dehorning goats?

snakeshooter1 · #1 04/13/10, 07:36 PM

Anyone know if you can cut goat horns off like you do a cow? I have a nannie that keeps getting her head caught in the fences. What do I have bad breath or something?

shiandpete.1 · #2 04/13/10, 09:46 PM

You can, we did it with a doe, but the vet did it. You have to keep it bandaged and it is really hard on them...as for the breath...is she running from you and trying to escape after you breathe in her face? If so then yes...just joking! He he.

thaiblue12 · #3 04/13/10, 09:48 PM

I would not do it, it might end up a bloody mess.
You can use a piece of pvc pipe and duct tape it crosswise to her horns. They look stupid but it works well. I had a very annoying buck that kept doing it until I taped it to his head. Lasts for weeks and works well. Do not make it too long just a couple of inches wider then her horns are, and make sure the ends are smooth or taped as wel so she does not jab anyone with it.

farmmom · #4 04/13/10, 10:13 PM

I've had success with banding them with an elastrator. You have to be careful that they don't knock them off prematurely though, or they bleed like crazy!! It's been a while since I've done that. All my babies are disbudded by a week of age.

snakeshooter1 · #5 04/14/10, 09:11 PM

Thanks, I just put up an electric fence so maybe it will work. I really don't want to have to dehorn her.

Backfourty,MI. · #6 04/15/10, 12:24 PM

You could also taqke an old garden hose & cut it off long enough that you can fit an end of the hose over each end of her horns. Then the hose will run between the horns, I would duct tape it on & that should do the trick too.
I wouldn't cut off an adult goats horns.

jtdl · #7 04/15/10, 01:22 PM

I had spoken to someone about doing this with my ornery wether a few years ago and was told it could be done but best done if done in late fall/winter when there are no flies to get into the wounds.

wintrrwolf · #8 04/15/10, 02:44 PM

I did it and it didnt look to bad the pvc pipe is cheap and I got 2 end caps as well.

dehorning goats? - Goats

she stopped trying to get her head through stuff after awhile so I removed it for now. It is located on the horns like that because she has one horn shorter then the other.