Disbudding Experiences - Paste

Both of my new kids were disbudded yesterday. The buck already had pretty large buds pushing up. The doe's were definitely smaller, but you could easily see and feel them. I shaved their heads and decided I was going to give Dr. Naylors Disbudding Paste a chance. All the goat people I asked said, "No no, don't use it!" When I asked them why, they generally said that they had never used it themselves, but thought it sounded cruel. Some said they had heard it leaves scurs frequently. I heard from one or two people that they used it on a regular basis, and that if done properly it was extremely effective and it was less bothersome to the kids than burning with an iron. Still others felt it was too dangerous, due to the fact that if it got into their eyes it could blind them. Here are my experiences with it, since its hard to find any reviews of using paste from goat people. If you look for information concerning cattle you'll find a ton of cattle people use it, and very effectively.

I didn't don gloves because I forgot to buy some, and decided to be very careful. Perhaps that was stupid, because I did get a small smudge on my hand, but I wasn't burned. People act like the stuff is molten lava, but it takes a few minutes to start burning I think. I left it sit on my skin for about two minutes before simply splashing a little vinegar on my hand, then rinsing with water. I felt a slight tinge, like I had rubbed a jalapeno on my skin, but it didn't damage my hand or hurt. As soon as the vinegar hit, the sensation halted immediately.

Continuing the tale of my experience, I used a popcicle stick to to apply a thin layer to the button, and in a cirlce about the size of a penny around the button. I didn't make it so thin it was transparent. I wanted to make sure I had enough to do an effective job. I made sure it was thick enough that you could see the orange color throughout, but no thicker than I needed it. I then duct taped a "helmet" on their heads. I put tape over the buttons and under the chin, then I attached tape to that which went around behind the ears...kind of criss-crossed to be very secure. We then allowed them to frolick around the barn while we watched them carefully and started a countdown. I let the stuff sit for the full thirty minutes and checked their heads. It didn't seem like long enough, although it had burned all the hair off the spots. We left it on for a full hour on the buck, and about 45 minutes on the girl. They didn't seem to be in any pain, although they shook their heads a little at first. It seemed more from having the duct tape all over their heads, however. After a few minutes they went about exploring the heck out of the barn. It was not stressful for them and they were fine. The stuff isn't runny, so it isn't hard to keep it out of the eyes as long as you make the duct tape bandages for them.

We rinsed thoroughly with vinegar by holding them upside down, with their legs in the air. Then we followed with water and repeated twice. We had to use an icky throw away cloth to completely rub off all the goop. The result was very white skin, they way your skin looks if you stick your finger on a burner. About an hour later it was very pink. Today it was blood red, but there was no actual blood. It was very clean, and they went right back to playing and nursing when we put them back from mom. The vinegar wash neutralized the acid very well and mom has no marks on her udders from leftover chemicals. Now to see if scurs form. The thing is, I currently have two I bought from other breeders who have scurs. They were burned with irons. In fact, Pearl has a scur, although it is very tiny. Tomahawk seems to be growing pretty significant ones, but I'm hoping they stop where they are. It just proves that you can mess up with any method, and that even if you don't mess up scurs can still manage to show up. I'll update on if they have any horn growth in the future or not, but it is looking super promising. I think some people may put the paste on the buds only and neglect the ring of skin around the button, where the horn actually grows. Missing that will net you horn growth.

I have decided on names for both of my new kids. Both will need Tualatin Acres placed in front of their names, as they were the farm who bred the doe. I certainly don't mind. I really like the place, and they have gorgeous animals. The woman showed me some young kids the day I picked up my does, as well as a gorgeous and immensely spacious black doe who had just kidded and sold with her babies. If I had more room and money I would have been sorely tempted to buy both her and a few of the kids. Alas, I do not, but am very happy with Pearl and Dakota. More than happy, actually. I'm near ecstatic about Pearl's amazing udder and the gorgeous kids she gave me. Now I just need the service memo from the ranch so that I can have the babies registered. I've sent a couple of emails over the last week, but no response. If I don't hear back by next weekend I'll be trying to track down a phone number.

In any case, back to the naming of Pearl's kids. I decided that the buckling will be Tualatin Acres Flying Dutchman, and the doeling will be Tualatin Acres Jolie Rouge (Pronounced shjolie roushe..at least the best way I can explain the pronunciation.) Mom's name is Black Pearl, which makes me think she was named after the cursed ship in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The Flying Dutchman is Davy Jones ships in the 2nd and 3rd films. Jolie Rouge means "Pretty Red" in French. Originally, pirate flags were red, to signify the bloodshed that would occur should ships refuse to surrender. The French called them "Pretty Red", being a little sarcastic I suppose. No one knows where Jolly Roger came from, which is what you call a pirate flag now, but I imagine it came from the British or other cultures slaughtering the French "Jolie Rouge." I just though it was perfect for her. Piratey, in relation to her mom's name...but beautiful and feminine. Pretty and dangerous at the same time, and with some great history. I am calling them "Dutch" and "Jolie" for short. No one else says Jolie right. They make a hard J sound, when it has a French flair at the beginning, a kind of shhh...

I also finished building a second pen today. I was really happy to get it done. My buck pen is out of commission until I go find an appropriate roll of chicken wire-type mesh to secure over the panels. Tomahawk is just too small, and can wiggle through the holes. So, I've been having to rotate him every couple of days with the two young girls I don't want bred. They take turns in the dog kennel, but I feel bad because it is small and I don't like to use it for more than a kidding pen or a quarantine for sick animals. So, I finished a bigger pen next to my barn with ample room to play and lean-to for shade. Not that he is being bucky in the least, but although he might not be mentally capable he is physically. You never know when it might click. I have him out with my last pregnant doe and a doe I sold that is waiting to be picked up. The new owner requested if I could leave her out with the buck in the off chance he might breed her. I doubt he will, but it teaches him social skills with the ladies.

I was petting him today, and I felt an odd lump. I thought tick at first, and parted his fur to investigate. I saw something bronze and shiney, so I picked it out of his side, where it was partially buried. It was a BB pellet! Someone had shot my goat! I was furious. I knew exactly who did it as well. We have had some new neighbors within the last few months. They bought the house next door, and promptly let some weird guy rent their garage. Or maybe its the wife's brother, I don't know. In any case, he is a backwoods redneck. He gives nice rednecks a bad name. I had a little trouble keeping my goats from getting in their field for a few weeks, and he took to shooting a shotgun up in the air when they crossed the line. I was scared he would kill them. I got an electric line up that kept them out, and they haven't been in their field for over six months. I was pissed anyways. Although they shouldn't be in his field, he could have came and talked to me about it rather than go for a gun. That, and half the time I didn't know they were getting over because they would come back before I saw them.

Well, I had my buck in the dog kennel and he was throwing a noisy fit. Apparently he got irritated and decided shooting it with a BB gun was appropriate. I went over and asked him if he knew who had done it, to which he played dumb. There is no other neighbor anywhere close, and our field is very closed in and far from any roads. It was him, no doubt. I informed him that I was almost finished with the new pen, that if the goat irritated him he needed to discuss it with me like a normal human being, and that I would be watching him. If I found another pellet in any of my animals or witnessed him shooting at my goats I would call the police immediately. He just tried to look retarded. Or maybe he is. I don't know. But there is no excuse for that kind of behavior. Tomahawk wasn't hurt in anyway, and it was no more than a scratch..I think the pellet was more stuck in his fur than anything.. But that is still unacceptable. Sorry for ranting, I am just still very angry. I won't be using the dog kennel again any time soon, but I want to I don't think I should feel like I shouldn't for fear my animals might be shot at! Maybe I should shoot his damn dog next time it scales the fence into our field and starts chasing my poor goaties. Not that I ever would hurt it, unless it actually was in the process of viciously attacking something. Le sigh. Why couldn't we get civilized neighbors?