glenolam's madness - April passed away

[savingdogs]

Well we would have to take the gas hog Jeep in order to fit the mamas in the car. I would just as soon pay the gal to come here as do that.

However, if we could just take the kids we could use my Subaru.

 

[Henrietta23]

It can vary by breed and gender. This buckling was 2 weeks old, but his buds were only less than 1/4" high. They hadn't even really broke through the skin yet. After thinking about it last night the only thing I would have done differently is wait longer in between burns to make sure the iron was hot enough.

The little buckling was a trooper. I think the only reason he cried was because he was being pinned down and practically sat on so he didn't move. He did squirm his head a little so the right side got a little bit more of a burn, but after we were done he went right to mom, got a drink and was running around the barn with his friends. Sometimes there's nothing cuter than baby goats!

Here's two pics I took with my cell phone. They're pretty crappy but you get the idea.

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/8094/buckling1.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/9238/buckling2.jpg

We've agreed that if it looks like he's going to get scurs I get to come back and touch him up. Yes, I'm sick like that and don't mind going back in!

Hen - I'm sending you an email right after I'm done posting this. I'll definitely call you when Fudgie has her kids if you want & if you're able to make it that'll be awesome!

Cool!! What an opportunity! Thanks!!!

 

[glenolam]

SD - do you have any dog crates? I put the two girls in a dog crate in the back of my pathfinder. Eloise fits in there with the girls just fine and luckily I could fit 2 dog crates if I had to, but there's plenty of room in the crate if it's just the kids. You could fold the back seats down & do it that way.

Of course, if she's only charging a reasonable amount for travel, let her come to you to avoid the aggrevation and hassle of doing it yourself!

 

[savingdogs]

SD - do you have any dog crates? I put the two girls in a dog crate in the back of my pathfinder. Eloise fits in there with the girls just fine and luckily I could fit 2 dog crates if I had to, but there's plenty of room in the crate if it's just the kids. You could fold the back seats down & do it that way.

Of course, if she's only charging a reasonable amount for travel, let her come to you to avoid the aggrevation and hassle of doing it yourself!

I'm laughing my head off because I'm the proud owner of way too MANY dog crates. I've been the recipient of many donations. I have about 25 dog crates, one of them is the largest known to man.

I don't know where to put the dang things and can't give them away. I have them stacked by the side of the house and it makes me look like some sort of animal hoarder. I think I have six or seven that would fit my goats.

The subaru does not fit them however, they won't fit through the back doors and in the back back, I could only fit one crate not two.

I just heard from TWO more people about disbudding. I never thought to run an ad. Now I have three people offering. Do you have any tips for me on how to select? The first person has "12 year exp and is gentle and humane according to her ad." Second two people have not yet told me what they charge, but they are a tad closer.

 

[Javamama]

Ask them about their procedure, what kind of iron they use and if they are experienced with mini goats.

 

[savingdogs]

The closest one raises nigys.....Capriola Farms? I have not heard back from her and just heard about her.

What is the best disbudder for them to be using? I was going to buy the rhinehart one so I was hoping to see that one used. the X30 I think it is called is available right here at my feed store for 77.00.

When I have seen disbudding in the past, it was by a vet. Both times they used this iron-thing....with an electric plug on one end and a long bar with a rounded flat piece at the top that got real hot. The thing looks like it was 50 years old! But I saw two vets use the same tool, one with an awake kid and another with them asleep. That is the only disbudding I've seen. Unfortunately at the time I was learning how to assist the procedure, not perform it.

 

[Javamama]

I saw a really good youtube video -do you want me to PM the link? Or I could just stick on your journal?
I went ahead and ordered the x30 - it seems to be what most people like. It really doesn't look that bad at all to me. But I'm not real tender-hearted toward animals

 

[savingdogs]

Sure!

Yes, I seemed to find the same thing. I think I need the special small attachment though. I don't see that it comes with the disbudder at the feed store, I only see that piece online at the Hoeggers supply.

Maybe I should choose someone using the X30 since I want to buy that one....I was just posting on the other thread that I've only watched it being done with a flat topped iron thingy the vets used. There was no tip to change the size.

 

[glenolam]

The iron I used was the x30 with the regular size tip on a buckling that was a mix of large and small breed. I'd say to talk to each of the people offering - if they aren't that far away (well, the two that are closer anyway) see if you can come to their farm and look at kids they've recently done or ask if they have any pictures.

I think the only way you can get the small attachment is if you order it on-line and it's about $75. The X50 though (which is more expensive) I think comes with both attachments so if you decide you want the larger tip all you have to do is switch it out.

I'm going to use my friend's x30 on my kids this year - no sense in me buying one when she's got one just sitting there.

 

[savingdogs]

One of the three people is saying she has a used disbudder she could sell me, a rhinehart, as well as do mine. She is interested in buying some wethers too, maybe I could do a trade. I'd happily give her my mutt bucklings if she would disbud my females, teach me how and give me the used disbudder. I would be made in the shade. I sent her newborn pics.

I'm considering selling Donald as well, or instead. I don't know how the family would take the idea. I love Donald and would cry. But he is being a PITA and I really don't need a hayburner each winter. He makes my does easier to manage but I think Ginger might start to fill that role. Hubby would not have to build another shelter and we would have all does. If I could get the others disbudded by giving him up and get a rhinehart too, I'd better be thanking God for being so good to me.