thinking i couldn't make a good enough Disbudding box, i ordered one from Caprine Supply, the leading Goat supply company. Surprise.
you set the little thing in there, it's belly straddling that block, it's chin on the aluminum support, close the lid, hook the latch and sit on it as you do the deed. for these Nigerians, i'll also need to pad the bottom with towels so they are high enough.
it is amazing how minimal this is. how easy it would have been for me to follow diagrams everywhere online and build one myself. but....i didn't have the self confidence. duh. the screws they sent to afix the chin support are about a 1/4" too long and stick into the box. could/would for sure, cause harm to the baby. when i screwed it in, the front piece of plywood is thin and cracked. it's still ok. but really. What i really have trouble with is holding a piece of wood while using the circular saw. i need to figure out a plan for that kind of thing in the future. But...it'll be OK. and i was Watched from inside the Guinea Hen Palace. Goats are nosey.
and you can see Barbara right there. the perfect example of Scurs. the one the Vet had to come for. to trim.
when at the Old Folks Home last weekend, Kelly was Alz B's nurse and i reminded her that i had talked to her once because i'd been told she had goats. (that time, i had hunted her down in the staff break room and disrupted her peace. she was polite, but .....) This time she was yacky. Showed me pics of her goats on her phone. She has a disbudding tool. she did not use it because she could not bear to use it on the little little ones and when she could make herself do it, they were too old. she has no box. she has the tool. she has the goats and wants to continue. So. we were talking about this when the Queen Nurse Cindy came to the nurses station. What are we talking about, Queen Nurse Cindy inquires. Goats. What ? asks Queen Nurse Cindy (in her 60's....Kelly is in her 30's)...so, i tell her and Cindy says that she once had 30 some goats and disbudded them all. By herself. Castrated them too and not with banding but with making the incision and pulling out the little balls, snipping and TaDa.
SO.
these Goats and me, we are partners now. Who knows for How Long. I need to reorient. it's been a year. Sunny Ray and Cinderella had their birthday last week. the first to be born here. Sunny Ray is ready to be used for breeding. he needs does. not mine now, but be offered as stud for other peoples goats. Buckwheat will "prove" himself soon with the two bred does that will kid soon. Tenzen is patiently waiting. Gideon needs an opportunity while he still is able. All this. This is For Real. again, i need to Reorient. it's Me and Them.
