Branding

[Mr.pacojack]

We had about 16 dog we had to get branded the other day and I was thinking it would be cool to see a post where wew could see evderyones brands. It might give someone new to the sport and idea for his own brand and so that someone might not get the same brand as someone else. Or it might help others Identify a lost or stolen dog and get it back to his owner.
There used to be a sticky on here on instuctions on branding maybe Buddy could move the brands to there if this takes off. Since we can't register brands like livestock. I was thinking it could be seen here.
My boy and I even branded each other.But to be honest this is the second time we have done it. Trying to get it scared up better.

[Mr.pacojack]

Mine is of an Anvil

[Arkansas Frog]

put you some Indian Ink in that blister and you got a tattoo

[Huntintony]

Devin, do you use Nitrogen or Dry Ice? Which works best?

Thanks

Tony

[norcalkemmer]

Nitrogen is alot better then ice. i did a few dogs with dry ice and and the rest with nitrogen. with the dry ice it took the brands longer to cool and you have to leave the brand on there a lot longer with the nitrogen it only takes the brand just a few minutes to chill and you only have to leave the brand on there for 10 or 12 seconds. Nice brand there Paco, i was thinking about doing the same with my brand but i chickened out.

[Mr.pacojack]

I Dry ice once and got different results on every dog. I only use Nitro now. it is cheaper than Ice and you cna get it at any welding supply store and alot of Livestock vets will jsut give it to you.
norcalkemmer, don't chicken out, while you are getting the brand it doesn't hurt at all
LETS SEE SOMEPICTURES OF YOUR BRANDS

[Huntintony]

Thanks you guys, Been wanting to do it for a while now but wasn't sure what was best.

Devin, whats the story behind the Anvil? Don't want to steal the post.. But maybe it would be cool to hear the story on how you chose your brand. I have a brand for my horses and I was thinking about doing the same for the dogs... I think that you had a great idea Devin, about Buddy haveing a place to log all brands...

Tony

[Mr.pacojack]

I have been a Farrier (horse shoer) for 20+ years and have it registered for my livestock so just passed it on to my dogs and me and my boy. I told my wife I was going to brand her and she bout kicked my butt.
On my livestock I have the left hip so I try to keep the brand on the dogs on the left side also but sometimes it has to be on the right side or do a burn on them but that doesn't show up as good on white.

[Mr.pacojack]

Getting alot of pm's on how to brand so I will do a quick run down.
1. you need your brand, Brass or copper works the best. I got mine at http://lhbrandingirons.com/pg/freeze.asp
2.get your liquid Nitrogen, I just use a styrofoam cooler ( tape around lid when transporting) I cut a small hole in it so that I can close the lid with the brand in it. Liquid Nitro will evaporate when exposed to air.
Cost me $6 to do 16 dogs



3. you need Isopropyl Alcohol I use 91%. Walgreens or any supermarket

4.Clippers

5.Gloves

6.Electical tape

Now you have everything you need except help, it is nice to have two people holding the dog and one person branding.
1. Put brand in liquid Nitrogen
2. Tape the dogs mouth shut so he doesnt bite you .
3 .Shave the area to be branded , you get a cleaner brand and gets colder
4. Put a small amout of alcohol on the shaved area ,enough to cover the branded area.This makes it colder.
Your brand is cold enough when it has stopped bubbling like it did when you put it in.
5. My brand is pretty thick so I only put it on for 7 to 10 seconds and that is on the body.
Push pretty hard so you don't get shadowing and slightly roll it to get good clean edges.
6. Put brand back in cooler and get ready for the next.
I don't brand ears, because they can be cut off so I don't know how long to leave it on for the ears.

[Huntintony]

Thanks Devin... Well put.

[bency]

Devin,

I currently use dry ice/99%alcohol mixture, but its more costly than yours.

When using the Nitrogen how much do you pour at a given time and the same for the alcohol..??

thanks.

[nmplott]

heres another link on freeze branding

[norcalkemmer]

you use enough nitro to cover over the brand about a inch. after you shave the animal right before you brand the hide you cover the spot with the alcohol.

[bency]

norcalkemmer,

is the shaving part a must...for doing the ears?

because i know when i use the dry ice method, on the ears i dont have to shave, just for the other parts of the body you have to.

thanks.

[Mr.pacojack]

You don't have to shave at all but you will get a crisper cleaner brand