Horns or Not?

[Moody]

I have one horned as I didn't get the disbudding iron soon enough.

The rest are disbudded. I have been doing better with each one and the tiny scurs in my last female disbuddings are almost non existent. They are tiny, break off and don't bleed at all.

The boys are a diffrent story. Their scurs are growing almost like regular horns. I did the boys early, as soon as I felt bumps or buds they were under the iron. Maybe less scurs. Maybe not. Still only the one burn.

I want to get rid of the one with horns. She is a pain. She was trying to get me when I was touching her babies this year. I have small children. They have to stay away from her. Sometimes she isn't that bad and it's just accidental bumping into me with them but a couple of times she was trying to get me.

 

[JoyfulGoats]

I will be getting disbudded goats. After all your comments, it seems to be the best for my needs.

I just reserved a little (future) whether! He was born yesterday.

 

[Southern by choice]

Handsome lil guy! I think you will be very happy with no horns!

 

[JoyfulGoats]

Thank you! I'm so excited! My first goat ever. We are thinking of naming him Quinoa . He's 3/4 Nigerian Dwarf, 1/4 Alpine


Ps. Do you guys think he is mostly grey or brown? At first I thought brown, but if I zoom in he looks kinda grey. I will be going to see him in a few days, hopefully.

 

[Southern by choice]

Thank you! I'm so excited! My first goat ever. We are thinking of naming him Quinoa . He's 3/4 Nigerian Dwarf, 1/4 Alpine


Ps. Do you guys think he is mostly grey or brown? At first I thought brown, but if I zoom in he looks kinda grey. I will be going to see him in a few days, hopefully.

No idea on color.
I do hope you are getting 2 goats though. They are herd animals and do not do well when there is just one, regardless of how much attention and love you give him.
Most responsible breeders will NOT sell a single goat to someone if they do not already have goats.
It is a pretty big deal that he have a goat companion.

 

[JoyfulGoats]

Yes, I will be getting 3 goats, he's just the first to be born. I was planning on getting 2 doelings, but I prefer herd animals to be at least 3, so I'm getting a whether (much less expensive).

 

[samssimonsays]

congrats on the new goats! He sure is a cute little fella!

You won't be disappointed in disbudding your goats. I helped out at a farm where I got two of my girls from. All of her does are disbudded but one. She is a mild tempered goat but more shy and when on the milk stand she will try to turn to look at you and she almost caught me a few times with her horns. she left a nice, deep bruise on my thigh from when she bulked because another goat pushed her. Not her fault but those accidents could have been much worse and I don't want the stress or worry that come with horned animals, my Nubians get their heads caught WITHOUT horns as it is.... they don't need any help in getting stuck... Disbudding is not for everyone but for many, especially those with small kids or show animals it is necessary. I was not exactly for or against it until I personally had a run in with the one doe which prompted me to realize they are not for me.

 

[Latestarter]

Have to agree... I love his coloring and he looks like he'll be a great goat! Congrats! It is pretty exciting, isn't it?

 

[JoyfulGoats]

congrats on the new goats! He sure is a cute little fella!

You won't be disappointed in disbudding your goats. I helped out at a farm where I got two of my girls from. All of her does are disbudded but one. She is a mild tempered goat but more shy and when on the milk stand she will try to turn to look at you and she almost caught me a few times with her horns. she left a nice, deep bruise on my thigh from when she bulked because another goat pushed her. Not her fault but those accidents could have been much worse and I don't want the stress or worry that come with horned animals, my Nubians get their heads caught WITHOUT horns as it is.... they don't need any help in getting stuck... Disbudding is not for everyone but for many, especially those with small kids or show animals it is necessary. I was not exactly for or against it until I personally had a run in with the one doe which prompted me to realize they are not for me.

Thank you! I agree, since I will be cuddling and spending lots of time with the goats, I don't want to be worried all the time. This way, they will have a long and happy life with me.

Have to agree... I love his coloring and he looks like he'll be a great goat! Congrats! It is pretty exciting, isn't it?

Thank you! I love his little "attitude" he has in the second picture. His dad is very friendly and within a minute of meeting me, wanted to be pet and groom me, and his mom is nice as well (mostly with her owner, of course, but she still comes up to smell us). I can't wait to finally have my goats! I'm so excited

 

[BottleBabbiesrLife]

I have had both. I will no longer own horned goats. Mine threw his head back and almost took out my daughter with his horns one day. Complete accident but would have been bad, like lose an eyeball bad.

@Southern by choice has good stories about horned vs. disbudded goats.

They get over it pretty fast, it's worth having them disbudded.

are you joking