Goat breeding. I’m sure you’re wondering why anybody would need to know how to breed a goat.
Well, if you’re anything like me, and you’ve successfully convinced your husband to start a small farm, and that farm includes goats, which means you’ll have to breed goats so you can start milking those goats, and you officially become the weird one in your family who milks goats and actually drinks goats milk…..
Well, you’ve come to the right place, my friend!
In case you didn’t know, goats need to breed & have babies before they can produce milk.
Yes, I’m sorry to say, you can’t just buy a goat and start tugging. I know. Such a bummer. In order for their lactation to start up (often called freshening), you’ve got to get that female goat (often called a doe) of yours a boyfriend to whisper sweet nothings in her ear.
Some facts about goat breeding cycles:
- Male goats can breed as young as 10 weeks old. This doesn’t mean that they should be bred, but it’s definitely possible for him to get his sister and mother pregnant, so it’s important to remove bucks from females at 10 weeks old! Males that you want to be more friendly, sterile companions can be banded easily with these.
- Male goats (called bucks) can breed pretty much any time. They are ready to go 24-7, except in extreme weather conditions. They won’t breed, however, just for fun. They’ll only breed when they can smell that the female is in “heat”.
- Bucks can go into a “rut” which basically means they get a surge of hormones and ready to breed before a doe is ready. Sometimes just them going into “rut” will make the females go into heat. During rut, bucks will show wild dominance and do some crazy hilarious things like snort, spit, urinate on themselves to make themselves more smelly, and even drink their urine.
- Female goats (called does) go into heat every 21 days and lasts about 1-3 days. Some breeds, like Nigerians, Boers, Spanish & Fainting, Pygmies and (sometimes) Nubians can breed year round. Most other dairy breeds are seasonal breeders, which means they will only go into heat every 21 days in the Fall from about August to January.
- Full-size dairy goats can be bred when they reach 8 months (or 80 lbs.) Miniature goats can be bred at 7-8 months (or 45 lbs.)
- Signs of heat can be wagging the tail, mounting other does, letting other does mount her, fighting, clear (wet or dried) mucosal discharge from her vagina, or yelling (bleating) for no reason.
- The goat gestation period is 5 months (roughly 150 days – give or take a few).
- Goats can have anywhere from 1-5 kids in a litter. The average is 2-3. Pretty amazing, huh?
- Most people breed their goats once a year to maintain their milk supply.
- You can still milk a doe while she is pregnant, although it is wise to let her dry up about 2 months before she is set to deliver so her body can rest and build up nutritional reserves for the babies.
- A doe can produce babies for as long as she lives, which is typically around 10-12 years, although there can be more complications as they get older.
- A doe can DEFINITELY get pregnant while she is lactating.
Doing the actual Deed (goat breeding style):
Goats have a natural instinct to breed, and they’re pretty fast at at it.
Once you put the buck and doe in heat together, the buck will act interested instantly and being pawing and stomping. If she urinates, he’ll probably put his face in the stream. Yeah, a little gross, I know. The doe will wag her tail and stand still when the buck tries to mount her, although goats do like a little foreplay and may run around together for a while first. In my experience, goats like to breed at night. So while they’ll run around and act interested at first, they may wait till the evening to finally do the deed.
The sex lasts only seconds, and it can be really easy to miss. Most goat owners like to know for sure if their goats were bred, but it can be a pain to stay up all night trying to watch for that special moment. Instead, most owners just check the back end of their doe in the morning. You can tell there’s been a successful breeding if there’s a milky white liquid coming from her vagina. Trust me, it’s really easy to spot.
Problems with Goat Breeding:
In rare cases, even when a doe seems to be in heat, she may refuse to breed and not enjoy her special date. Sometimes you can put her in with the buck and she’ll eventually get used to him, and other times she’ll run away from him no matter what. This can happen in a young doe who is inexperienced or in an older doe who is placed with a young buck who is inexperienced and “not smelly” enough for her preferences.
In cases like this, I like to put the doe and buck in a smaller, more confined area so it’s harder for her to run away.
What about Goat Inbreeding?
We’ve had our fair share of accidental breeding here on the farm, but when doing it purposefully, do so with caution. Fiasco Farms explains it well:
Line breeding (breeding closely related animals) can quickly improve a herd because the good qualities of the animals get accentuated. BUT the bad qualities are also accentuated. Because of this, you have to think about what you are doing, look at the animals and use your head. You can’t just simply go by some arbitrary “rule” like “it’s OK be breed grandfather to granddaughter”, but look at the individual goats and decide if their particular good traits out weigh the bad traits.
Since we only keep very good bucks, we do not worry that much about “bad” traits, since if our buck had discernible bad traits, we wouldn’t use him for breeding purposes. We do do a lot of Line-breeding with our herd.
The only hard and fast rule that I know of is do not breed a full brother and full sister. In some circumstances, it is ok to breed father to daughter, but we hardly ever do that. We much prefer to breed grandfather to granddaughter, uncles to niece, etc. (source)
How to tell if a Goat is Pregnant:
Because goats have a natural fermenting rumen and large belly, they always “look pregnant”. An ultrasound can be done 30 days post breeding and a blood test can be done 60 days post breeding. If you want to go off of looks, you won’t be able to notice a larger belly than normal until about 70-90 days, and sometimes even later. Experienced goat breeders can usually tell when their goats are pregnant, but if you’re new to the goat world, I’d suggest doing a blood test or ultrasound to be sure:) We use a local woman who has a small portable ultrasound machine and can do it at our home.
Want to see how we breed our goats? Watch our YouTube videos below
Hello ! I’m having trouble getting my goats to a good size by 1 year old. Do you have any articles about how you get your goats to a good size by 8 months?
My goats aren’t from slow growing lines. Clear fecals. Their dams were bred by 8 months. I must be doing something wrong
Regards,
Jodie
We feed a grower grain from 2-8 months to help with growth. You can also use a dairy goat pellet.
I have a question I am new to all of this I have two nannies and two bucks the bucks are brothers and I noticed today the buck is staying right with one of the nannies and he will not let his brother up on their house with them why would he be doing this they use to stay right together until now thank you
Bucks are territorial, even if they are brothers. To them, the other buck is competition so they will be very aggressive during rut.
Hi!
I got two boys and two girl goats this year and I’m so excited because, one of them went into heat for sure (She’s in love with her buck). Then the other goat is acting so strange! She’s extra vocal that her throat is sounding hoarse. She is showing some signs of being in heat too like: 1 Not acting herself, but still in a active way. 2 Yelling almost non-stop even though she has water and she has plenty of good food. 3 she has some rear changes. 4 The Buck likes her quite a bit. I put her in with the Buck but she just doesn’t like him at all though… I have done a lot of research but, everything is giving me mixed signals. What do you think ups with her? This is her first year of breeding so I am wondering if she inexperienced. She’s 7 months old and is about full grown.
Thanks so much for your time!
Hi Hannah-
As long as she is eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom fine and not running a temperature or showing any other signs of illness, then yes, she is probably just a little inexperienced. It may be best to wait for her next heat cycle to try and breed her.
Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Ok! Thanks so much! I will do that. 🙂
She is doing everything normal so I will wait till her next cycle.
I enjoy your videos and blog! I love seeing others who love farm life too.
Thanks again!
Hi! I was given three female registered Dwarf Nigerian Milking Goats three weeks ago. They are a year and a half. I am not new to milking as I was a dairy farmer in my past life. I am here in the West Valley (AZ) and I want to have them bred. With cattle I know we have had the vet inseminate our cows or pay for a servicing of a bull. Can you recommend or point me in the right direction to quality breeders for our goats? I have their papers and would like our youngest to show when he is a bit older along with keeping great bloodlines and milking. I follow you on youtube and love that you are here in AZ!
Hi Brandy-
You can give Blue Cactus Dairy a try. They have great bloodlines. https://www.bcdairygoats.com/
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am replacing my buck with a buckling born early this year. The plan is to select the “best” one from the nine I have. The choice has come down to two: 1) a Togg-x that is tall, somewhat slender like his mom but exhibiting very mature buck behavior; dominant and clearly in rut who the does flirt with at the fence line; and 2) a Saanen-Kiko-x, shorter, rounder and muscular, with average behavior, not in rut. I would like to have kids that are more like the latter; but am less confident in his breeding abilities. I will be breeding starting November 15. How would you go about deciding which to keep?
Hi Larry-
If you prefer the latter body style that would be best. If you can look back at the past sires breeding ability that may help the decision.
Best of luck with your breeding plans.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi.
We have 2 does and a buck. Our older doe has just had two babies. We believe the younger doe is pregnant. Teats getting bugger and starting to bag up. However she is still in with the buck and he stills tries to breed her every few weeks.
The older doe and younger doe have been with the buck for the same amount of time. Can a buck still try and breed with a doe if she is already pregnant? Or any other suggestions ?
Hi Courtney-
Typically a buck is only interested in breeding with a female when she is in heat.
Talk to your vet about preganancy testing if that is a possibility.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
What was the lady that did your ultrasound? I live in Phoenix also and I want to check my doe.
Thanks!
Hello-
DaNelle goes through Herd Health Management.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
So I want to get goats to breed and I do not know what kind to get. I have a smaller space and I have chickens and ducks and 4 younger kids so pleas help.
Hi Tori-
This article can help you choose a breed: https://www.weedemandreap.com/choosing-goat-breed/
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi. Can I breed my goats this fall? They are eight weeks old but look very wide and ready to breed by this fall. Would that be a good idea?
Hello-
It’s usually best to wait until your does are a year old.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hello! I have a small homestead of Nubians. Two does kidded three weeks ago. The biggest buckling has started mounting his sisters, making buck talk, and even extending. However, he’s only three weeks old, so I don’t know if I should separate him or keep him with the others a little longer. What would you advise?
Hi Anna-
Bucks can start breeding at age 7 weeks, so make sure he is separated by then. Do make sure he is eating solid food and is getting enough nutrition when he is weaned.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I just purchased a apline/nubain buckling. He is only a week old. When he gets older is there a certain bred to breed him with or should I just get him banded at 12 weeks. I’m confused. I’ve been told so much i dont know what to believe or do at this point.
Hi Alexis-
You can use him for breeding for whatever you like except do not breed him to a smaller breed doe such as a Nigerian Dwarf or Pygmy. However, if someone is looking to breed purebreds your buck will not be eligible for this. If you do not want to keep a breeding buck then castrate him and make him a wether. It’s best to do this after 10 – 12 weeks of age, but know he can start breeding at 7 weeks of age so keep him separated from female goats at that time.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
You say a doe in lactation can get pregnant, is this true with Lamancha? How does this happen, do they need a hormone shot?
Hello Summer-
It is quite normal for does to be bred while they are still in milk. No hormone shot is needed, they will just naturally go into heat.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have two pygmy does and I would like to breed them to a ND Male, is this possible?
Hi Iris-
Yes, you can do that.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have a Boer buck can I breed him to nubiaand or would he be to big for them
Hi Patty-
Yes you can breed your buck to a Nubian doe.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
We have 4 year old maiden Lamancha goats and 6 month old Lamancha buck been all together 2.5 months it’s now beginning of November. None of them are interested in breeding. Please help.
Hello Lora-
Lamancha does come into season in the fall or winter when they are in heat for 1-2 days every 18-21 days until they are bred.
So your does may not have come into heat yet.
With the buck being so young he may also not have the right scent to make the does interested.
Give them all some time. Also make sure their nutrition is up to par. A goat that is missing nutrients is less likely to breed or be interested in breeding.
Best of luck with your goats.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hello, my question is why isn’t my doe getting pregnant? We baught her with a Buck they are both about 10 months old. They are always together but no luck on being bred. Please help us!
They are Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Hi Monica-
It’s best to wait until your doe is 1 year old to breed her so she has had time to finish growing and she is at a healthy weight.
Does can have issues being bred if they have poor nutrition, are overweight, or are stressed.
Make sure she is healthy and living in a calm and clean environment.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi
It’s me again could you please recommend a stud service in the area? I have a Nigerian dwarf doe I was hoping to breed.
Hi Kailyn-
Try Blue Cactus Dairy. They should be able to help you. https://www.bcdairygoats.com/
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi,
We have three goats one Nigerian Dwarf doe and two Nubian wethers. I was planning on breeding my doe this December and I was wondering, will the boys be rude to her if she smells like the buck? Or the other way around will the buck be a bully to her because he smells the wethers on her?
Thank you so much.
Hi Kailyn-
No, the wethers will not bother her since they won’t be interested in breeding and the buck won’t care because all he is interested in will be breeding.
Good luck with your kidding season!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
can i breed a nigerian dwarf buck with a lamancha doe? I’m worried because he might not be able to breed with her because she is bigger than him. what are your thoughts?
Hello-
Yes, you can. It becomes a problem when breeding a large breed buck with a small breed doe as this can cause birthing problem.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi there, I’m pretty new to raising dairy goats and am looking for a little advice.
I purchased 2 saanen doelings and a bottle baby in April. One doeling looks very promising as a milker, she’s stout, gorgeous and seems to have good sized symmetrical teats. The other doeling, however, has been extra work from the start. Needed supplements, mite treatments, you name it. On top of this her teats are so tiny you can hardly find them. I now have the opportunity to trade her for a nubian/toggenburg proven doe that is 7 yrs old. I’m conflicted. Should I hold on to my doeling and see how her first kidding season goes, or trade for a proven doe that I could breed now but could only have a couple years left in her?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Kelsi-
It really depends on what your breeding and farm plan look like. If you are set on Saanens, then I would stick with the young doe. It also depends on what stock she came from and if her line has good milkers and good breeding stock. It does sound like she may be a bit sickly and that could affect her breeding capabilities.
If you want a sure bet and want to start breeding now and have milk soon, then the older doe may be what’s best.
Figure out what is most important to your overall plan and choose accordingly.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
So we are getting a myotonic buck and I am wondering if we can breed him to a dwarf doe is this possible
Hi Haley-
I believe Myotonic goats are a larger breed than the ND. It’s best not to breed a larger breed buck with a smaller breed doe, as she may have difficult birth, harming or killing both her and the kids.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Great article, thanks very much from Costa Rica. Forgive me if this has been covered or if it’s an “obvious” question.
We plan on getting a small herd going for milk.
We do not eat red meat and so are having a hard time figuring out of there are any ways to be producing the males (figuring that half of them will be) and not simply eat them and keep the female…sounds bad typed out!
One idea I had was to get such an excellent breeding line going that folks would be lined up to have our males.
Not at all sure if that is even a thing, so again, forgive my inexperienced question. Thanks on advance.
Hi Mark
If you do not want to eat them you can sell them as bucks or wethers. Or you can sell them to others so they can use them for meat.
To have a higher selling line you will need to have them registered and have them originate from top line stock.
Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hello from Wyoming DaNelle!
I’ve been a goat owner a little over a year so I’m still pretty new. I’m wondering what is the earliest you’ll breed a young doe? My youngest doe is 8 months so I’m not sure if I should have her bred or just let her get a bit more mature.
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Jeanene-
A good rule of thumb is to wait until the doe is a year old before breeding. Also make sure she is in good health and has proper nutrition before breeding.
Best of luck with your goats!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Considering the does can still get pregnant while lactating, is it advisable or rather possible for it to just get pregnant again after giving birth? if so, what is the best or most advisable time to do so? My thinking here being, if it can still get pregnant while lactating then it can just get pregnant again whilst its nursing.
What’s your advice on what to do?
Hi Donald-
Yes, a doe must be lactating to nurse or be milked and are usually bred while still in milk to continue the milk supply for the breeder/owner. It’s best to wait a year between breedings and make sure your doe has optimal nutrition before breeding, during pregnancy, and while nursing and/or being milked. Breeding immediately after birth is not advisable. A doe needs time to recover from the pregnancy, birth, and beginning of lactation. If not, she will suffer health problems.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
My goats got in poison ivy and gave it to me is there anything I can do to get it off of them
Hi Misty-
You will need to wash your goats with a degreasing type of soap, such as Dawn. Just be sure to rinse it all off of your goats so it doesn’t irritate their skin. When washing them wear rubber gloves, cover your exposed skin with a cream/lotion containing bentoquatum, and use a lot of cool water for washing and rinsing.
Best of luck with your goats and the poison ivy.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I read in the comments that you said a buck can make milk taste bad. That’s not true! That’s not cleaning the Doe well enough or having insanity milking habits! We’ve had our bucks in with our nubians year round. Zero issues and now a smelly ND buck with zero yucky milk. It’s all about bacteria, dirt, and SANITARY milking habits! Don’t spread old wives tales.
Just because you haven’t had this happen doesn’t mean it’s not true. Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”?
It depends on the goat and the sanitary measures you use! Clean the teats before you milk and remember to get the first bit of milk out before milking (like a squirt of each teat). A lot of what has to do with nasty tasting milk has to do with the doe herself. Being in with the buck or around the buck doesn’t have much to do with it. I have had my bucks right next to my milking does and not a single one has had a problem. Even when the bucks are in rutt! I have noticed that if you don’t filter the milk fast enough or get it cold fast enough it can have an off flavor. It’s all about sanitation. One thing I’m curious about is if one breed of goat is more prone to have Bucky flavored milk. I’ve had mostly a Nubian and ND herd so far and not a single problem. All the people I know who have goats say it’s about sanitation!
I do not recommend keeping your buck/bucks in with your does full time though. Unless your pasture breeding.
Actually, from what I have read and experienced, some people can detect the “bucky” flavor and some can’t just depending on the individuals genetic taste. The first time we tried goats milk in my family: 2 people thought it tasted just like cow’s milk, 2 people thought it tasted like cow’s milk with an odd aftertaste, and 3 people were immediately spitting and thought it tasted like a barn. Same quart of milk from the same place, same type of goat. Individual taste can be very different so just because you haven’t noticed it, doesn’t mean it tastes the same to everyone. I was one that noticed an aftertaste, it was mild. Some weeks later, I was visiting my brother in law and he had his bucks in a small barn together and I immediately recognized that smell as being the same as the aftertaste on the milk. But keep in mind, there were members of my family that did not detect that flavor at all. At a different, smaller goat farm, where they did not keep their own buck full time, every single person who tried that milk thought it was great and I didn’t detect that same aftertaste. So, you simply might be someone that doesn’t taste it even if it is present.
Hello,
I just received order of my west African long legged buck and I want to cross breed it with a Nigerian dwarf doe. Just wanted to know if that’s possible since the west African long legged buck is very tall. Thank you
Hi Yusat-
Breeding larger sized breeds of bucks with smaller sized breeds of does can be problematic and is not recommended. Doing this can result in babies that may be too difficult for the does to birth and/or nurse, putting both the does and kids at risk.
I hope that helps.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hello, in your goat guide you state that you can only keep does and breeding bucks together during breeding season, but you don’t really state why.
I have two Miniature Nubians, a doe and an intact buck. They are not closely related. They have been kept together for a year and a half, since they were kids, with no issues, in fact the doe seems to be more aggressive then the buck, frequently head-butting him when he’s hogging the treats. The only weird thing is, they still haven’t bred yet. Is there a correlation?
Hello-
Bucks are often separated from does so you can control the time of breeding, ensure kid safety, and so the does milk doesn’t develop an off flavor. Not everyone separates their bucks and does.
As for why they haven’t bred, maybe the doe has not come into heat, or maybe the doe or buck have a health issue. If you are wanting to breed them and it’s not working you may want to talk with your vet to check your goats’ health status and then go from there.
I hope that helps.
Best wishes on your goats!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
This past winter I had to take one of my does to the vet so she could get a clean out shot and antibiotics after the buck butted her in the side really really hard and caused a miscarriage which went septic. She almost died. The vet asked if the buck was in with her, and when I explained what happened she said the majority of patients she has that miscarry like this are because they were butted by ornery bucks. We will definitely not be letting them run together during pregnancy any more.
Hard lessons to learn with goats! My mom has a friend who always had her 200lb fainter buck in with her ND does and he was always bullying them! Thankfully none were bred (probably a good thing to because he was huge). I also have had problems with the “herd queens” trying to push their way around and ram everyone in their way, just watch for that! Glad you have the common sense to take the buck out of their pen!
What are the chances of a 5 month old buck knocking up a 15 month doe? We recently got a girl in the beginning of March, she was never separated from the buck who was born the end of September until we bought her. Noticed she is larger in the last month but that may be due to different hay we feed, and not living with as many goats either. More curious then worried
Hello-
Goats can breed after 7 weeks of age. So there is a possibility your doe is pregnant. Here is DaNelle’s article on how to tell if a goat is pregnant: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-pregnant/
Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Wat kind of goats are good with horses?
Hi Jamie-
Typically larger breed goats do better with horses, just because they are less likely to be injured. It is best to get a female goat or castrated male as a companion for your horse. Do know that horses and goats do not eat the same things. Here is a good guide on how to feed goats: https://www.weedemandreap.com/optimal-nutritional-goat-diet/
And if your horse has never been around goats, introduce them slowly, such as in a nearby stall. Horses can freak out about goats sometimes. Allowing the horse to get used to the sight, sound, and smell of a goat can relax the horse.
Also be aware that sometimes when goats do not have other goats around, even if they have other livestock with them, they can get lonely and be very vocal.
I hope that helps!
Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
We have an alpine/Nigerian doe and a toggenburg/ Nigerian doe can we breed them with a Nubian buck???
Hi Kristina-
I’m not sure how big your crossbred does are, but breeding larger sized bucks with smaller breed does can be disastrous. I wouldn’t recommend this since the does have dwarf in them and the part Nubian babies may be too large for the does to birth and/or nurse.
I hope that helps.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thank you for all the great advice here! We just got 2 Nigerian Dwarf bucks and are excited to start breeding! We have 4 Nigerian Dwarf does and 1 Boer (possibly mixed) doe. Would we be ok to breed the boer doe with the Nigerian Dwarf buck? They are about the same size. The doe might be a little bit bigger. I’m not sure if the mixed babies would sell?
Hi Amanda-
Yes, you can breed a Boer doe with a ND buck, but I would not try it the other way around. Breeding larger sized bucks with smaller breed does can be disastrous, but with the doe being the bigger breed she should have no problem birthing the babies. The Boer ND cross babies may not be as good of milk producers as pure NDs, but probabaly better than pure Boers. As for selling them, it depends on if you have a buyer for crosses, so I can’t I really tell you if they will sell or not.
Best wishes with your goats!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
At what age, or what signs would you go, as sign that its time to stop breeding a doe? And do people retire their old does, or do they cull them?
Hi Heather-
It depends on the goat when you stop breeding them. I’ve had some that I’ve quit breeding after 8 years and others I’ve had up to 12.
You can do whatever you like. I’ve kept a couple older does just because I liked them and they act as a sort of nanny or grandma to the younger ones keeping them calm and teaching them to come when I call. Others I have gotten rid of because they weren’t my favorite goats and it gets expensive keeping non producing goats.
I hope that helps.
Thank you-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi! I have bene reading many of these comments. I had a question about fencing. We have four Nigerian Dwarf does. I have two bucks coming next weekend and we are trying to figure out the best fencing for them. Would livestock panels from TSC work, the ones with a graduated 8 in. vertical x 4 in. horizontal to 8 in. vertical x 6 in. horizontal mesh? We’d like to be able to rotate their pastures and these are much more affordable than the goat panels (which offer 4×4 squares). Will the bucks breed through an 8×4 or 8×6 opening?
Hi Rebecca-
Those panels should work. Just make sure they can’t get their heads caught up in it in any way. If you find there are problems you always cover a portion of the panels with a mesh wire.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Bobbie I see a lot of questions and your comments I have 32 female goats drove 150 miles got two males but when putting them with the girls they don’t seem to be interested the guys just stay to themselves
Hi Mary-
Your goats may not be in heat yet. Once they are they will become interested.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hey my billy got in with my female goats who are just about year old. What should I do?!?!
Hi Corina-
In about 30 days have your does tested to see if they are pregnant.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant).
I have a doe that is 3 years, and hasn’t been bred yet. Is it okay to breed a doe that is older than 3 years even if it hasen’t been bred before? (It would be it’s first freshening). It would probably kid at almost 4 years if I breed her at 3.5 years. Usually I breed my does between 1-2.5 years, but I’ve never breed after 3 years…
Hello-
Yes, you can breed the 3 year old. Make sure she is healthy and her nutrition is top notch and she should be fine.
Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I’m just starting out with breeding and milking goats. She kidded twins her first go around! I would like to breed her and have her kid again in the spring while continuing to milk. Would putting her in with the buck at night for a week or so and separating them during the day keep her milk from smelling and tasting weird? Thanks in advance for any help!
Hi Evelyn-
Keeping a doe in with a buck can be affect the taste of the milk. This doesn’t happen 100% of the time, but it’s definitely a possibility. I have seen does produce clean & fresh-tasting milk after being in with a buck, and others produce milk that had a strong musky flavor in their milk. It seems to be goat dependent on how the milk will turn out. Give it a try and see how it goes. At most you will have to toss a week’s worth of milk if it is a taste you don’t like. However, in the end you will some cute little ones come spring. Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Can you breed a aunt with a nephew?
Hi Elisabeth-
Yes, you can breed an aunt and nephew. This is line breeding and will strengthen your line of goats’ traits, good or bad. If it strengthens qualities you want in goats and doesn’t bring out too many weaknesses, then I would consider it a success. If more negative traits are strengthened, then I would not advise doing this again. I hope that helps!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have fainting goat which are my pets, i have 4 weathered? not sure of the goat lingo. I have 2 does? one got pregnant before i got my last male weathered OOPS; my other didn’t get pregnant; Well my does kidded two boy and girl on April 1st. My boy will get weathered this week. well i noticed my doe have teats that weren’t there before. Could she be pregnant?
Hi Emily-
It’s quite possible that your doe is preganant. Goats can begin breeding at 7 weeks. Always best to separate males and females when over a month old.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi! Fellow goat breeder here! I was reading your article and I saw that you said that it is okay to breed a father and daughter together. You also said that it’s okay to breed a granddaughter and a grandfather together. If you are reading this DO NOT DO THAT!!! When your doing in line breeding, you want a 20 percentage or lower of relativity. If you go any higher than that, there’s a very high chance that you will get deformed kids. I’ve been doing this for years and years. I’ve talked to people who have been doing this for 7 generations. For respect to all good goat breeders, please change this information for the better of the goat community. Thanks!
I’m so glad I found your blog!! I have a question for you, if you don’t mind. I just bought my first Fainting goat, a little doe. My friend, who also has Fainting goats, would like to give me an intact little buck so that I can make some baby goats. The doe was born in April (’18), the buck in May (’18). Can I put them together in my pasture to grow up together? I’d like for my doe to have company, but only if this won’t cause any problems.
Hi Lauren-
Goats do love company and often get lonely and vocalize it when they are by themselves. So, it is always best to have 2+ goats. However, it is not a good idea to keep intact males in the same pen/fence/pasture with does because they can begin breeding as young as 7 weeks.
I hope that helps. Best of luck with your goats!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
We are also conscious about inbreeding. We are going to have a new buck from another farm next week. By the way, thanks for the great information!
Good plan! And thank you for reading and posting! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
We’re moving and in hopes of starting a farm. So far, we’ve located land, but seems rather hilly to me, though we still have to go check it out. (It’s not local.) Any pointers on what to look for before we buy? Love your video and blog. But for now, back to packing.
Hi Kathy-
As you look for property, look for well maintained pastures, tree cover, proper goat fencing, provided shelter, and a water source. Goats can thrive on most pastures as long as there is quality forage, fresh water, and no way for them to escape. I hope that helps! Best of luck with moving and finding a spot! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi! Thanks for the info…wondering if you can answer one question for me…how did you find a buck to rent for the mating?
Thanks!
Shanie
Hi Shanie-
The best ways I have found to get a buck to rent is to contact friends with goats, contacting nearby goat farms, contacting the county agricultural and/or 4-H extension agents, or looking on Craigslist. I hope this helps. Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
How does this work? Do you pay? Looking into borrowing a buck.
Hi Ashley-
It depends on who you are renting/borrowing from. You will typically pay some sort of fee (unless it is a personal friend that doesn’t charge), but that is up to the individual buck owner. Best thing to do is find someone with a buck and work out the details with them.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I was told to get my doe tested for some kind of Disease so that she doesn’t pass it so the rented buck? They couldn’t remember the test or name of disease. That’s what they were told buy another breederThat they bought their goat from. Is this something you can give me more info on or is this even true??
Hi Theresa-
Goats can pass diseases through sexual contact. These diseases include Brucellosis, Chlamydia, and Toxoplasmosis. And other diseases can be spread between goats through feces, pus, birthing fluid, milk, etc. such as CAE, CL, and Johne’s.
It is best to have all goats tested, especially if breeding outside your own herd. And it is good to remember some of these diseases are zoonotic and can impact human health.
Here is some brief info on some of those diseases: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-diseases-signs-symptoms/
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have a pygmy doe that is going to kid soon. Should I pen her up in a stall by herself, or should I just let her stay with the herd and have them naturally on her own?
Thank you very much.
Hi Tim-
Either way you wish to manage your herd is up to you. However, what I typically do, is if the weather is going to be pretty cold or unfavorable in someway, I put the doe in the barn to keep her from having to kid out in the cold temps. If it’s a nicer time of year I separate her from the herd in a small penned area outdoors that has shelter. I like this set up because I can easily check on her each day, know exactly what she is eating and drinking, and be able to find her and assist her in case she has trouble. Although, I have had does surprise me by kidding early and they were mixed in with the other does and their kids and they were just fine.
Here is link to DaNelle’s article on postpartum care. This is helpful for caring for the doe and kid: https://www.weedemandreap.com/post-partum-care-goats/
I hope this helps. Best of Luck and Happy Goating! Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Now that you’ve had some time to only have milk from the Nigerians, how has it worked for your family? Do you get enough out of them for the four of you?
Hi Matthew,
The Nigerians are great little milkers! Definitely providing enough milk! Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I recently got into the goats and got a package deal ( one nigerian, one nigerian/pygmy, and one nigerian/alpine) I read that the alpines are seasonal breeders soooo with my doe being a alpine nigerian mix will I be able to breed her like a nigerian? Just wanting to know if I need to pick up more does my buck has mounted her but they were in a small space so she didn’t really have an option..
Hi Megan-
Congrats on your goaty package deal! Your doe should breed like a Nigerian, however it isn’t a big issue since even is she were more of an Alpine, she would still go into heat every 21 days from August January, which is about the time you want to breed them anyway.
The best thing you can do is observe your doe the first year you have her and watch for signs of being in heat. Once you get to know how she operates, planning a breeding schedule will be easier.
I hope this helps! Best of luck and Happy Goating! Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have a female goat that I don’t want to breed ever again. unfortunately I also live in a country where it is practically impossible to get any veterinarian to sterilize her and all have refused to castrate my 2 male goats. (father & son). Is there anything I can give my female to stop her from breeding?
Hi Irene-
There is nothing I am aware of to give female goats in order to keep them from breeding. However, you can fence her off from the males and then they won’t be able to breed her. Here is an article DaNelle wrote about building pens: https://www.weedemandreap.com/building-goat-pen-step-step-videos/
This should help manage your goats. Best of luck! Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have a new Boer buck . I put him next to my nannies who i thought was bred. 2 of them have already come in heat the 1st day . So I let him in with nannies . He has bred them both . 1 of the nannies is bleeding every time he needs her? What is the cause of this ? They have been with a buck for 3 months before I got the new 1 .
Hi Cynthia-
I am not exactly sure why your doe is bleeding, but perhaps the breeding is a bit rough and causing this. Is it a lot of blood or just spotting? I would advise not having the buck breed her anymore and also to take her temperature to make sure she doesn’t have an infection. If the bleeding persists I would contact your vet. Best of luck. Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thanks for the great articles. I hope to get goats soon. Question: I keep reading how smelly bucks are and that does and bucks should be separated in order to preserve milk quality in lactating does. If I take my lactating doe to be bred, I assume she will smell bad following her encounter with the buck. How long will she smell? I assume I will have to keep milking her post-encounter in order to maintain production. Will that milk be tainted with the buck’s smell? For how long? Thanks!!
Hi Sally-
That’s fantastic you are thinking about getting goats! Such wonderful little creatures! I have linked one of DaNelle’s articles about milk, does, bucks, and why/when the milk may be “goaty” smelling or tasting. https://www.weedemandreap.com/does-goats-milk-taste-bad/
This should help clarify a few things. Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi we are new to goat breeding. Once you breed the doe would you milk her at all or every once and a while? What happens if the doe births really late should we give the kids any medication?
Hi Lily-
Sounds like you are starting a goat family at your place. Nice!
I am just going to clarify a few things (as I think you already know this from reading the article) just so I am on the same page with you.
If you are breeding your doe for the first time she won’t be able to be milked until after she gives birth because then she will be freshened.
If your doe is old hat at this kidding game then she is already producing milk. If this is the case you can milk her anytime she is producing milk. I would just lay off a couple months before she gives birth. I also don’t milk mamas after right after they have given birth, because that milk is the extremely important colostrum that new kids really need.
It depends on my goals of milk production of my milk patterns. If I am looking at just raising healthy kids, I don’t milk my does, unless they are having problems. If I want milk for myself or others, I pull the kids off and bottle feed the little ones and milk 2x/day. If I only want a little milk, I will leave the kids on and milk the does udder half empty once a day(maybe twice a day if she is a good producer) and then let the kids finish her milk off. And as always make sure your does and kids look healthy and are at good and appropriate weights and you will know your milking is working for the whole herd.
As for birthing really late, I am not quite sure what you mean. If you mean the doe has her kids after the day you had down as her expected due date, then what I can tell you is that most likely your doe had her babies right on time, and your due date was off. Often we think a doe is bred and she isn’t, but becomes so at a later time. Plus a doe’s gestation period is very unique to her, just like people. The stated 5 months gestation is just an average. So unless your doe is having complications, just assume the day she has her kids is her biological correct date to have them. Therefore, with any medication/vaccines you are giving, just follow your regular schedule. If I missed the mark on your question please don’t hesitate to let me know. I want to make sure you get the info you need. Thank you so much for reading and posting. Happy Goating! -Bobbi
Hi! We have had goats (first a pair of Nubian/Alpine and now pygmy) for about 3 years now. We have always only had one pair but a few months ago helped another goater out and took his herd of 10 females. Several were pregnant and in the last 48 hours we have had 2 kids from different nannies. We normally keep the new pair in a birthing/bonding stall for a few days to protect the baby from the hooves of the herd and potbelly pig who is with them. Can I keep both nannies and their babies in there together? We are expecting up to 5 more soon. I am suddenly a bit overwhelmed!
Hi Alissa-
Well happy kidding-palooza to you! Oh my goodness I bet you are overwhelmed. So cool you helped out a friend and that you want to do the very best by your goats. You can definitely keep two nannies and their babies together. Do know that if a kid attempts to nurse off the wrong mother, often that doe will butt the little one, but usually with no more damage than hurt pride. As long as there is some room to move in your stalls and the does don’t feel to crowded you will be fine. Good luck and enjoy your quickly expanding goat family! Happy Goating! -Bobbi
Hello.
I started rearing goat.
It’s rare for goats to give birth to twins here in kenya.
I was wondering if a goat gives birth to twins will the offspring also have twins?
Hi Ramah-
Congrats on beginning your goat rearing! Multiple births are usually genetic in goats, meaning if you have a doe that consistently has twins, triplets or quads there is very good chance her does will do the same. This goes the other way too. Some does that have trouble birthing can pass this on to offspring, if they have any. However, genetics can only take you so far. A doe, in order to have a healthy birth, needs proper nutrition, fresh water, room to roam with quality forage and sunshine, proper shelter, and minimal stress. Here are couple links to some great articles DaNelle wrote on nutrition: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goats-minerals-what-you-need-to-know/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/supplements-for-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/what-do-goats-eat/
I hope this helps! Happy Goating! -Bobbi
We have recently inherited 6 goats. 1 buckling, 1 buck (boer), 2 does (Nubian), and 2 doelings. We will be taking both males to the sale barn this week but I’m affraid the two males have already impregnated the females ( this means dad/daughter & mother/son crossing). You mention in your post that you have had your share of “accidental’s” on your farm. What did you do with the babies? Did you keep them? Sell them? Give them away?
I am so thankful for the information in this blog. It has been very helpful to my husband and I on this new venture.
Hi Stephanie-
Oh why can’t goats just behave themselves? Well, we know that isn’t going to happen, but you are doing well at this and managing your herd appropriately.
We have all had our shares of accidentals. What I did with mine was really based on the kid itself and my current situation (did I have enough room, did I need more does, etc.)
So for all the males I have had born from these unplanned couplings, I castrated them, and shipped them to market, all except one. This one was given away as a 4-H product because of his extremely low key attitude and ability to learn to lead quickly. Although he was sold at market later.
As for the does, I kept 2 because they were really robust, but I managed who they were bred with very carefully so as not to have another cross, because even my neighbors had goats that were in the same bloodline.
The other 2 does had a different fate. One died at birth. I am not sure what happened as I didn’t witness the birth just the got there after the fact. The other was a sweet tiny thing that was given away as another 4-H project and as far as I know is still doing ok.
So when your kids are born, look to see if you have the resources to keep them or if it is better to take them to market or sell or give away. Also, look at the health of the kid, this can determine a lot. If you do keep and breed them, just be careful with their breeding in the future and all should be fine.
As a precaution you may also want to have a talk with your goats about the birds and the bees, I am confident they will listen. 😉
I hope this was helpful! Happy Goating! -Bobbi
Hi, I have a doe that has never been bred (I raised her from birth, her Mom died) and is filling her udders. I have been having to milk her. What’s up with that??? She is a Nubian 21/2 yrs.
Hi Gretchen-
Well you have a different little goat there. While most goats need to be freshened to produce milk, in rare instances a maiden doe can be what is called precocious. Basically, a doe will produce milk without being bred. I have also heard of does having false pregnancies and may lactate with this condition, although this is not something I have seen myself. If you are not wanting to milk her, just leave her be and she should dry up. Although while she is drying up, and then at regular intervals, check her udder for infection or any abnormal changes. Your little Nubian should be ok.
Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi
Hi,
I have recently bought two Nigerian dwarf goats. The male is six months and the female is one month. We caught the male trying to breed with the baby! We are new to Nigerian goats. What should we do…besides separate? Does the male have a certain amount of time he will go after her? She can’t possibly be in heat…right?
I would welcome any help you can provide 🙂
Thank you,
Debra
Hi Debra-
Congrats on your 2 NDs!
Male goats have one purpose in life and that is to breed. So if a male is not castrated and it is weaned (even then be careful) it can or will at least try to impregnate anything within reach, including mothers and sisters. You must keep bucks separated from the all females at all times, unless you want them bred.
I can’t imagine your little doeling is in anyway receptive, because the very youngest I have even heard of them breeding is 4 months (which is awful young). So I imagine that the buck is hitting puberty, but the female is not. You are right in keeping them separated, and must continue this until you are ready for him to make some babies.
Hope this helps! Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi…I have recently started my goat hobby. I have two Nigerian dwarfs, one in milk, and the other a yearling that has never yet come into heat, per the previous owner. It was Buy One Get One…I got the barren one free as a companion! But I’m not ready to give up on her. Have you had any experience with this? Can I bring her into heat with other means? I do not own a buck, and won’t. So it’s me, mother nature or medicine….thanks for your help!
Hi Danelle, You mention in your responses not to keep a buck with a doe especially if she’s pregnant. However, if he castrated is it considered okay to leave them together? Will his aggression lesson therefore making it safe for them to live together some what gracefully? Thanks 🙂
Yes, if he’s castrated all is well, they can stay together!
Hey I have two boer goats that are females and 1 boer billy goat but the females are 8-9 years old do u think they will still be able to give birth?
They might, but I wouldn’t risk it they are too old in my opinion:)
I have just started raising Nigerian Dwarf goats and find them to be super sweet. My doe just had her first kid. Since then she bites me really hard and butts me when I am around the new kid. What’s going on? Her new baby loves to hop in my lap but I paid sorely for that. Please help I’m clueless
She is just an over protective mom if you get rid of the kid she should calm down. You could also separate them if you plan on keeping her
Hi DaNelle,
I have 2 young girls, Boer/Kiko that are 11 months. I had to bottle feed them but they are healthy, look good, one is short but filled out well, but only weighs 42 lbs., 22 ” tall, the other one is taller, 57 lbs and 24″ tall. I have a young billy in another pasture breeding my olders girls. I will have him one more month and would like to try to breed them before he leaves, but not sure about their size. Are they too small or would they still grow ok after breeding since they are almost 1 year. We feed them well, grain and hay 2 times daily, just grew a little slower than all our others. Any suggestions? The billy is young so shouldn’t be too large for them.
Thanks, much appreciated.
They sound too small. With some goats, you have to wait till 1.5 years old to breed.
I need to lease a stud to in pregnant my 5 Nigerian dwarfs. How can I get that to happen?
I would look on craigslist or ask around on facebook goat groups:)
Where are you located?
hi my buck is a bigger than my doe she is a mini nubian and i think he is a kiko he is about 5 inches taller than her ? do u think she will be ok haveing his babies since he is a little bigger than her his body is a bit bigger than her body as well
It is perfectly fine to breed them together. My buck weighs 23 more pounds then my doe and their kids turned out fine
So, we have owned 2 Nubian wethers for about a year. Our son bought a Nigerian Dwarf doe and we have attempted to put them together. To say the least, they boys are terrorizing her. We are planning on buying a Nigerian buck to breed her with. Will the Nigerian buck help calm the scene down or have we gotten ourselves into a big problem?
Thanks.
Hi Mike,
The buck will be even more aggressive than the wethers. Is your doe young? If so, it could be her age or size as the reason why they’re bullying her. I would say you’d need to get another doe or get rid of one of the wethers.
how do I place a question on here I think my goat is pregnant she is quite large one of her sides are bigger than other one and she is always itching her one side or just looks at it then rubs her head on her one side
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-pregnant/
Hi Danielle! I’m gonna be a first time goat owner! ? I had a question about milking. Human mamas can breastfeed what seems like FOREVER (years), how long can you milk a goat off a single pregnancy? Is it a year then breed her again?
YAY!! That’s a great question. Most goats need to be bred once a year to continue the milk supply, but some of the larger breeds (Nubian) have been known to go 2 years.
Hi DaNelle,
I’m new to raising goats. My question is this. One of my young does is a muley and while looking for a buck to cover her I found a good looking guy but he, as well, was born muley. I was told by the owner of this buck that “you never breed muley to muley”. I was wondering if there is reasoning behind this or is it just something that has been passed down with no basis in fact. I know genetics can do some strange things if you don’t know what your doing (which describes me). As with everything I lay my hands toward I research a lot beforehand but that is still just research not hands on learning. I like your site and spend quite a bit of time coming back. Thanks for your efforts. It is appreciated.
No, I think that’s a myth. In the goat world, we call them “polled” and many breeders still do breed them to each other with success. Here’s an article on it: https://www.americangoatsociety.com/education/polled_genetics.php
We have 2 mini LaMancha does (~9 mos old) and just borrowed a Boer buck (~4 mos old) that appears to be too small to breed. We he mounts he can’t quite get there: Would a small ramp and guidance help or wouldn’t that work?
Ramps do work! It’s a bit tricky but we’ve done it!
We have 1 male and female together and are hoping for the best. Our buck smells and chases and urinate all over our doe. I haven’t noticed her standing for him though. But now after a month I am worried if I should seperate them (so she isnt stressed) or let them be together to ensure she gets pregnant. Any advise on how long to keep them together or when to keep them seperated. I’ve tried to read through as many comments as I can to find answer so sorry if this is a repeat question. But input is greatly appreciated!
A month is the standard time a doe is left with a buck. After that time, he shouldn’t bug her as much unless she didn’t take the first time and she went into heat again.
Hi there!
Great post, thank you for all of the information. We have two female and two male(1 buck 1 weather) Nigerian dwarf goats whom are all not related. We are planning on breeding the girls very soon and they are showing the signs you have mentioned that they are ready. My question is after the boys and girls are together and have done their business, is it better to keep them together or separate them again. They are currently separated by a fence and either is an option, I’m just unsure as to what is the better option. Thanks in advance!
Yes, it’s a good idea to separate after breeding so that the does are in a less stressful environment.
We’re adding goats into a commercial cattle feeding business, giving them all daily doses of two natural mineral supplements my partner invented 21 years ago while getting his Ag PhD at K-State.
The Oxygen Mineral Mix (OMM) cleans off the villi in the guts (which are what transmit the digested food’s minerals to the blood system for cellular healing and replacement for growth), while balancing the blood AND increasing the hemoglobin’s oxygen-carrying capacity by 33% above normal maximum capability, with INCREDIBLE health benefits. The other mineral supplement is Angstrom Mineral Mix.
The AMM particles are SO tiny, (1 M x 10 to the -10,000,000,000th!) that if a virus were the size of a basketball, these particles would be the size of a pin point, allowing them to penetrate the protein shield every virus, which blocks medicines, colloidal minerals, etc. from having any healing effect on whacking out viruses.
This mind-boggling small size of particles causes the AMM to destroy ANY virus within one hour for birds, swine, bovine, goat or even an old goat or old gal which takes it.. And goats are susceptible to viral diseases!
AND I found out personally that it kills viruses in humans and PREVENTS viral diseases from taking root in the first place, and yet it’s a basically unknown Natural Mineral Supplement with lab proven “innocent” ingredients for now…
I got a first time ever hit with a killer attack August, 2015 that EDUCATED me about Shingles!
It felt like a white hot exploding ice-pick stabbing from the mastoid bone behind my right ear into the back of my right eye EVERY 2.5 seconds.
I’m still a pretty tough hand, having started ranching at the age of 3; was a Mountain-Fishing-Hunting Guide up high above Red River and Taos (up to 13,100′ daily) during college; then ranching in cow/calf operations again; Head Bouncer at the Little Bear Saloon in Evergreen, CO jumping in & busting up a minimum of 3 fights a night- (and usually fighters) 6 days a week; Road Manager and Concert Tour Producer for recording artists; restructuring clients’ existing corporations and starting up new businesses in six African Nations while having been a target for guerilla soldiers, a heat-crazed mob and corrupt government officials; and now a set of new ventures that if it wasn’t me doing it would seem unbelievable to even me. (Sometimes still is.) It’s been a hoot!
But that August 2015 Shingles attack to the eye rung my bell every 2.5 seconds in a head-exploding, shirking kind of pain flash 24 hours a day for three and a half days ’til I got in to see a Doc and found out it was Shingles instead of a stroke or a continuing mental impression of hillary on my “frontal lobe”.
When I found out it was from a virus, I took a dose of AMM and they were stopped dead within 1 hour! The Chicken Pox we all carry was 86ed out of my system & I haven’t had a single cold, flu or any other virus since.
And I’m not the Lone Ranger in the AMM knocking out Shingles, the flu, Malaria, Zika, Ebola, etc.
A little friend of mine visiting his Grandparents in Tanzania was mosquito bit and got Malaria. The hospital told his mother and granddad it was fatal and there was nothing they could do.
His Mom, Angie, remembered I’d sent over some minerals for her Dad to take to the East African governments, went and dug them out of her duffle and gave to him, and he gave Abraham the full 3cc dose.
Abe was Malaria free in less than an hour and out shooting basketball! From “dying to hoops” in less than an hour! Abe thanked me when he got back. I was Thanking the Lord I’d sent the AMM and OMM over with them.
(Think what that’ll do for the goat industry when we wind up getting them to goat breeders! Shoot, for critters!)
We’re working with two African Nation governments now for marketing it (inexpensively) to their people, livestock and even politicians.
I can’t wait to see our cull cattle and goats’ weight gains and meat production. Poultry and wild game too.
SO, I’m interested in finding any large goat producers in NM, AZ, UT or Southern CO for ongoing annual purchase contracts for their 50# goats. Know of any?
Perhaps you know of some that would be willing to sell to our Rockin’ FdB Cattle Company in an ongoing basis? We’re going to be hiring some drivers in NM, AZ, etc. (if there’s enough goats there to be bought) to augment our drivers in Texas and Oklahoma for finishing out the goats for three months and our cull cattle for five months prior to processing.
I found out at the World-Wide Headquarters of “Goatology” at Langston University, that if a goat starts to LOOK sick, you’d better be ready for him to die pretty quick. There’s no sick pen “cull” goats as there are with cattle. (Who knew? Langston!) BUT if you’re given or have any goat questions, you ought to give them a call. They’re amazing. Their Goat Symposiums bring folks from all over the world and their Staff is glad to help anytime. Langston, Okla. You know. It’s just east of Guthrie off I-35.
I’d appreciate any info you might have and this comments deal is the only way I found to get hold of you! (And perhaps some others.) If you’d like info on the AMM, OMM & Earth Manna(TM), you’ve got MY email address.
This is a great site, but I doubt I’ll have the time to be checking back on the Comments regularly. (Maybe once.)
By the way, we’re also taking the AMM & OMM to west Africa in initiating a MASSIVE project with cattle and goats to help this nation make sustainable AG their #1 GDP source, while also remediating an oil spill of over 15,000 sq. mi.(!) which no one else can because they don’t have our separate unique organic compound.
Our Liquid Pigg(TM) encapsulates carbon on the molecular level, then separates the fluid from the soil right in front of your eyes and THEN separates the oil and the Pigg within 8 minutes of application, because our Pigg has a water base.
We collect the pure oil, then the Pigg for reuse and what remains in the Pigg-Mud becomes an organic fertilizer!
We’re then restoring the cleansed land into a Garden of Eden in productivity with our Earth-Manna (TM) Montmorillonite minerals formation in a 15 year project. It’s incredible. Think goats won’t go nuts on that browse?
Please let me know of any Goat Cooperatives amongst larger breeders, if possible.
AND, I like your style… You cracked me up. I’m betting your husband is a man of great patience, having to deal with all those goats, chickens and what-not. Good for your family the Lord gave your family to you. Well done.
Thanks for the info, Bill!
Would like contact info for Bill please.
We are planning on adding goats into our little family farm this spring. I’d like to try breeding but these would simply be for “pets” and land clearing. I do not want to milk, or produce milk. Is this possible?
Yes, absolutely! If you simply let the babies nurse and never milk them, you won’t need to take care of the milk:)
Definitely possible! Just let your babies milk until 8 weeks of age( at which time most doe s will have already mostly weaned them) and then you can separate them for a few weeks and the mama will then dry up.:)
Hi I have three does two weathers but one of the weathers is a big bully to the other goats what do I do?
Hi Joe,
There will always be a herd order established, so if your wether is doing things like headbutting around the hay feeder so he can eat first, that’s not a problem, really, as long as after he eats, he allows the others to eat. If he’s particularly mean, you might want to check to see if he was castrated correctly. Sometimes there’s a testicle that didn’t drop that the owner didn’t tell you about. That one testicle can produce hormones to turn him into a buck and be aggressive.
Eat him or sell him
Well I can’t believe it i have done it again I just recently bought 2 registered Lamancha doelings they are sisters from the same litter. They are 4 months of age will be 5 months August 21st.
I will be breeding them to a registered Lamancha buck here in October for March babies they will be 10 months then. There mother is from a very high producing line there mother produces about 2 gallons at her peek then tapers off to 1 gallon a day which is very exciting to me because I love goats milk.
But I wish I could send pictures of them but can’t seem to.
How fun!!
Ok i have very little experience with goats,but i fell in love with them while tending my mil goats,how soon should i take kids away from momma,i think i may have waited to long,& how can i increase her milk production,i get like 1 qt to 1 1/2 quart a day.she was giving me 2qts a day for about a monthe.she only has 1 teat as she was attacked by a dog before i got her,but excellent milker!i believe she is nigerian,but i get the names confused.
Hi Crystal,
This article will help you out! https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-care-for-baby-goats/
Hey DaNelle,
I have a 6 month old Nigerian wether. He’s basically a house pet. I’m going to getting another one as a playmate for him. But I’m not sure if I should get another boy (wethered) or a doeling. My concerns and lack of knowledge of female goats is:
Is it safe for her even though he is wethered?
Does she need to be bred to keep her healthy (i.e. spaying/neutering helps reduce risks of reproductive cancer in cats, bunnies and dogs) or should she be spayed for her health?
Hi Melissa,
It’s safe for them to be around each other as long as he is wethered and can’t breed her:) She doesn’t need to be bred, she can go her whole life as a pet and not be spayed either. Female goats are never spayed.
I have 2 adult female goats and a female yearling and my landlord decided it was perfectly fine to bring her buck up to the barn and keep him in a stall where he is now in close proximity to my does. I’ll be breeding my girls to a different buck who is NOT being kept in the barn. My question is this; after my girls are bred can being in such close proximity to this other buck cause them problems? I’ve heard that it can cause them to abort. Is this true? He is 2 doors down and the pen between them is about a 5×10. He is not agressive actually he’s very malnourished. Can he cause them problems? Thank you for your help and knowledge.
It should be okay, if he’s two stalls down. It shouldn’t cause them to abort, many people keep various bucks on their property and it’s not a big deal. The only time he could cause them problems is if he’s in the same enclosure as them:)
1- what will happen if mate them while the doe is not on heat ?
2- is it sufficient to mate them once to get her pregnant or does it end with faliure someimtes ?
3- does it effect the babies or the doe if i still mate them while she is pregnant ?
4-they keep itching until it hurt itself and becomes bold in several parts what kind of thing causes this sickness and how to treat it ?
Hi Mazen,
In answer to your questions…
1 – A buck won’t even be interested unless she is in heat.
2 – Goats usually get pregnant easily, so once can be successful most of the time.
3 – If a goat is pregnant, the buck won’t mate it and it is impossible for the doe to get pregnant.
4 – The itching is probably lice. Goats get it and it makes their skin very dry and irritating. You can shave the goat down, give it a bath with medicated shampoo, then I would deworm it as well.
What’s the best male goat to bleed with numbian
Technically you could breed any goat, but another Nubian would be the best option!
I have fainting goats and I wanted to get a buck pygmy can I breed him with my fainting goats they are does
Hi Cindy,
Yes, you can breed fainting goats and pygmy goats:)
tell about the “first milk” .. colostrum for the babies … how long till can milk for human consumption?
Hi Don,
It takes about a week to clear out all the colostrum so humans can drink it:)
Hi, I am just wondering. After a doe kids , how long is it that she will want to be bred again. I have no wanting for her to get pregnant right a ways and would rather make sure the bucks are not near her. I like to plan for summer months birth in my area, since it is cold here still in March. Also, what about keeping a buck with a doe that just kidded, will he leave her and the babies alone or will he want to kill the babies at some point and at what point. We have two little cuties just born today in the afternoon June 18,2016. one doeline and one buckline. The buckline seems to have a sticky back tail , is this normal. I did wipe his butt in case the momma just didn’t get it done. Other than this, they all seem to be doing great. they are mimi goats. I did put idodine on the cords. Some things I know for sure. This is not our first birth. I had Stargate in with her , he was her baby from last year , not the dad of these, but he is not fixed, he is fully in tack, so how safe is it for him to stay with her with the new little ones. For the time being I chased him out. thanks for your reply.
Hi Lampy,
Yes, most people keep the bucks away from the does until an whole year later. For example, we breed our Nubian in November so she’ll have babies in March, and we don’t let her near a buck again until the NEXT November. You can do the same for a summer month birth, but remember, they should only be bred once a year.
NEVER keep a buck with a doe unless they are breeding. He will very likely kill the babies.
The sticky poop is very normal in baby goats when they are first born. It will go away gradually and develop into normal pebble-like pellets.
My nubian are at breeding age but when we put them together the male was slamming her into the fence and butting her hard is that normal it scared me thought he was gu hurt her
It’s normal for the buck to be aggressive in that he bites her and tries to mount her, but he shouldn’t be repeatedly headbutting her.
Hit here,
What do you think of using my 9 month old pygmy buckling to breed a three year old pygmy doe? This would obviously be his first time, but the doe is experienced. I’m wondering if she wouldn’t be interested in such a young guy and maybe I should just use my veteran buck?
Hi Garth,
It should work just fine. He’ll be a newbie, so you’ll have more success if she’s more willing:) To make it easier for him, you can put them in a smaller enclosure together.
We have pygmy goats, and one of our nannies is VERY pregnant, she is swollen and starting to open up and our billy is trying to ride her. Why is he doing this?
He’s probably doing this because of the hormones she’s giving off during pregnancy. Male goats that are intact shouldn’t be kept with the herd because their aggressive nature will harm the female goats and their babies. The only companion of a breeding male should be a castrated male, unless it’s breeding time.
My doe urinated after her first mating what are the chances of her pregnancy
Hi Nadim,
Urination doesn’t flush out sperm so you should be fine! It’s completely normal:) If she was definitely bred, then there’s a 95% chance she is pregnant. A buck won’t breed a doe unless she is in heat.
We have a doe that is pregnant and the male looks like he is being mean-constantly after her and kicking at her-biting at her. Looks like he is hurting her. She runs from him but then just lays down. We assume she’s pregnant-bagged -really big. No idea when she bred though.
It’s our daughter-in-laws animals.
Hi Janice,
An intact male SHOULD NOT be kept with a female goat. They will bully them and when the female gives birth, the male will kill the babies. The male has to be kept in a separate area and should only be together during breeding time.
Hi, Thank You for the great information! I recently got a buck and i introduced him to my doe, it took a while to get the friendly with each other! So last night they did their deed, exactly how you explained it would happen, but I am pretty sure she is not in heat?? Is she able to get pregnant even if shes not in heat???
Hi Catherine,
If they did the deed, then she is in heat. Bucks will only breed does if they are in heat, they’ll ignore the others:)
Can does still be in heat even after they are bred or mounted by buck?
Hi Wally, yes they can still be in heat in the few days following, but after that, you shouldn’t see any signs of heat until they deliver.
I have a 1 year old bore buck and we have had him for about four months now and he shows NO interest at all in any of the females , NONE ! They try to get his attention but he could care less. Is he still young ? We have never had one do this even at a year old !
Hi Beverly,
He should be ready by 1 year old, but often times, some males only breed or go into rut certain times of the year. So, I would say just hold out a bit, I’m sure with a weather change he’ll get interested. It also could be that your does aren’t in heat. They may be fighting with him, but unless they are wagging their tails and sticking them in his face, they probably aren’t yet:)
DaNelle – we have triplets, born 2 weeks ago, 2 does and 1 Billy. In reading your advice on seperating the Billy from his mom and his sisters at 7 weeks of age, how then does the weaning process work? We read that the kids are weaned between 10-12 weeks of age…..so if we remove lil Billy from his mom at 7 weeks, then how will he finish weaning? I’m so confused…………
Hi Beth,
Bucklings are much bigger & stronger, we typically wean them at 7-8 weeks 🙂
Hello. My husband and I this week have had our first kids to be delivered. We had 4 Boer does to all have twins successfully in a one week timeframe. Unfortunately, out of the 8 babies we had, we ended up having to euthanize 2 of our babies due to severe cleft palate (each from a different doe). This was our bucks first breed (1year old buck). I am unsure if the birth defects are from a “young buck” or just actual “luck of the draw” birth defects. Any advice? Really don’t want to give up my buck- he came from a very healthy blood line
Hi Roslyn,
I’m sorry to hear that. Before I would go to the buck as the problem, I would make sure and test for every single goat disease to make sure that it’s not the does. After that, I would go to mineral deficiencies and make sure you’re supplying enough. Then, once those are squared away, I’d try another year with him and if it’s the same, then yes, I’d say there are some genetic issues going on.
I have a boer nanny and I don’t know if it is bred. it’s right side has become larger than its left in the last few days. my billy also has no interest in her. can you help?
Sounds pretty good, especially with that lopsided belly:) How long since she was bred? I would say that it takes a good 30-60 days to notice significant belly changes.
Dear danelle. I have started goat farm. Have 8 does. I braought a buck for bteeding. He has just became 2 teeth. He is not inyerested in femalesa. One of a doe was in heat and he just walked away. He blubbers on ME! Rarely urinates on hai legs and face and drink. He reaches his part by mouth. Also does the rubbing of his part on his belly. Physically he is ok. Problem is NO interest in goats at all! No flehmening at all. You think he is still young or there is something i can do. He is a beetal. Big bteed.
Hi Zeb,
It’s probably that your does are not in heat just yet. Some goats can only breed certain times of the year. I’d give him a few months and see how he acts:)
Hey
We rented a buck at the beginning of January to breed our two pygmy does. I saw him breed one of the does on January 7th and now she is showing signs of heat again but won’t let him near her. I read that some does will show signs of estrus on there next cycle after being bred. I’ve noticed he seems to favour her and has shown a lot of interest in her the whole time Hes been here. Even while breeding our other doe. She has been doing the tail waiving thing since I saw him breed her but noticed today some clear fluid coming from her back end. Is this just normal behavior or does this mean she isn’t pregnant.
Does he show interest in this second cycle? If so, I would trust him:) If a buck has been with a gal for already 1 cycle and is showing excitement again, I’d say you can bet she’s in heat:)
My goat i had to put her in with the buck three times before she took
Hello,
I am looking to breed my does. How would I go about doing that I am not really interested in buying a buck but I also do not want to expose my does to any diseases by breeding them to a buck I do not know anything about? Any advice?
Hi G,
Be sure to find a buck that has been tested for diseases and then you’ll be good!
You could also purchase sperm online and artificially inseminate.
Our buck is interested in breeding, but not successful. This has happened with another buck too. We have had successful breedings and kiddings from both of these bucks. The doe is in standing heat.
Last year in 2015 I bought a Nigerian doe who was pregnant. Two wks later she aborted and I quickly put her on antibiotics.
A few months later, I purchased a Buck and my doe took to him. They bred and I kept them together since I only have these two goats. The buck I bought was a calm buck who didn’t stress my doe.
We decided to remove him and place him with a friend who has does as well.
A few days later, she aborted triplets.
What can I do to keep her from miscarriages?
Hi Leilannie,
It’s more likely that she aborted because of a nutritional deficiency or an illness rather than getting upset at being around a new goat. I would get her tested for all goat diseases and then be sure to add minerals to her diet. My favorite mineral supplement is from Hoeggers:)
what kinda of supplement minerals
Hi Marie,
I have all the info here for you! https://www.weedemandreap.com/goats-minerals-what-you-need-to-know/
DaNelle Wolford: yeah it is definitely not bloat she has never had that problem she just had me worried a little but sense then she has became normal I always give her free choice of hay and baking soda and mineral. She has shown more but she is now almost 3 months bred and has not big belly but just showing a pudge of a belly. She will probably only have 1 or 2.
Hi My Swiss Oberhasli doe she is 12 months old next month she was bred 10-1-2015 and 10-2-2015 of october she will be 2 months bred here on December 1st. But my concern is she is showing her baby weight already she is not fat but she is already filling out like she is showing she is pregnant. I don’t feed her that much at all she goes out during the morning around 8 till 2:30 as that is when they want to come in as it gets darker sooner.
Here is what i feed:
1/2 cup of grain to the 2 doe’s to Intise them to go in there correct pens LOL 1 Flake of Orchard hay very good quality hay.
Now about the Father:
His name is Bart
breed: Oberhasli/Toggenburg cross buck
he was from a set of 2 or i believe 3 i forgot but he has a backround of having 4 babies in the group.
Now my question she is slowly showing already i know i am not feeding her to much at all as i only feed them at night because they get to free roam on the property for what she wants to eat she isn’t getting big big but she is getting a rounder belly she isn’t fat either as i make sure to check her and she has always been a slim girl even when feeding her good before she bred so any help on this is great thank you.
I have owned goats off and on for 2 years I now have 1 buck 2 does 1 Oberhasli doe and 1 Pure bred Boer doe.
thank you have a nice day.
Hi Eliza,
I would feed 1 TBS. of baking soda in the grain mixture over the next few days to make sure it isn’t bloat. If her size stays the same, you may very well have a set of quadruplets in there! The same thing happened to our Nubian and she did great, although it was a tough, wobbly pregnancy:) You can read more about her pregnancy here: https://www.weedemandreap.com/nubian-quads-on-the-farm/
At what age should you stop breeding a buck? Can they be to old to breed?
Thanks
Great question! They can go pretty long, about 10 years at the most:)
My 2 yr old nanny is in heat, yet refuses the buck. (he is 8 months old) Now her milk seems to be drying up. What can I do?
Hi Anney,
Some goats really don’t like the bucks and what I do is put them in a smaller area at night. Our “love shack” pen is only 6 ftx 10 ft. This ensures that the doe can’t run away too far:)
I have three male goats all fixed and one female bout 9 months old. Now two males are humping her . Even though the have been fixed.is this going to be a problim. For the female??
Hi Patrick-
As long as you are sure that the males are fully castrated, and nothing was missed in the process, then your doe should be fine. Often wethers just act like bucks even though they are not fertile. Typically when the female has had enough she will let them know. Often mounting is just a sign of dominance. Do keep an eye on them and make sure they aren’t being too aggressive with your doe and hurting her. If they are, then you will need to separate them. I hope that helps.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi, I would like to ask, how fast can the goats can be bred again after kidding? what is the kidding interval?
Hi Tommy,
Goats can typically be bred every year, no sooner than that. Some can go 2 years even!
Hi , thanks for all your great information 🙂 I have 1 Doe and 1 Buck and we are expecting our first wee kid .. very excited… whenever I separate them , they both seem upset and call out to each other all day and they try so hard to get back together. And yet when they are together, he is bunting her a lot …. what to do?
I have heard that the buck can cause the doe to spontaneously abort her kid if he is constantly trying to run her and breed so I would not put them together..
When I decide to breed my goat. Can I leave the doe and male together all the time.
Hi Jerry,
Yes, you can start by leaving them together full-time, but after about a month, most people separate them again, as being around the males all the time is stressful to females:)
I’m sorry if I missed this, but I recently got my first 2 goats I found a 2 month old mail and a month old female. But I was told that I needed to separate because he can breed her too young and she will die.
Is this true cause I don’t want to separate them but I don’t want him to hurt her either. Can she really get pregnant “too young”
Yes, he can definitely breed as young as 2 months old, so I’d definitely separate them. I like to wait until at least 10-12 months before I breed my does:)
I have a nannie that is pregnant. My male goat acts like he wants to breed her. Is she having a false heat? Can she give off a heat scent while pregnant?
Could be:) I would still keep them separated even if she is pregnant. It’s stressful to be near a buck.
Thank you kindly!! 🙂
Hi, I have a doe due any day. We ran a buck with the heard (They were pregnant, and had kid. We sold the buck about a month after kidding. We separate our bucks until winter, then separate again. It was a sort of guessing game with our first buck, as we were inexperienced and ran him with the does), unknowing that they could go into an after kidding heat. She keeps going into a similar heat kind of thing, and I’ve looked it up everywhere to get an answer to the question: Why is she going in to a “heat” kind of thing when she should be due any day? She has even started to show loosened tendons, a dropping belly, sore udder, and a dilated vulva, yet she still runs to the pen where are bucks are. How come????
Hi KB,
It could be one of two things. First of all, she could be a maiden milker, which means she’s not pregnant, but still able to freshen without a pregnancy OR it could be that she’s just a doe that is sensitive/attracted to the buck smell whether or not she’s pregnant:)
I just turned a Billygoat in with 6 nannies and he has no interest in them what can I do
I would trust in his instincts. Honestly there’s not much you can do. Let them hang out for a couple weeks and I’m sure you’ll see some action!
Thanks for the info DaNelle!. I am interested in breeding my goats. I have 2 Lamanchas..my does just gave birth to her first babies last night ( a doeling and a buckling)..I’m trying to find out if I need to bring a new buck to breed with mom (and doeling when she’s old enough) or a new doe to breed to dad (and buckling) when he’s old enough. I’m trying to avoid genetic problems. Can we start breeding grandpa to grand daughter? and just avoid the direct line breeding i.e. father to daughter, mother to son? Any advice is welcome..Thanks again.
Most people try to avoid inbreeding if at all possible. The only exception is if there is a specific trait you’re trying to produce:) I would avoid inbreeding as far as 5 or 6 generations.
I want to thank you for the story of the littlest goat. I’m in the middle of my first kidding season and I am stressed and exhausted. I sat down to get a cup of jo and found your story. Thank you for the “pick me up “. It was just what I needed tonight. God bless you for sharing ☺️
Carol Lee
Thank you Carol!
I have a doe and a whether and I want to breed the doe. So far we haven’t really noticed her go into heat. We thought she did in the spring but when we took her to a buck he wasn’t interested. She is Nigerian and I thought she should go into heat every 21-28 days. Does she need to be around a buck?
She doesn’t need a buck around, but a buck can definitely make it more noticeable:) Try to watch her close for signs, especially for vaginal mucus and tail flagging.
DaNelle, great and informative post. I can’t wait to share. P.S. Enjoy your roadtrips. 🙂
Great post DaNelle! I think anyone could learn how to successfully breed a goat after this! 🙂 And adorable picture!!!