03/25/06, 11:34 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 256
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No definite timeline, unfortunately....most goats are photoperiodic, just like chickens. Day length is the main trigger for beginning estrus, and then falling temperature. Some are more strict in their adherence to the norm - Swiss breeds are more likely to cycle only September to December than Nubians or Boers. Nigerians and Pygmies can cycle year round.
So, what time of the year your goat gives birth is likely to be more important than how many months after she kids. If she kids in July - she could come back in in September/October like the rest of her herdmates. I have a goat that's due July 31 - I assume that I could rebreed her this fall or winter, if I wanted to. But I may just have her milk through.
Having kids too close together can be hard on the doe, especially if she's a heavy milker. She just doesn't have enough time to get her body back into condition after going through her lactation peak and then having another set of kids.
I have never heard that goats have a definite "foal heat" like horses, but would assume it's possible.
Cheers!
Katherine
Blue Oak Ranch
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(but she did have bucks right next door). Weird goat. I think that depending on when they kid they can start heat cycles again pretty dang soon 
