Disbudding woes

6e · #1 01/29/11, 07:11 PM

This was our first time disbudding and although we've been shown how to do it and it looked simple enough, I find that actually doing it was WAY harder. We got the kids, shaved their heads so we could see the buds easily and gave them their CD&T and then burnt. We know they were supposed to have a bright copper ring, sigh, well, we never really did get a copper ring except on 1...perhaps 2. We counted to 10, not too slowly, was sure to roll the iron around and then check it. We got mostly just dull black rings and on one we got white. Sigh. Same amount of time, same procedure. We are none too happy with ourselves and feel horrid. They all lived through the experience, but if everyone of them doesn't end up growing scurs, I'll be surprised. Who knew it would be so hard to get that copper ring. All in all, a pretty disappointing day with trying this. We were sure the iron was hot enough and that it left an instant black ring when touched on a board. So, it was hot enough. Maybe we should have let it get to the point of glowing red. Although the one sure didn't need it deeper. In fact on him we went too deep.

Cannon_Farms · #2 01/29/11, 07:15 PM

I say I can do a lot of things but disbudding Im happy to pay my mentor to do it for me.
I will say I dont believe I have ever seen the copper ring when he does it, he just rolls around and then uses the tip to slide the horn bud off.
Unless you go through the skull you didnt go too deep

Bradenberry · #3 01/29/11, 07:21 PM

Oh no, this has me worried. I'm like you, never did it before, but all the instructions seem to be pretty clear, maybe won't be pleasant, but sounds like I could do the count to ten, wait for the copper ring, etc. Hmmm.....

6e · #4 01/29/11, 07:31 PM

We were only able to get a copper ring on one, maybe two.

It was pretty disappointing. There's people here that will do it....for $5 to $10 a goat. I think I'd rather just learn. Unfortunately, my kids are the ones that have to suffer. But I really do hate horns on goats.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 01/29/11, 07:38 PM

Try not to "fortune tell" bad results on yourself! It may not be nearly as bad as you think!

Huggs,
Alice

The Tin Mom · #6 01/29/11, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Try not to "fortune tell" bad results on yourself! It may not be nearly as bad as you think!

Huggs,
Alice

I agree with Alice! (I usually do). Give it time & you may see that it won't be so bad.

Backfourty,MI. · #7 01/29/11, 08:47 PM

I hope they all turn out with nice little heads & no scurs. Give yourself some credit, at least you were out there trying to get it done & you did all the right things it sounds like to learn first. Pat yourself on the back first, worry about bad results later.

thaiblue12 · #8 01/29/11, 08:55 PM

Mine never have a copper ring, seems like you have to hold it on there for a good long time to get one.

I happily pack my kids up drive to my disbudder's house and have him do it for $5 a head while I stand near my car with my fingers in my ears

I really do that. I can't stand disbudding

and if he burned a copper ring I would worry that he fried their little brains, lol. I tried to watch it the first time, saw the curl of smoke, heard a sizzle and a scream and I ran out of the barn. I am glad he is fine with me being a big sissy about it.

He burns for a few seconds each side, pops off the cap ( whatever that means) and does it for another few seconds on each side. None of mine have scurs except a couple of the boys and they are small scurs easily knocked off in play.

6e · #9 01/29/11, 09:01 PM

Thank you for the encouragement. I've been feeling pretty low about it all day and keeping looking at their little heads thinking, "Should have done this or that" and one little buck, after he was done, was actually running from us. I was like, "Oh no!! He hates me now!!" LOL By this evening though he was back to wanting a bottle.

Thank you again for the encouragement. I feel a lot better.

JustRSize · #10 01/29/11, 09:24 PM

The first time I disbudded I got everything ready, brought the little guy inside to be done, looked at my hubby and said, "I can't do this right now" and took the little guy back outside!! Now we have a system down and I'm not getting any scurs, except for very minor ones on the boys, which is normal.

Here's what we do: We get all supplies together and the disbudder heated up. Then hubby holds and watches the clock (with a second hand) and I burn. I burn until he tells me "time". This way I don't have to try not to count so fast and can just concentrate on the disbudding. It's working splendidly..:-)

~Carla
JustRSize Acres
MT

Melbertsch · #11 01/29/11, 09:31 PM

Im trying it for the first time with my babies too, I've seen it done, and done very well, but never acutally done it. Unfortunately, the girl that I watched moved, so Im just gona pray and go for it. The last time i paid someone to do it, we came away with bloody heads and wound up with scurs. I know I can do better than that!

6e · #12 01/29/11, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustRSize

The first time I disbudded I got everything ready, brought the little guy inside to be done, looked at my hubby and said, "I can't do this right now" and took the little guy back outside!! Now we have a system down and I'm not getting any scurs, except for very minor ones on the boys, which is normal.

Here's what we do: We get all supplies together and the disbudder heated up. Then hubby holds and watches the clock (with a second hand) and I burn. I burn until he tells me "time". This way I don't have to try not to count so fast and can just concentrate on the disbudding. It's working splendidly..:-)

~Carla
JustRSize Acres
MT

What kind of iron do you use and how many seconds do you hold it on for?

Laverne · #13 01/30/11, 02:14 AM

I've only had two seasons of kids. I read like crazy and did it by myself. I heat the iron up for about 15 minutes and keep the end in a tin can to prevent cool down. I do six seconds at a time. 3 times on each side, ice water in a baggie after each burn make me feel better, shaved head cleaned with alcohol. Some use tetanus anti toxin but there needs to be ephinephrine with it for shock so I don't use it. CDT doesn't provide protection for tetanus. The dams colostrum does. The immune system isn't developed enough to utilize vaccinations till about 6 weeks I think it is, I'd have to look it up. I've had copper everytime. Only the weight of the iron is used, no more pressure than that. getting white is the skull and some actually go that far routinely but that would freak me out.

JustRSize · #14 01/30/11, 02:25 AM

We have the Rhinehart 30 and love it - and it's very old. We hold 10 seconds each side, and then check them. If they look like they need a little more, we do another 6 seconds.

HTH,

~Carla
JustRSize Acres
MT

Cannon_Farms · #15 01/30/11, 09:38 AM

it takes my mentor just a few seconds and there is no multiple applications of the iron unless its a buckling and they do require a second burn. I will post pictures of the bucklings he done for me a couple of days ago.

I will have some more to take to him soon would the board like me to get a video? I dont think he would mind, I have a doe due in a few days and like to do them at about a week old so that when weaned the hair has grown back.

mary,tx · #16 01/30/11, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laverne

getting white is the skull and some actually go that far routinely but that would freak me out.

That's what I was thinking when I read 'white." I think I've gotten white once or twice, and it did, in fact, freak me out.

Black, maybe you are not letting the iron warm back up between kids?

Oat Bucket Farm · #17 01/30/11, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon_Farms

it takes rusty just a few seconds and there is no multiple applications of the iron unless its a buckling and they do require a second burn. I will post pictures of the bucklings he done for me a couple of days ago.

I will have some more to take to him soon would the board like me to get a video? I dont think he would mind, I have a doe due in a few days and like to do them at about a week old so that when weaned the hair has grown back.

I think a video would be wonderful if you would take one. I think it would make a great sticky too once its posted.

Cannon_Farms · #18 01/30/11, 11:20 AM

As soon as we have something to disbud he agreed to allow me to video it. After all I have read on the topic I have never seen anyone do it as fast and as well as he dose and come out to be perfect, none of my goats have scurs and hes done all of them just about (course I bought them from him lol)

mekasmom · #19 01/30/11, 12:07 PM

My vet does it for ten dollars a kid. It's just as easy to take them to him.

RoyalValley · #20 01/30/11, 03:38 PM

Do the horn cutters work? I've used them on calves that are just a few months old....will they work on goats? We will have to disbud w/ new kids this month and this is our first time with baby goats, so pretty clueless.