Our two newest additions to our herd went to see the vet on Wednesday.
This is what they came home looking like…
Randy
Jessie
Those silver colored circles are evidence that the babies have been disbudded.
What on earth is DISBUDDING?
It is the removal of their ability to grow horns.
Most goats naturally grow horns and it begins within days of their birth. By the end of the first week we could feel little bumps on their foreheads. Those are called horn buds. Randy, being a boy, had larger buds than Jessie. Boys horns grow in faster than girls.
It is recommend that by the time the buds feel like the size of a chocolate chip it is time to remove them. For our babies it was at ten days old when we took them to the vet to have them disbudded.
Some people choose to do it themselves. They are tougher than me. I’m too much of a softy. I didn’t want to shave their foreheads and then hold a hot one inch in diameter round iron onto their horn buds for about 10 seconds until you destroy the bud and the roots. Yes, people have been know to do it wrong and burn a hole through the skull. Call me a wimp. We took them to a veterinarian.
Another problem is that if it isn’t done correctly (read: thoroughly) and not all of the horn bud and its root are destroyed then you will have scurs. Scurs are malformed pieces of horn that grow when all the root has not been destroyed. We will need to watch the babies for a few months and feel for scurs. If they show up they are easy to take care of with another visit to the vet. If they don’t get taken care of then they can get knocked off when head butting other goats. Some of our bucks have scurs and when they are in rut and a lot of rough housing is going on then they might start to bleed.
Why do we want to remove their horns?
Simple. It is dangerous. To the goat itself. It could get stuck in a fence and hurt itself trying to get loose or it might suffocate or become dehydrated depending on the situation and how long it is stuck.
To other goats in the herd. Goats play rough and that play involves butting with their head. If they still have horns then can puncture the other goat. Some goats have been killed this way.
To their human friends. Even Nigerian DWARF Goats can be difficult to handle and they are one of the smallest breeds available. Imagine if they had horns.
Don’t think it bothered them much. The vet gave each a little shot to put them under before the hot iron touched those foreheads. That afternoon here is how they were acting.
Randy was as active as ever.
Jessie wasn’t going to let her brother outdo her.
They deal with pain a lot better than I do.
I must confess. This post is written as if I was at the veterinarian. I couldn’t even do that. Michael and Joshua took them. Call me a wimp. It is true.
Enjoy your day,
Karen
Adorable times 2. I agree the vet was the best choice, much more humane.
Yes, more humane all the way around.
Have a great day,
Karen
I am learning so much on this goat adventure. Had no idea about buds and now I do. Feel bad for the little goats, they look pitiful. But still adorable. Hopefully goat hair grows fast. I would’ve stayed home too. I send my husband for the hard jobs and he is gracious to do them.
You and me both. There are so many things we want to do (bee hives for example) but my brain can only stand so much learning in one year 🙂
Enjoy your day,
Karen