Dehorning and Castrating

[mangled]

So, after taking in a Pygmy doe on a rescue basis 8 weeks ago, she surprised me 4 days ago with dropping 2 kids, a doe and a buck.

We were totally unprepared for kids, and having no idea she was pregnant, we're scrambling to get it together.

We'd like to keep them both, and we need to have them dehorned and have the male castrated. After a ridiculous amount of time on the phone, I found a local vet that will do all of it for $105. Reasonable, yes, but my husband is not thrilled about putting out $100+ on these kids right now.

It's getting done, regardless, because I don't really want horned goats and we don't need another buck. Our buck is enough of a handful. A whether I can deal with.

I know a lot of your folks do these things yourself, and I guess I'm just looking for a little guidance. What tools do I need to have on hand or would you recommend for a beginner goat breeder?

Thanks in advance-
Blessings-
Em

 

[marlowmanor]

If you listed your location I bet there may be a goat breeder on BYH that is a nearby and could do disbudding (what dehorning goats is called) and castrating for you. The castrating can be done with a banding tool which runs about $10 at Tractor Supply. It's pretty easy to do as well. Disbudding requires a disbudding iron. Can't give you a ton of info on disbudding because we don't do it. I can say that banding is the most cost efficient way to do castration.

ETA: Here is the castrator you can get at TSC http://www.tractorsupply.com/producer-s-pride-reg-castrator-band-economy-1019756
The bands you need with the castrator http://www.tractorsupply.com/ideal-instruments-castrating-bands-pack-of-100-2221563

 

[mangled]

We are in western Pennsylvania, about 60 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Thanks-
Em

 

[GLENMAR]

Too bad I am a bit too far away to help.