I just bought a pet pygmy goat. He has been banded, and they assured me that he would not later develop a 'smell'. Is this true? or am I in for a time when he gets older. Also, he has small horn buds, I am thinking of having him de-horned. He is 8 weeks, Is this the right time to have this done or should I wait? He is such a sweet little guy. He is inside now until Monday when the vet comes out to give shots and treat him for a cold he has, runny nose and all. Thank you all for your responses in advance.

-- Angela Nelson (Daizy_73@hotmail.com), February 03, 2002

Answers

Only intact bucks will smell when they are in rut during breeding season, so your little guy would not. I would definitely recommend getting him disbudded as soon as possible.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), February 03, 2002.

I have a female pygmy that I love dearly. She roams the yard just like she is a dog. I did not have her de-horned and have not had any problems with that. You will truly love this pet!!

-- Tara (sweetara74@yahoo.com), February 03, 2002.

Have him disbudded when the vet comes out. It will save you lots of problems. Congradulations on your new little guy!

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), February 03, 2002.

I agree totally with Leslie, wethers don't have an odor, and I would have him disbudded ASAP, ask your vet to do it.

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), February 03, 2002.

I will only add an answer as to why you should have him disbudded. He may never butt and be the sweetest thing on earth, but he will not always be paying attention to where his horns are and could hurt someone accidentally with them. Then again, if you have children who may be playing with him, it is better not to tempt fate by having a horned animal. Also, it is much easier for a horned animal to get caught up in fencing or get his head caught in a small space than dehorned animals. Enjoy the little bugger!

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), February 03, 2002.

Make sure that whatever goat feed you feed him contains ammonium chloride, no horse and mule or sweet feed, or purchase the ammonium chloride yourself at pipevet.com and give him 1 teaspoon per day, everyday sprinkled over his grain, if you are going to feed him grain. No alfalfa ever for him, grass hay only. Lots of clean water, and find Patty on the list and join her little goat forum! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

I just got off the phone with the vet, and she reccomended not de- horning him. She said that as long as children were taught to properly be around them they should cause no problems. Go figure. I am confused now, I am trying to wieght the pros and cons of this. She has dozens of goats and never de-hornes them. I have electric fencing, so when he gets older, I will introduce him to it, and so I doubt he will ever get close enough to get caught in it like he would woven wire, and as soon as he gets over his cold, he will be living on my back deck until he gets a litlle bigger. Why no alfalfa? I was going to go out and get him a bale of that. I am glad I found this forum so I wont make mistakes like that with this little guy.

-- Angela (Daizy_73@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

Alfalfa is very high in calcium and very high in protein, neither are things your wether needs. Honestly other than perhaps a cup of grain, and I mean a measuring cup full, and good grass hay, some minerals and water, you will cause him to be overfat and get urinary calculi (stones) if you overfeed him. Remember that not only is your pygmy a meat goat, but now that he is wethered he will no be growing sperm, so all he is, is an eating machine :) Don't kill him with kindness. And Angela, a vet with dozens of horned goats, is a wee bit different than you with a pet goat and small children. Look at the folks on the board who are telling you to disbud this little guy, we certainly wouldn't be telling you this if we didn't think it would be in the best interest for both you and the goat. Not only are horns dangerous to children, but to other goats, also it is so much harder to make hay and grain feeders that they don't waste hay with, or can poop in the grain, because you have to make the head holds so large to accomadate the horns. And........wether goats rarely find forever homes, so if you do disbud him he will be a much more attractive pet for the next person. Bet you 5$ if you don't disbud him you will be back on the boards in a year asking how to dehorn him! :) The best place to go for advice is not the vet, the best place to go to have your guy disbudded is not the vet, find yourself a local breeder, and if you want me to help you find one get with me on what state and city you are in. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

The feed I bought does not have the ammonium chloride, it is the bartlett goat pellets, but I just ordered some. The hay I have right now for my horses is fescue, should I look for a better grass hay? Also, how much feed should I be giving? I saw somewhere that while he is growing he should get free choice, then cut back when he gets older. Oh, and what is the ingredient that is toxic to goats? I want to make sure I don't give him anything that has that in it. I bought him a plain salt block too, but he just looked at it. I don't think he knows what to do with it yet. lol! thanks for all the replies. i am going to find out what method my vet uses to dehorn, and have it done. i would rather be safe than sorry in the long run.

-- Angela (Daizy_73@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

That is true if he is banded he will not smell. As far as dehorning a kid ,as soon as you feel knots it is time to do it. It will save you alot of headaches to have the horns gone. My wife has about 20 pigmy goats and we don't miss one on dehorning.

larry dunn sld5825@comteck.com

-- larry dunn (sld5825@comteck.com), February 06, 2002.