Can goats learn from being punished?

stanb999 · #21 01/08/10, 03:49 PM

Do you have a herd buck?

A lot of these type issue are fixed when a herd is allowed to be "natural". A good herd sire will put even the meanest nanny into it's place. He will see them start butting and want to "play".... The butting quickly ends.

petaddict · #22 01/08/10, 06:34 PM

stanb999, what do yo mean by "allowed to be natural"? Yes, I have a buck that I breed my does to. He's is housed with my wether (the son of the doe that is a bully and also has horns). I keep him separated from my does but they can see each other. He is a sweetie and pushover. Unfortunately the wether seems to dominate my buck. I can't imagine my buck putting anyone in their place. He makes great babies and is a gentle guy though.

stanb999 · #23 01/08/10, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petaddict

stanb999, what do yo mean by "allowed to be natural"? Yes, I have a buck that I breed my does to. He's is housed with my wether (the son of the doe that is a bully and also has horns). I keep him separated from my does but they can see each other. He is a sweetie and pushover. Unfortunately the wether seems to dominate my buck. I can't imagine my buck putting anyone in their place. He makes great babies and is a gentle guy though.

We house all our herd together with two exceptions. When kidding if it's real cold or when being milked the does stay in the barn as well. The rest are just outside or in the case of summer they all go to the "summer" pasture.

Before you ask it... We know when the goats get bred by watching them and paying attention to their actions. It's kinda easy if you get used to it.

petaddict · #24 01/08/10, 07:38 PM

I only have 4 does and they're all in milk or due in March so I don't keep any of them with my buck. I'd love for them to all run together but I don't want my one doe pregnant yet and I don't want my buck stinking up the barn they're in. Actually, it would be wonderful if they could all be in the pasture together. More room and the one doe couldn't be as pushy. I'd love to keep all gates open. That would make things so much easier.

southerngurl · #25 01/10/10, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanb999

We house all our herd together with two exceptions. When kidding if it's real cold or when being milked the does stay in the barn as well. The rest are just outside or in the case of summer they all go to the "summer" pasture.

Before you ask it... We know when the goats get bred by watching them and paying attention to their actions. It's kinda easy if you get used to it.

Don't they get bred back too quickly? What breed(s) do you have?

stanb999 · #26 01/10/10, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southerngurl

Don't they get bred back too quickly? What breed(s) do you have?

Nope, they only breed in mid-fall.

breeds.....Hmmm well I have LaMancha / Alpine crossed with Boer, then they are crossed with LaMancha/Alpine/Boer. I'm at generation 4. So they aren't exactly any recognized breed.

I'm breeding them for myself to be what I want. A hardy cold tolerant goat that gives moderately to well in the milk department while on pasture.