Looking for some opinions on dis-bdding babies.
Not sure what to do. I have 4 Nigerians that have their horns and 4 that don't.
Our babies are 5 days old. One looks as though she may be polled, but the little buck isn't.
I can't decide if I should have his dis-budded and I know I need to decide soon.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Replies
Hi Betsy!
I like to do my bucklings as soon as I can, before 1 week. The doelings aren't quite as fast to grow, but I would think 10 days is getting toward a limit of what I'd like to do. Given your situation, if it were me I'd feel more comfortable watching an experienced person do it at least once. It's definitely not a pleasant job, but needs to be done. They're safer from each other, fences, and you will be safer. My sister still has goatphobia from a petting zoo with a horned goat who butted her as a child. ;)
Thanks so much for all of your replies, experience and insight~
The vet is coming over Monday morning to do the disbudding. They will be 10 days old. Do you think this is a good time at
10 days?
It's really up to you.
For the most part, it's a safety thing. Horns can poke people when they're still small, they can get caught in things (Never have collars with horns! My teacher had a goat die that way!).
Now they are a ton easier to catch with horns if they're not too friendly. Though that little guy looks right at home in your house.
Personally the thing that would worry me most is having goats with horns with goats without for fear of the goats with horns injuring those without. I think it's better to either have them all with or all without.
I was recently going to intercept a little does action and forgot she had horns. I grabbed at her and lifted hard. Hit my own self in the face. I would say that impact on a scale of 1-10 was a 0 and it hurt and drew blood. I don't want anyone else including goats hurt by those things even though I think they are naturally beautiful. They are not domestically practical. However I am very nervous about actually disbudding.
I agree with both Kailyn and Rachel. We disbud all our goats. I wouldn't want to get hit by some horns, accident or on purpose!
Personally, I would definitely disbud. Goats with horns can cause a safety hazard to people, other goats, and themselves. They can injure people, especially children, as well as their herdmates. Their horns can also become entangled in fencing, brush, and other objects which would be a threat to their well-being. I'm not saying this will happen to all goats who have horns, but it is a risk that goats without horns don't have. So, my advice is to disbud. I see it as an all-around safer choice for everyone involved.
I'm not sure if you're asking about opinions on disbudding, or if the goatie in the photo is polled. lol Sooooo since I'm no good for you on whether or not anyone is polled, I'll answer with my thoughts on disbudding.
I personally disbud. I believe it's safer for all involved, especially in a captive situation. Goats with horns can get themselves caught in places that goats without do not... they can also be a danger. (even if they aren't aggressive or head-butters) They can hurt people, but they can also injure each other. (which in my opinion, is a higher and more dangerous risk than the human one)
Obviously, you CAN raise goats without disbudding. There are people here in this group that do, and do it without issues. My personal preference is to disbud, and keep a horn free herd.