Knew This Day Would Come. . . . . .

D-day arrived today. Not an invasion from a foreign country but an intervention of sorts. For those who have raised dairy goats before this will be old hat for them. For us and all of you that haven't a clue what I am talking about, let me share d-day; aka ~ debudding day with you.

We knew it was coming, had gathered the necessary items for the procedure, pulled up our confidence straps and went to the barn to gather the first unsuspecting baby. The process of debudding (removing the horns) is not something that is pleasant task to do. The goats aren't too thrilled about it either and loudly sound their distress over having it done. But in having milk goats comes the responsibility of keeping them safe and living happily in a herd. Goats grow horns naturally as a means of protection and for intimidation. They have been known to get them caught in fencing which can cause a nasty injury or death. They sometimes choose to use them as motivators when others in the herd don't heed their demands. Or on unsuspecitn owners if not properly trained. In the wild, they will use them to ward off predators from making a meal off them. But. . . . living here in a protected fenced environment, where there meals are catered in and everyone is expected to act nice, they are simply not needed. I have not experienced a damaged or torn udder from a horn injury, because of an over zealous herd mate before. Like others have had to do and I do not want to start now. When we purchased Amber and her daughter last year they had already been debudded. As were Samson and Anna last August when they joined the beginnings of our little herd of milk goats. So naturally we knew that any babies born this year would need to be hornless too.

Hence it brings us up to today's new learning curve. We had spent time reading and had studied pictures on the web, in books and emails of the steps to do this correctly and safely. But nothing prepares you for the actually burning off of the horn buds on the tops of the sweet little faces of baby goats. They are so trusting right up to the point we placed them in the debudding box that Lon had built this morning. We had decided earlier that we would play the "bad cop / good cop" game. He was the mean bad guy with the hot iron and I was the loving good guy with the warm bottle of milk and soothing words. One by one they left the barn, only to return in a few minutes sporting new hair cuts and the results of the procedure. I will spare you the details, for those who rather not know. But after the first two were done, we were all of a sudden hit with a "did we do it right?" fear. And began searching for more info and someone who had done it before to talk to. Only knowing of two contacts we could call. One who doesn't do hers we found out and the other was not at home when we called. Chris, had helped me out last year when we first got our goats and had given sound advice. So I was hoping to gain some more today but with no luck. That left us with no course but to proceed on. After the last little doe was done, we knew we had passed a milestone for us and was quite glad in was over at least for a year. Only time will tell if we did it right. All but one bounced right back into their carefree play. Cinnamon, the smallest doe in the group needed some extra loving and holding which I didn't mind doing at all. Hopefully by tomorrow all will be forgiven and forgotten.

Sue, one of my faithful egg customers drove out today to see us. We had a nice visit and showed her around our growing farm. Pointing out the changes that had been made and our dreams for the place. She and her husband hope to raise some chickens once they too get moved to their own retirement home in north Georgia. I promised to let her know when we get some hatch out and ready to sale. She and I actually met off an ad that I had placed in the Farmers Market Bulletin last year, in an effort to move some of the growing egg production that we were experiencing. Every week she would stop by to get her eggs and we would share information on some of our common interests; eating naturally, frugal home tips, goat's milk soap, etc. Since we have moved, Lon takes her eggs back to Dville for her to pick up. I have missed our weekly visits and enjoyed the time we had together today. Stop by anytime Sue and be sure to come back when things aren't so muddy.

Glad d-day is behind us,

Deborah