Do any of you have experience with using a kid holding box for disbudding and tatooing? Does it make the jobs much easier or is having a good "human holder" more effective?
I am also shopping for a Burdizzo tool. Like the dehorning iron, there are several different types available. My husband is a people Doctor, after discussing the weathering options with him we decided the "Burdizzo" method will be our choice. Jeffers offers the "Emasculatome" in 4 different sizes. Does anyone know which size to order for Nigerians?
The other basic equipment I need is the tatoo kit...again lots of choices to look at. Is there a type or brand of tatoo kit that anyone could reccomend?
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When we went to Texas to purchase some goats, they had some set up so we could watch them doing some disbudding. They used a box, and it was the simplest thing in the world. They tried to wiggle, but couldn't move because of the box. I immediately knew we needed one. I haven't personally used one yet, but I know before I do do it I'll have one of those holding boxes!
Thanks for the info on the tattoo kit, I'm gonna have to order one before too long and wondered where to start.
WOW! Maybe I should try one so I don't have to bother Hubby to hold them!
If you do need to hold them, what we did was wrap them in a towel with there legs folded like they were just laying down, and then laid them down with a towel spread over them so pressure could be applied to the towel covering on each side of them so they couldn't squirm away! I think I saw it online. It worked, but I might get around to trying a box later. I suppose the box would probably come in handy for more than 1 or 2 kids to deal with and I bet they would be very nice for tattoo time! Does anyone use them for that?
I have a kid box, bought it from one of the goat supply places. Just did my first disbudding. I've never done one without it but would hate to have tried. You can sit on the box and their head is just in the perfect position to do it between your knees. Very handy. Absolutely not sorry I bought it.
I have held doelings for disbudding. It was really hard, and thankfully, I had a person who knew what they were doing with the iron. I would have been burned otherwise. I haven't tried using a box, so I don't have a comparison, but I can say holding is not easy. Doable, but not easy.
Patty, the only time I have seen someone do a disbudding they used one, and that was many years ago. But quit frankly I am just not real sure that it isn't better to have a real good holding person. We did our first ones in 2012. I trusted hubby to be able to hang on tight and I burned. We did Marleys twins that way and it wet great! Then when Butter had Penny we did the same. I just really don't see me trusting putting them in that box without someone hanging on to them and to box them and hold the head just seems like to much trouble to me! If I did not have someone to hold onto them then I would use a box and figure out how to hold their head tight with one hand while I burned with the other. But I would prefer a trusted person holding them.
Now, hopefully someone with some actual box experience will give their opinion.
I'm waiting for an answer about that kid holding box. Anyone use one/tried one? What do you think about them?
Thanks, that will work then, I just want to be able to wait as long as possible for the growth/muscle benefits of leaving most of mine intact, until I decide what we will eat or maybe train for packing etc. Don't mind leaving the ones we eat intact, (got to save those scrotum's to dry out, you know hehe!) for the growth benefits!
I used it to castrate a 2-year-old la mancha buck, so it will work for all sizes of goats. That's the reason I bought it. I needed to stop my la mancha buck from trying to get my ND does pregnant, and no one wanted to buy him, and the vet wanted $100 to castrate him, so the price of a Burdizzo suddenly became a very good deal! I normally do kids around 2-3 months though.
Margaret Langley said:
Questions about that size Deb! What age are you doing with it and up to what age will it work on? I haven't bought mine yet because I haven't had anything to castrate, but when I do I want to be able to use it on goats that are older than usual, so will I have to get two or can I get a bigger one for all of them?
Yes, I have the smallest one.
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