Need some Advice

storms75 · #1 02/11/13, 01:05 PM

I have had this male weather boer goat since he was born, he was actually born on the farm to my very first grade goat. So we kept him he was a sweetheart, and thought HORNS were great, not no more do I think they are great, I was trying to catch a female doeling and he decided he didnt want me too.I am hhaving to man handle a goat by his horns, and that wasnt fun until I got him trapped inside the horse trailer. Well he has been turned loose now that I got out of there, can you dehorn a grown goat? I need help.!!!

Sherry in Iowa · #2 02/11/13, 01:11 PM

If he has become aggressive, taking his horns off won't help.

I know that I have horned goats..I do NOT grab them for handles. When I was a kid..we did have a horned goat and we would take a hold of his horns. I swear that goat hated that and he DID become aggressive and he WAS put down. Don't know if there's a correlation..and since I don't know..I don't use my goats horns for handles.

CarolT · #3 02/11/13, 02:58 PM

My buck definitely becomes more aggressive if I have to use his horns as a handle. I keep a collar on him and if I am catching a doe and think he may have an issue I take an extra leash. He behaves well on a leash. He's 4 now and his horns have got impressive. And he will use them if I try to use them.

noeskimo · #4 02/11/13, 06:45 PM

How old/big is he? Is he too old sit on?

LoneStrChic23 · #5 02/11/13, 06:46 PM

I'm firmly against owning goats with horns. I buy disbudded kids, and any kids born here are disbudded by 10 days old, unless paid for and picked up before then...

That being said, I would NEVER dehorn a grown goat.

It's very traumatic for them.

If you just couldn't stand to live with the horns anymore, I'd recommend surgical dehorning by a vet, with sedation. Or get rid of the goat. Don't go to a Vet that will just hack them off without sedation and leave big gaping holes (I've seen vets do this)....

mekasmom · #6 02/11/13, 08:09 PM

If the goat is an adult, or even a young adult, our vet will not dehorn it. The sinuses are there, and it is too dangerous at that stage, or so he says.
You might try banding the horns. It causes bleeding when they fall off at times though.

thaiblue12 · #7 02/12/13, 10:39 AM

Goats do not like their horns being used as handles.

You can:
Squirt him with a water gun if he tries to butt you. Yell No! While you are doing it.
Glue tennis balls to the ends of them.
If he really is being violent with them use a stick and hit his horns, not a sissy tap or a really hard one but good enough to get his attention and again yell No!

If all else fails you can eat him, sell him to be eaten or band his horns. I am not sure the last one will work or help. I heard it can be quite painful, but it is not as invasive as a vet dehorning him.

I really would try to use training with the above methods before I sold or banded the horns. It may work but be consistent and do not grab his horns anymore.

Ford Zoo · #8 02/12/13, 11:03 AM

I agree, don't grab the horns, that is a natural trigger to aggression-look at what they show dominence with and fight with. I purchased 2 grown, horned bucks this year from a guy that thought their reaction was cute when he grabbed their horns. It has taken some training and a couple good wacks on the nose for one, to realize that I will not tolerate that behavior. But they also now know that no one here is going to grab them by the horns.

KarenBaby · #9 02/12/13, 04:31 PM

I own boer goats as well as dairy goats - boer goats have to keep their horns to be shown (it's in their breed standard). My buck is in the area of 300# - he's the third buck that I have raised from weanling to maturity. None of my bucks have been aggressive with their horns and I DO use them for handles sometimes. I will grab a horn to stop them from running away when I want to medicate, deworm or trim hooves on them. I like to put a collar on them if I will be handling them for any amount of time.
I NEVER push on their horns - I grab and pull or hold - and put a collar on if needed.
The thing is that every single buck I've had with or without horns seems to get about a year old and suddenly think they want to play "goat games" with people. They stand up on their hind legs and challenge me - at this time I take something easy to handle and solid and give them a firm tap on the horns. Basically, I'm letting them know I'm bigger and tougher than them in a language they understand. Bucks will bang their heads together and the weaker one gets his "bell rung". They don't like it and it only takes a couple of lessons and they stop the aggressive behavior.

On that note, I did get a yearling saanen with full horns that I ultimately got rid of because he would actually push and fight with me if I tried to handle him in any way. His previous owner thought it was cute to play fight with him. I could handle him - grab his beard (that really gets their attention!) and/or horn and put a collar on him. I literally had to drag him to move him to a different pen. That got old fast! Then he cocked his head at my daughter - once! - that was it. I called the people I got him from and said they could have him back or he was going to the auction barn to be sold for meat. Life is too short to deal with that crap!

Adult goat horns can be banded. They fall off in about 6 weeks with minimal blood. It is best to do it when there is not alot of flies around - you can fly spray their head when the horn comes off. The trick to a good banding is to get way down to the root of the horn, on the hair - helps to shave the hair so the band doesn't work it's way up. If it does - the horn will come off wherever the band ends up.
Banding the horns will not necessarily make your goat a gentleman.