Disbudding questions

[DaSouthernYankee]

So I understand that everyone has different opinions on the topic, and I certainly see both.

After a lot of consideration I’ve decided to disbud the girls. We do not have a huge property and amongst fences and obstacles I just want to ensure no one gets hung up or hurt. I just think it will work best for our backyard farm.

I found a vet with lots of experience and he sedates for the procedure,

My question for those of you who disbud is do you think 4 weeks is too old? I’ve read lots of conflicting information and right now the girls barely have little buds at 3 weeks old. That’s the soonest I can get the girls out to the vet.

 

[Southern by choice]

Do you have pics of the top of their head? These are what breed?

 

[Athena2344]

The sooner you can get them in the better is all I have to say. I have seen disbuddin done where the horns are already several inches long before but is still done with no more problems to the goat than "normal" disbudding

 

[DaSouthernYankee]

Do you have pics of the top of their head? These are what breed?

They are Nigerian dwarfs. I will take pictures tomorrow in daylight, their barn light doesn’t make for good photos!

 

[DaSouthernYankee]

The sooner you can get them in the better is all I have to say. I have seen disbuddin done where the horns are already several inches long before but is still done with no more problems to the goat than "normal" disbudding

That’s good to hear. I figure sooner is better, and I’m happy the vet with sedate them so it’s not such a traumatic event. They have just begun to bud I’m just hoping they don’t grow like crazy in a week!

 

[Southern by choice]

Nigerians really have a wide range for time to disbud. A 2lb (Birthweight) quint may not need disbudded for up to 6 weeks, another 4-5 lb kid (BW) may need done at 7 days, 10 days , 2 weeks.
Much depends on whether the kid is a doe or a buck. Size of iron, and of course how grown the buds are.

We use to have ours sedated and burned as well. Eventually we stopped doing that. We had some iffy reactions and we found they faired better with out it. We do our own, use ice packs and alternate. We always have their bottle ready (comfort food). They just skip away with no issue. The sedation was tough.

I do not regret the order in which we started. I felt sedation was the best option. Over time with reactions and then having to reburn scurs and having to schedule (very difficult if you have 20 kids and they aren't all ready at the same time) as well as one goat "never right" in the head after wards we stopped.
I think this is a smart and good step for you. I really hope you are present so you can learn, eventually you will probably move to doing your own and no sedation.

I use to love horns. No more! Glad you are getting them disbudded!