Last year was our first year birthing baby goats, and we are just getting around to tattooing and registering said babies! I helped a goat breeder last year do her goats and in so learned how to do it myself. I was super careful to load the tattooer correctly, and punched it each time on paper first to make sure it was right. We put each baby in the milking stand and locked them in. I then cleaned the ears with a dilute iodine solution, towel and water. I then rubbed ink on it and squeezed the tattooer really hard! I then rolled ink over it again several times to make sure the ink was in it real well. I was VERY surprised at how well the babies took it. A couple of them jumped and stomped but since they were in the stanchion there wasn't much they could do. The last two babies did scream and fight but as soon as the tattooer was released they settled right down. I also had two volunteers helping me, which was a BIG help, they were able to help hold the babies and hand me stuff as needed. It was definitely easier with people helping! This next year after the babies are born we won't take so long to do them now that I know it's so easy!
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