On Thursday evening Honey and I TRIED to disbud Sophie.
Disbudding is the process of using a hot iron to cauterize the blood supply to the horn buds on the kids.
Fiasco Farm Photo
The job should of been done when they were 4-5 days old, but I was already having a big learning curve and really couldn’t work myself up to do it then.
So, there we were on Thursday evening and it nearly killed us. Honey is the guy who almost passed out when I was in labor with both kids. He couldn’t take any more and I was in tears.
I called for help and someone recommended a nearby Vet.
This morning Sweet Girl and I took the kids to be disbudded.
I cried again. So did the kids.
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Amy…..I think it’s because the chicken is then dead. The babies cried but bounced back quickly! This AM they are up and hoping around with great energy.
I know Elra…..they are really sweet kids.
Thanks Kelly! The funny thing is after I asked for your help….I just figured that it was a battle I had to win. So Honey helped me one evening by pinning her so she couldn’t do the Cha Cha and after that she just stands against the wall for me, but not in the stanchion….I’m quite comfy on a bucket since she’s pretty small right now. She doesn’t kick except once her grain is gone she outtathere!!! She’s letting down better, but not great. I’m finding better times to milk that are good for her. Thanks for your help.
I agree with you about horns. But Honey wants them dehorned, so we will for now. They bounced back rather quickly though and today I can put on some herbal healing salve. Poor babies!
Hi, I think I would cry too. We have decided that if God intended for goats to have horns we would leave well enough alone. So far we have had some pushing and shoving and butting to set limits and pecking order. You visited and asked about milking. I too am a newbie. This is my second season of milking. I have two seasond milkers and they are familiar with milking stands. I will have two new girls next year who are spoiled and used to getting their way. I have started putting them on the milking stand to eat to get them familiar with it. Whether it works or not we will have to wait and see. A couple of things to try. Try pushing up on the udder like the kids do. Rubbing the udder seems to help too. The kids get sort of violent at times doing this. This will stimulate the release of oxytocin and let the milk down. Keep the kids away while you are milking. She can hold back milk. Isabella did this after she first kidded. Now that the kids are older we keep them up at night and I milk in the morning. They stay with the moms all day and get the milk they need. I hope this helps and don’t loose faith. It is fun when it works and frustrating when it doesn’t. Good luck.
Kelly
Oh dear, I don’t think I can bear the process.
They look so cute!!!
I can gut a chicken, but I don’t know about this. I’d call the vet, too!