how to disbud??

[Ann Mary]

Please tell me how to disbud the babies...I'm trying to be prepared AHEAD of time! Can I use the dehorning paste??? I am only talking about a few kids each spring since I have just two Nig. Dward does. I don't want o buy the electric dehorners unless I NEED to...do I NEED to??? and if so, which one?? I'm looking at the ones in Jeffers livestock catalog. Thanks!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Do not use the paste. It gets rubbed off and into eyes, etc.

Yes, buy an electric dehorner. I have both the X30 and X50, and both work fine.

Picture series of disbudding:
http://fiascofarm.com/galleries/Goat...udy/index.html

You will HATE doing it for the first two years. Your hands will shake, and you will feel like throwing up.

About the third year, it's not so bad.

[6e]

And trying to figure out when you've got that copper ring and just how long that takes is not easy. If you can find someone to teach you, that would be good! We're going to end up with lots of scurs this year unfortunately. :-(

[thaiblue12]

Or just find someone who has goats and have them do it. One it shows you how and two you do not need to buy an iron.

I disbud like this:

Get kids
put them in the back of my SUV
drive to disbudder's house
hand one to him, stay by car humming with fingers in ears
take back kid, hand him another
tell them I am sorry, drive back home

Costs me $5 a head and I gladly pay it.

The paste is pretty bad and can get onto other goats. Also having personally having 3rd degree chemical burns I can say the burn lasts a long time and goes quite deep, much kinder to just burn for a few seconds and it is over and done.

[fffarmergirl]

[QUOTE=thaiblue12;4940465]I disbud like this:

Get kids
put them in the back of my SUV
drive to disbudder's house
hand one to him, stay by car humming with fingers in ears
take back kid, hand him another
tell them I am sorry, drive back home

Costs me $5 a head and I gladly pay it.
QUOTE]

[farmmom]

I agree with Alice. Please do not use the paste. The first kids that my folks ever had (before I started with goats), they had me use paste because that's what they used on calves. The poor kids beat their heads bloody within a couple hours of putting it on. It was horrible!!

Find a good goat mentor who can show you how to disbud with an iron, or have someone who is proficient at it do it for you. There are also some pretty decent videos on youtube if you spend the time to find them.

[Creamers]

Do NOT use paste, but please try to find someone to do it or watch first. . .
local extension office, 4-H groups, email local goat breeders, post ad on craigslist, etc

[Becca]

I am going to do the same thing as thaiblue12 does and its also $5 a kid, They also tattoo for $5 ea.
It will be nice to watch so maybe i can do it myself next year.

[RoyalValley]

Just bought the X30 dehorner from Jeffers I should have asked you guys before, but I bought the 3/8" thing and I'm thinking that may be too small?? I have watched the Youtube videos and think I might be able to do it.

I was going to ask a friend but then he was saying how LONG he leaves the heat on and it seems like more than I would like, so not sure I want to risk it.

I feel your pain, Ann Mary! But I also had these new does we got in Sept get stuck over and over in our fence and that was a pain!!!

[6e]

Originally Posted by RoyalValley

Just bought the X30 dehorner from Jeffers I should have asked you guys before, but I bought the 3/8" thing and I'm thinking that may be too small?? I have watched the Youtube videos and think I might be able to do it.

I was going to ask a friend but then he was saying how LONG he leaves the heat on and it seems like more than I would like, so not sure I want to risk it.

I feel your pain, Ann Mary! But I also had these new does we got in Sept get stuck over and over in our fence and that was a pain!!!

How long does he say he leaves it on? We did our little doeling this morning with no problems and I left it on no more than 6 seconds and then blew on her little head. Don't know that it helps her, but it helps me.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I do six second burns on both sides, then do it again. Don't like scurs.

[Creamers]

I do six second burns on both sides, then do it again. Don't like scurs.

Ekkk! lol - Ah, one must do what they must to prevent scurs - I hate them, too

[Ann Mary]

Thanks everyone...I'm NOT looking forward to doing this but I know it must be done...I already have one litle pygmy that someone tried to dehorn with rubberbands....the horns DID fall off all right but then promptly regrew! And he is now a 'unicorn' because he got caught in a fence...so I want to do this right. I will buy the electric one...which size??? THere is 1/4",9/16", and 1/2" ....I have Nigerian Dwarfs. Thanks!

[RoyalValley]

Originally Posted by 6e

How long does he say he leaves it on? We did our little doeling this morning with no problems and I left it on no more than 6 seconds and then blew on her little head. Don't know that it helps her, but it helps me.

My friend who went says, "he leaves it on for 10 or 20 seconds" That is when I decided to NOT go to him. Sounds way, way too long from what I have read.

I am going to brave it tomorrow and see.....I have watched youtube videos and look at a ton of pics. Not sure how I was the chosen one to actually do it instead of holding them. LOL.

[Ann Mary]

Someone, PLEASE.......what size do I need??? I need t order it ASAP.

[PaulNKS]

You can get a non-electric debudder for 19.95 at Hoeggers. You use a torch to heat it.

[thaiblue12]

Get the standard size, sorry not sure which one that is from your list of sizes. Do not get anything that says the tip is for pygmies or Nigies, do not buy the smalller tip for them. Waste of money and you will for sure get scurs.

If you have never done it before I suggest you find someone to show you how. If someone shows you how you can hold off on buying an iron and get some experience, avoid doing it too long or too short etc. My intent was to learn but after I saw what I saw I know it is not for me

[Creamers]

yes - most people use the standard size on Nigis