Who disbuds their kids?

[Crunchie]

There are some naturally polled Nigerians out there. I'd love to get some of those genetics in my little herd one day!! Sure would save a lot of trouble to just have them born without the darn horns, huh?

 

[redhen]

if its done, it has to be done EARLY....i waited till my doe was 5 months old...(long story why)..but..it is very hard on them when they are older...we had it done last week..and it makes me sick every night when i have to change her bandages....so..if you do it..early is the only way to go..best of luck!..i love my goats...they are so sweet and gentle with us..all they want, is to be with us..they are great pets..best wishes with yours....wendy

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Yes, make sure it is done while they are young. The older they get and the bigger the buds, the harder it seems.

Karen(Nigerian breeder) does hers within the first few weeks after they are born. She said even waiting a few days or a week makes a big difference.

-Kim

 

[redhen]

yeah.. i'm just praying now there will be no infection with my doe Cricket....and tryng to keep flies away..so they dont lay maggots is also difficult...all in all..i would not do it again at her age....she is a bit better now..but she screamed and screamed when i had to change her dressing...you could really tell she was in horriable pain....it still hurts her and we had it done last tuesday...they recover alot quicker when they are babies...my 4 week old had his done in his first week and he was fine when i got him a couple of days later...wendy

 

[greyfields]

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=320&cat_id=40

 

[Southern28Chick]

I think they say to do it in their first week. I think I'll be a big baby when I do it.

 

[greyfields]

Oh, also, give them a shot of tetanus anti-toxin prior to disbudding. NOT tetnaus vaccine. Different animal. Since you're giving it in the first week, any vaccine given simply releases antigens which 'use up' the antibodies in the kid past along from the colostrum. Anti-toxin.

 

[MissPrissy]

My does are disbudded. My bucklings are not.

 

[redhen]

greyfields...was the link for me..thanks if it was..appreciate it...

..i do have a cream that is a fly repellant for wounds that i have been putting on her bandages..but i still see them around her a little......every night..i check the wound when i change the bandage...

..so far i've seen no maggots or anything..but the wound seems to be opening up more..like the blood over the wounds is drying up and flaking off and now leaving it more open..and with the hot weather we are supposed to be gettiing..i'm worried..espically after reading one ladys post on here about her chicken getting maggots...

...so thanks for the link..

southern28chick...just dont watch..lol..then you wont know what happens..i dont think i could watch..

..but babies heal fast..its much easier on them..

take care, Wendy

 

[reallemons1]

I do mine. It is hard, but I think the short term pain gives them a chance to have a better life. They learn to use their horns as tools and can get into too much trouble with them (like destroying fences or hurting other animals or people). I do mine between 1 and 2 weeks. They get the tetnus antitoxin and go in the box. After I hold ice on their head a few minutes. Then they run to hollering ma and act like nothing ever happened.