you that will have a harder time getting over it. Honest, they probably already forgot about it and who took them. They know you love 'em.
I have to say even though I have all mine for milk, I chose not to disbud. Just me and hubby really didn't want me too so I guess I will always just have to deal with horns, but so far so good.
Good luck and I'll keep ya in my thoughts.

[Jeanette]

Just to give you a different perspective - although it is horrible to do, probably even worse to watch you will be so glad you did it later on.
It makes me think of how painful it is as a mother to see your child go through any kind of surgery or even baby shots. It breaks your heart, knots up your gut but you know it is necessary so you allow it to happen.
If you look at the big picture it only lasts a Very Short time and they (and you) won't think anything of it in a couple of days. Kind of like childbirth!!
BTW Very Pretty babies!

Jeanette

Always Learning! Even if it's painful :-)

[mygoat]

Cute babies.

If the person doesn't charge much per kid and can be around EVERY time you need kids done (and I mean within a week of birth for every kid) than this is a good route to go. However, he may not be available, and for the welfare of all kids, you should plan on at least knowing how to disbud. A kid is more likely to find a good home if it is disbudded, and if this person isn't around when you need him, some kids may not get disbudded in time, meaning they're sold for less and have worse prospective futures because most responsible owners won't own a horned animal.

The kids are up and running around within minutes of being disbudded. They don't feel pain in the area disbudded, and don't really recognize you as the perpetrator of their pain. I usually disbud shortly before bottle feeding time, so they get disbudded and while the iron reheats for the next kid, I'm bottling the one I just burned. They quickly forget. it takes several seconds, a little hollering per side... My kids put up a larger fuss over vaccinations - 'course, I always do mine within a few days of birth (3 days, usually)

Good luck, and look at all that color!

[Minelson]

You are a responsible Goat mommy. And your babies are DARLING! There is NO WAY I could ever do it myself...I waited in the truck and made hubby take them in to barn where they were done. I sure know how you feel. My puppy is being neutered on the 18th. UGH! I work at the vet, but scheduled it to be done on a day I'm not there. I'm being a responsible mommy like you but oh how it wrenches your heart

[LittleRedHen]

Ooh are those not the cutest things I have everrrrrrrrrr seen!! (until i get my own baby nubian kids anyways lol)

[melina]

I did it once in 30 years. I just KNEW that iron was going to pop right on through their skulls and fry their poor little brains. After that, I found a really nice guy who did them for me. He wouldn't even charge, but I'd have paid anything to not do it myself.
Beautiful babies, by the way.

[thaiblue12]

Yes it is going to take me longer than them to recover. I see those big holes in their tiny baby heads and I feel guilty. They are up and running around and humping each other and etc already lol. But I do notice they are not head butting each other.
Jeanette you are right, I had the knot in my stomach and all that just like when you take your kids for shots. You know it is the right thing to do but it makes you feel bad.
I know they will get good homes now that they are disbudded, can be shown at fairs and be in 4H. I am keeping some of course! The cow colored doeling in the second picture looking at the camera is my favorite and a keeper.
MyGoat I tried I really did. I said I would watch and see if it is something I can do. But I really can't. That first sizzle, smoke and scream had me running out of the barn! He did not charge me much per kid and is available since he runs his own business and has agreeed to do anymore kids born. I do know another lady as well but prefer not to use her unless I have no choice.
Minelson good luck with your puppy. Remember neutering is easier on them than spaying. Not to mention testicles are the root of all evil and your puppy is better without them, lol.

[nehimama]

Awwww, they're so cute! And, I DO know how you feel. But it's for the best - you know that already.

NeHi

[hoofinitnorth]

Just remember that although disbudding is unpleasant for all involved, it is in their best interests. You have given them one more step toward a chance at a better life where they will be appreciated as working and companion animals rather than feared and neglected.

[PETSNEGGS]

My horned goats are for us, and if I was to chose to sell any in the future then I will disbud as babies. but, mine all started out horned so the ones we have birth here have also kept their horns. I have nothing against disbudding at all and am very happy that you found someone to take care of it for you. Agian they are so beautiful

[Cheribelle]

Well, I won't even tell you about de-horning then.
Disbudding is definitly the best way to go.

[cjb]

A friend does ours but I'm used to it now. My son (the owner of 3 of our 5 does) can't even go with me. He's 16 and the big tough jock of the family. However, my 13 and 9 year olds are my tough farm boys and they can weather (or whether) anything

[goatiegirls]

I'm with you -I'll never do it myself- but it's a must with dairy goats. I have a vet that does them really cheap as long as I take them early. I also use a bottle -even if it's not close to feeding time - a few little sucks on that bottle quiets and calms them down and makes me the good guy (girl)! We use a silvery spray instead of the fural - like it much better.

[thaiblue12]

Well cjb I am with your 16 yr old. My 12 yr old daughter does not like to look at the "holes in their poor little baby heads".

Sizzle, smoke and scream and I scrammed!!

I do know about de-horning and hope to never go there.

Pets I do have horned as well. They do not use them on me or others and they came to me that way. I have been on the fence with disbudding for a while and still do not like it but as they are dairy and I plan on selling at least half it was the way to go. Or else no shows, 4H and etc for them. Or people would try to de-horn them later in life if I had chickened out.
They seem to already be over it and I am still not!

Now I am getting myself ready to use my newly delivered burdizzo this afternoon. My husband and son refuse to be anywhere around here when I start crushing testicles, lol.
What a "fun" week this has been.

[moonspinner]

Nice looking kids you have! Did your disbudding guy trim the fur around the bud before applying the iron? I do and it eliminates the burning smell and smoke.
I've learned over the years to virtually ignore the kids' initial screams, as it doesn't last long and they forget all about it when the procedure is done. I swear my kids get more upset over being restrained than the actual disbudding.
I used to dread and fear disbudding, but like anything else practice eases the anxiety and now it's no big deal.

[HilltopDaisy]

My goats and I must have the worst luck in the world.

I've had no less than 6 different people disbud for me, and all my goats have scurs.....

[Alice In TX/MO]

We tried it ourselves and have horns. Sigh.