OK Waddles are not my cup of tea in fact I really don't like them. However I now have a beautiful buck with them so know that this spring I will have babies, probably with waddles. So what is the best way to get rid of them cut or tie / at birth or wait a week
Sondra, my 2 Rico doelings had wattles that I didn't want, so I snipped them off with sharp (sterilized) scissors, the day they were born. Snipped them flush with the neck and sprayed with Iodine. Very little blood. You could probably tie them off successfully too, but watch for infection where the string is cutting flesh.
It gives the cowlicks you always snag with the shavers if you cut them. I had someone hold them, cut around them with a scalpel, then cut them off and stitch the skin, I would use the staples now. This way it was a clean straight scar, no cowlick, no piece hanging, no indentation. Another friend of mine simply banded hers was sort of cute with their little green rubberbands on them. But I do agree, they are ugly. Vicki
Wow, I've found someone else who doesn't like wattles!!! I've never really cared for them, but I hear lots of people who LOVE them.
I too HATE wattles. I cut them off if they are born with them (we ONLY get them with our LaManchas - never Nubians). I cut them off the same way Vicki does. Although I have to admit, my beautiful 2008 LaMancha doeling, Million Dollar Baby, was born with the cutest wattles so I left them. Oh, and she is white too. Sara
Yeah, I think they can look o.k. on some goats, but they sure don't thrill me most of the time! You know we'd love to see a picture of your white LaMancha kid...
I thought wattles were cute when we got our buck who has them.....then his 1st daughter got wattle cysts. Big ugly things looked like she had golf balls on her neck. $300 later they're gone & she has 10 stitches on each side. I no longer think they're quite so cute. I have 4 does bred to him for Oct kids, so need to figure out what to do if they have wattles.....I heard from someone to tie them off with dental floss. If you cut them, do they bleed much? Do they need a stitch? Is it a vet thing or could I do it myself?
Not a biggy. My Toggs have them quite often. I cut them off at birth. SOP (standard operating procedure) is: Vaccine, dip navels, check sex, check teats and/or testicles, wattles cut off. I use a pair of SHARP surgical scissors, pull the wattle just a bit, cut next to the neck and spray with Iodine. No wattles. Kaye
I'd do like Kaye if we were getting rid of them. When we started we had a lot. Each yr we have less and less. I guess it isnt that much of a dminant trait. I dont care for them. DH loves them. DH pays the bills, is building a dairy and lets me drive to MT and ID for new goats so if he wants them painted purple with streamers hanging down he can have them. Small price too pay to get to have my goats. LOL
HOW True LeeAnne and the BUCK is beautiful even with his waddles but I am not having more of them and my DH could care less
I'm sure glad your Nubi's don't have them.. I'm not fond of them either. Although spray painted purple with streamers.. hmmmmm
We only had wattles on the boy babies this year. No wattles on herd buck. One dam had no wattles, gave birth to two wattle-less girls. Wattles on another dam..both boys had wattles. Wattles on another dam, boy had wattles, girl did not. Are wattles more inherent on males? Anita
Are there any purebred nubian lines WITH waddles out there? I can't remember ever seeing a purebred nubian with waddles. Ray
Yes they are on Nubian Talk, also a group who although are all American Nubian fans, also have polled purebreds. Yup Yup Yup Vicki