How to Dehorn an Adult Goat

Leaving the horns on a goat can be dangerous to others, to property or to the goat itself. Ideally, removing the horn buds of kids, or young goats, is most humane. There are instances where an adult goat was left with its horns and needs them removed, but one should never simply cut off the horns, as the have large blood vessels running through them to the goat's skull. Taking an adult goat to a veterinarian is the safest and most humane way to have the animal dehorned, but there you can safely debud a kid yourself following some careful steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Assistant
  • Debudding crate
  • Electric debudding iron
  • Herbal tincture
  • Iodine
  • Steel wool
  • Thick gloves
  • Towels
  • Trimmers
  • Wood board
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Instructions

    • 1

      Give the kid the recommended dose of an herbal tincture a half-hour before dehorning it. This will help with the pain.

    • 2

      Preheat the dehorning iron until it glows red. This should take 10 to 15 minutes. Test the iron on a piece of wood board. A dark, brown ring should be burned into the wood immediately if the dehorning iron is hot enough to be used on the goat.

    • 3

      Place the goat inside the dehorning box. Add towels to the box if the kid needs to be raised higher in the box.

    • 4

      Have the assistant hold the kid's head very still. Clip the hair around the goat's horns and scent glands using trimmers. Clip as much of the hair away as possible.

    • 5

      Have the assistant hold the kid carefully by the neck and nose, being careful not not obstruct the goat's breathing, as you look over the horn and scent gland area.

    • 6

      Press the iron over one of the kid's buds, or the small beginnings of the horn, and begin counting to eight seconds. Never let the debudding iron sit in one place; slowly rotate the iron. Use the side of the iron to rub around the center of the ring to destroy any remaining tissue.

    • 7

      Press the iron over the other bud. Slowly rotate the iron. Use the side of the iron to rub around the center of the ring to destroy any remaining tissue.

    • 8

      Apply a small amount of iodine to each burn area and pat gently with towels. Keep iodine out of the eyes.

    • 9

      Remove the kid from the box and have it stand. The goats will typically be happy to be done and will want to eat or play. Pet the kid if it shows signs of shock.

    • 10

      Scabs will appear a few days after the procedure, and they will fall off themselves after a few weeks. Do not attempt to clean the scabs or remove them.