Dehorning Adult Pygmy Buck

[genevieve]

I recently received a "free" 1 1/2 year old pygmy buck from an acquaintance of mine who I sold two kids to last spring. They purchased the kids as weedeaters, and kept them tied. They didn't want the pygmy buck because he had horns and kept trying to "get with" the two kids. Anyways, we ended up with him. I tried putting him in with my Nigerian buck who is three times his weight but disbudded (badly, with scurs that he rubs down to nubs on the fence), and he made my nigi's head bleed. So he left my nigi's pen. My parents don't want to invest in another goat shed to house the little shrimp, so the horns have gotta go or he does.

I've looked into a few options when it comes to dehorning adult goats. I read that surgery at a vet is really bloody, painful, and expensive while banding the horns is painful over a long time, less expensive, and a bit of a hit-or-miss procedure. My parents are definitely not willing to invest in surgery for the buck, but he's a really cute buck and I'd like to keep him. Sooo, I'm thinking about banding his horns. I'm not sure how to go about this though. Have any of you done this/know about it? Any help or input is appreciated.

 

[Mike CHS]

There was a good set of threads not long ago that journaled the process as it was done. Here is one link and I think there are more.

http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/de-horned-2yr-old-doe-week-3-update.28257/

 

[goats&moregoats]

Cute guy. To bad he is not compatible with your Nigerian. I have a Pygmy buck. He is a little aggressive with the other goats(horned), thankfully he hasn't done any damage. Don't read a whole lot about Pygmies on here so it would be cool if you continue to share stories and pictures. Let me know how the dehorning goes. Good Luck.

 

[elevan]

I just have to put out there that if your ND is your only other goat that if you band this pygmy's horns then put him back with the ND the situation won't change. They will still headbutt, your ND's head will still bleed - they are goats, they are working out a hierarchy system that is what they do, it's perfectly natural. As for the blood, it might look like a gory mess but trust me your ND will be fine after they work out who's #1 and who's #2 in their little herd.

You'd be better served trying to have the scur on your ND fixed than banding the horns on the pygmy imo.