I'm a BAD goat mum :(

hoggie · #1 02/21/09, 02:39 PM

Today I banded our young buckling (wether to be

). He is four days old. I had a little trouble getting the band off the pliers, but apart from that no problem, DD held him and he was quiet about it. But he now seems pretty uncomfortable - for some reason I wasn't expecting him to feel it so soon, I guess I thought it would take a little while to tighten up? But he is an unhappy little chap tonight, can't get comfy and keeps getting up and lying down again to try to ease it.

Is that normal? Or have I done something wrong somehow? I am feeling very guilty about it, but I have to be on top of the banding this year.

TIA

hoggie

chamoisee · #2 02/21/09, 02:48 PM

That is normal. They seem to suffer more from banding than from cutting in my experience.

houndlover · #3 02/21/09, 02:51 PM

Make sure you didn't pinch a nipple in there.

dragonchick · #4 02/21/09, 02:55 PM

I didn't know you could band them that young, thought they had to be a bit older. Learn something new every day.

hoggie · #5 02/21/09, 03:26 PM

Thanks

Helianthus - I feel bad enough about banding, don't think I am up to cutting "just" yet. Not that it isn't worth considering for the future though

houndlover - I will double check on that, although I am pretty sure that I haven't trapped anything I shouldn't have

dragonchick - I have always been told to get the bands on as soon as there is anythign to band?

hoggie

thaiblue12 · #6 02/21/09, 03:55 PM

Everyone differs on when they band. I personally believe the urethra needs to grow and band closer to 8 weeks old. Others do it far earlier and are happy with the outcome. Ask 5 and you will get 5 varying times.

Some bucklings are more drama queens than others. It usually seems to hit them about an hour in. I give them one cc of kid's ibuprofen. It seems to help as I hear less crying from them

One kid was so bad about it for days after he made me think he was sick.

Chaty · #7 02/21/09, 03:58 PM

I dont band my boys till they are at least 8 weeks or when its almost impossible to get them in the band...if by chance they are I have a calf bander to use. Its better if you wait longer as it gives the urethera time to grow. This way there is less of a risk later of UC. I wait as long as I can. I also give a tad of banamine when I do them also.

hoggie · #8 02/21/09, 04:47 PM

OH heck

Thanks for that. I guess I will wait till later next time. Although he is destined for the freezer so I guess long term it hopefully isn't the end of the world. But if later is better than later it shall be

I was a bit stressed abotu doing him as last year, I just kept putting it off and ptuting it off and never got it done, which led to all sorts of chaos in the Autumn

So I wanted to get in and make sure he was done.

Next time I'll wait

Thanks again

hoggie

Qvrfullmidwife · #9 02/21/09, 05:35 PM

Oh I dont think you are a bad goat mum, rather a good one to have done the deed

Curious...if it is waiting for the urethra to get bigger that avoids UC, why do bucks with fully developed urethras get UC?

luvzmybabz · #10 02/21/09, 06:10 PM

Is he crying yet we banded out 3 week old last Friday at about 8 AM and he did not make a peep when we did it just looked uncomfortable in hie play area that night ( next morning ) about 2 AM he started to cry well I had the whole house up thinking he was sick until it was 6 I called my friend she said DAH ! we banded him yesterday. and when they cry it is SSSSSSSSSSSSSSO pitiful sounding.

JKB07 · #11 02/21/09, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaty

I dont band my boys till they are at least 8 weeks or when its almost impossible to get them in the band...if by chance they are I have a calf bander to use. Its better if you wait longer as it gives the urethera time to grow. This way there is less of a risk later of UC. I wait as long as I can. I also give a tad of banamine when I do them also.

No reason to wait 8 weeks to band a kid, and absolutely no reason to give banamine at this time either.

I band at 3 weeks and give a tetanus shot....

Justin

KimM · #12 02/21/09, 07:26 PM

I also give Banamine when banding. *My* reason is because they are in pain and it takes the edge off. If they feel pain (especially if I cause it) and I can possibly alleviate it, I surely will.

Lots of people don't bother banding if they're going to be butchered. What age do you plan to butchering him?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKB07

No reason to wait 8 weeks to band a kid, and absolutely no reason to give banamine at this time either.

I band at 3 weeks and give a tetanus shot....

Justin

JKB07 · #13 02/21/09, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimM

I also give Banamine when banding. *My* reason is because they are in pain and it takes the edge off. If they feel pain (especially if I cause it) and I can possibly alleviate it, I surely will.

Lots of people don't bother banding if they're going to be butchered. What age do you plan to butchering him?

Totally understandable reason for the banamine.... I just didnt want anyone to think that they have to use it.... it can be expensive for some...

Justin

Bearfootfarm · #14 02/21/09, 08:00 PM

I've pretty much stopped banding, but when I did, it was around 4 weeks and I'd give a shot to tetanus antitoxin

Minelson · #15 02/21/09, 08:11 PM

Hoggie, you are not a bad goat mum

I know how you feel though. I felt so bad when I had my babies disbudded and poor Frankie was banded at the same time...plus they got a shot AND had to go for a ride in the car for all this "meanness" to be done to them UGH! I remember Frankie was walking a little weird afterwards and I checked to make sure there was no hair pulling around the band. By that evening they were both bounding around and doing cartwheels...And when they feel better you will feel better too

mylala · #16 02/21/09, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qvrfullmidwife

Oh I dont think you are a bad goat mum, rather a good one to have done the deed

Curious...if it is waiting for the urethra to get bigger that avoids UC, why do bucks with fully developed urethras get UC?

That's the million dollar question!!! If you band later rather than sooner for this reason please respond to this question. I would like to hear your answers.

mylala · #17 02/21/09, 08:21 PM

I use a burdizzo...the scream when it's clamped, and walk a little gingerly, and lay down more than usual, but this only last for a few hours. After that they seem fine. No blood, no mess no bands.

LaManchaPaul · #18 02/21/09, 08:24 PM

My not-so-secret mentor on this forum poopoos the idea of waiting for the urethra to get bigger, explaining that UC is a management issue rather than a urethra growth. My local mentor says wait for it to grow.

FOR me the jury is still out.
Paul

KimM · #19 02/21/09, 08:44 PM

There is a generic brand that is actually very inexpensive per dose and a small bottle can usually (hopefully) outlast the expiration date.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKB07

Totally understandable reason for the banamine.... I just didnt want anyone to think that they have to use it.... it can be expensive for some...

Justin

Backfourty,MI. · #20 02/21/09, 09:45 PM

When I have bucks that have been banded in the past I usually wait till 7-10 days & these are Nigerians dwarfs or pygmies. They usually seem uncomfortable for a few hours but then act like normal goat babies & I don't give banamine at that time either.

As for the UC on bucks, that a big question. I have a wether that was banded here before my buck was even born. My buck got UC last winter & my wether has never had that problem. They eat & drink the same stuff & are in the same pen. Have had other bucks & wethers & also never had the problem before. I think it depends on the animal just like in people, along with what they eat & I do think if your water is very high in iron that also contributes to it. I am no expert, just know what worked for me & have healthy males now.
I will still band at 7-10 days if I need to band any males.