Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats Blog - Triplets born - New baby pics

[ruth]

O.K. I have a question for you experienced goat people. What's your opinion on keeping (or not) their horns. I'm really torn. At first I was going to let the little boy keep his, thinking he would be separated and may need them for defense or maybe just keep them because they are the natural thing. I was leaning toward having the little girl disbudded/dehorned (whatever the correct term is) as soon as I could feel bumps on her head. But time got away from me and hers are now starting to be felt through the fur on her head, about a quarter inch long. Anyway, I thought, "....well what the heck, it's natural, I'll let her keep them. If necessary I'll make some sort of horn covers for them later."

Now I don't know what to do. Experienced goat people are telling me to never, ever allow horns on either sex. That they will gore each other or someone or a child that the male will tear up his shed or barn when the females are in heat if he can't get to them.....the list of horror stories goes on and on. Then I started researching having them removed and the pics of holes into their sinuses really freaked me out so I went back to idea of leaving horns. Another breeder just called and said I really needed to have them removed right away while the kids are still only a month old. So we've talked to LSU medical school, same doctor that operated on Bitsy's leg (they love us for the soft-hearted, animal-loving fools we are) and he said he could do both probably with a local, and no hole left and we could wait and take them home - for about $60 each.

I'm all about the natural way of doing things and raising my animals but now I really don't know what to do. Remember, these are just Nigerian Dwarfs, not big goats by any means.

So long way of saying---------ANY ADVICE - ANYONE????

 

[ksacres]

We disbud every kid, every time. Even the gentlest of goats can cause damage unknowingly. I have a scar on my left thigh from my first goat, she was playing with me and raked me with her horns that were only about 4 inches long at the time. She didn't mean to, but accidents happen. I was 11.

Takes a total of about 60 seconds per kid, give a bottle afterward and you are forgiven.

 

[bheila]

I personally like that my goats have horns because it gives me something to hold on to. I NEVER put my face by their heads EVER and I teach my children the same thing. Our goats are only 25lbs and 32lbs so that is probably why I don't worry about the horns so much. For me I worry more about the bigger breeds of goats with horns. I used to borrow big goats from one of our customers and they were scary with their big ole horns! Besides they would headbutt us too.

 

[ThornyRidge]

For their safety (with each other), and mine NO HORNS!! I disbud anyone within a couple weeks depending on their size and horn bud.. I also have several polled nigerians which are great... if you have not heard any horror stories regarding people and other herdmates being impaled check around on some goat sites.. if you are actually providing appropriate care and facilities then horns are absolutely not needed ( more of saftey mechanism only in wild).. also too many accidents have been documented when curious goat gets horns stuck in fence or something else and strangles itself or put in position to break neck or serious injury from struggling or from other herd mates..also even the sweetest tamest goats still can be very rowdy.. banging and buttin each other in play or during feeding times.. it is natural for goats to do this.. but becomes very dangerous when they are horned.