Believe it or not, there’s a patch of pussy willows blooming in a pasture not far from our homestead. That one patch always blooms a month before the “regular” season for pussy willows arrives. But it always cheers us up! Even if it was -16 degrees last night with a high of 3 degrees yesterday.
Other signs of approaching spring were the two goat kids that our friends Mike and Paulette brought over for us to disbud yesterday. Okay, their buck jumped the fence and the kids are early. But it still felt like spring taking care of this necessary but distasteful chore. We disbud with an electric disbudding iron. After making sure it is red-hot, Will holds the kids firmly while I push the iron down over each horn bud, rotating/rocking it so it makes a complete indentation around each horn-to-be. This kills the horn cells and the goat is free of dangerous horns for its lifetime.
I’ve seen many goats strangled in fences after getting their horned heads wedged through a wire square and not being able, because of the horns, to get back out. They can also accidentally bang their owners in the face while swatting flies during milking or even break the legs of their own kids after catching the fragile legs in the V where the horns come together on the head. I hate disbudding but hate the injuries and deaths that horns can cause.
As a thank you for performing the disbudding, Paulette presented us with a pair of her hand-knit wool socks. We had two pair before and Will wore his every day all winter! So warm.
This last pair is pretty colorful, but Will snagged them this morning and is now out plowing snow. Who needs spring flowers for bright colors to perk us up after winter’s white? Now we have Will’s new socks! — Jackie
Sheryl,
The socks are made by my friend Paulette and she said she would custom make socks and barter as well as sell them. Her e-mail is: ruemipa@hotmail.com.
Sheryl,
I’m sure she would.
Jackie
What pretty socks. Does she barter?
I’ve raised goats & I definately favor de-budding. I’ve got scars on the back of my leg from a playful rub from a horned goat & scratches on my arms from working a stubborn goat back throw the woven fence after getting his horns stuck. It’s safer for everyone around including the goats.
I’m one of your envious fans, Jackie. Reading your blog is the next best thing to having my own cabin. =)
I’ve done my share of disbudding. Not pleasant but I agree with you. We bought a horned goat and she was constantly getting stuck in the fence. As disagreeable as the job is I think Will got the best of the bargain. Those socks are fantastic. Wish I had someone to trade jobs like that for nice wool socks!
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