Hi every one,

The goats that I have were not de-horned when I got them. If I put an elastrator band around each horn about a half an inch above the part where the skin meets the horn, will the horn fall off, or is that too high for it to work properly?

The horns are about 4 inches long.

Thanks,

Betty Jo

-- Betty Jo (amaroq@bmts.com), February 11, 2002

Answers

Use a triangular file to file a groove around the base of the horn, right where the hair is. Make the groove as close to the head as you can. Then seat a band in the groove. Then, roll another band onto the horn, and roll it down over the first band, so it's below that one. If one band breaks there will be another to take it's place, and two bands do the job faster than one.

Now here is my two cents: if it were my animal and the horns were only four inches long, I'd heat a dehorning iron, saw the horns off, and cauterize the area really well with the dehornoing iron. It'd be a lot faster and cleaner. But, it is definitely bloody and messy, and it's the sort of thing that, once you start it, you have to finish the job.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 11, 2002.

BettyJo ,i have tried this I remember my mom&dad banding horns.i have a doe .that we got at 4 months she had small horns like this and we put the bands on as close as we could get to the skin.One broke off she did this her self the other continued to grow the band is now half way on up the horn.I still keep a band on but it isnt cutting very fast.She is now a year&ahalf old,she kinda looks like a unicorn.There is a web site that shows how to properly do this.You have to get the band down onto the flesh at the base of the horn.If I find it Ill let you know were it is, Pam

-- pam (pams65@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

the web sites are

www.Greatgoats.com www.skybusiness.com/goatscanada/index91.html

-- pam (pams65@hotmail.com), February 11, 2002.

Pam,

Thanks...........I have seen that website, but I can't slide the bands down that far (don't have an elastrator), so I was wondering if I put them just above the hair line if it would work too. That's as far as I can roll the bands down using my hands.

Betty Jo

-- Betty Jo (amaroq@bmts.com), February 11, 2002.

I am new to goats too and have pygmy does and a nigerian buck as I want to get more milk from future does. I did get a bander to use on my bucks and I think it was about $10.00 from Jeffers catalog. I don't know how important the location would be but I would suggest getting the right equipment to do the job or borrow. You might check with your feed store to see if they know anyone that might help you. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), February 11, 2002.

If you file the groove you will be able to roll the band right nexy to the head. I don't use a banding tool when I do this, just roll it down the horn.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 11, 2002.

Betty Jo, I dehorned 2 bully does in Oct. ( after fly season ) I couldn't roll the bands down past the horn either. I trimmed the hair below the horns with electric trimmers, and used a blunt screwdriver to pull the bands down onto the skin. Then I wrapped it as well as I could with Duct tape. In six weeks, the horns dropped off! Wonderful! I also banded a small doeling ( 7 mos old ) and deleted the Duct tape. She was able to roll the bands up onto her horn. She got rid of 1 band completely, but the other is on her horn, and has cut about 1/2 way through. I will have to re-do that girl. So, I would say, 1/2 below the skin border, and DON'T FORGET THE DUCT TAPE! LOL!

-- Judy in IN (whileaway3@cs.com), February 11, 2002.