What happened??

I thought my doe was in season last week. She was hanging around the buck's pen, so I let her in. We stood by as they did their "thing' (4 times). That evening I let her out. Marked the calendar and that was that...right?

Then, the other day, her and a few other does were hanging around the buck's pen. I put one of the other does in. He wasn't overly interested in her and she wasn't interested in him. Out with her, in with the other. Same thing. All the while, he stared at Ruckus (the doe he had bred less than a week before). We told him that he would be wasting his time, that she was done with him and wouldn't be interested, but fine...if you want her to come in, fine. We let Ruckus in. Much to our dismay, she was very interested in him. Stopped counting at 3 times and walked off to give the happy couple some privacy.

What the heck is going on?? I thought that they were in season for ~24 hours or so. The 2 breeding sessions took place 1 day short of a week apart?!? I've got both breed dates and kidding dates in the calendar.

The buck has shown interest in the other does now (although hasn't bred anyone else), but when Ruckus walks by he turns his attention to her. Any thoughts?

Liz

[mammawof3]

It is fairly common for a doe to come back in 5-6 days after-especially early in the breeding season-the 2nd breeding date will likely be the "correct one"--if the doe continues to be in, over and over however she could have something wrong w/her ovaries-cysts-chances are, she settled on 2nd breeding.

[ozark_jewels]

She had a "false heat". Its quite common especially on their first heat of the season. Out of 84 does bred so far, I have had 10 come back in a few days to a week later. Always mark down BOTH breeding dates and always breed to the same buck so if she goes over or under her actual due date, you will be *sure* you know the sire of the kids. Not to worry unless it keeps happening that way.....then you would have a problem.

That's a relief! She has not been interested in him at all since the 2nd breeding, so hopefully it "took". Both dates were written down and I only have one buck, so that's covered as well. Thanks!! I was a bit worried there that she was just being a "hussy" and that I would never know her due date.

Glad to know I don't need to have "the talk" with her!

Thanks again!!
Liz

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

She had a "false heat". Its quite common especially on their first heat of the season. Out of 84 does bred so far, I have had 10 come back in a few days to a week later. Always mark down BOTH breeding dates and always breed to the same buck so if she goes over or under her actual due date, you will be *sure* you know the sire of the kids. Not to worry unless it keeps happening that way.....then you would have a problem.

[PygmyLover]

Ok this will be a bit long so only read if interested.

The estrous cycle is regulated by hormones. The normal pattern shows a follicle developing on the ovary and producing estrogen. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) are produced by the pituitary gland. These two hormones help mature the follicle and cause it to rupture. A corpus leteum (c.l.) develops in the bed of the ruptured follicle and produces progesterone which prepares the uterus for pregnancy. If conception has not occurred, the uterus will produce a prostaglandin which causes regression of the c.l. and will then allow the next cycle to take place. If conception has occurred, the prostaglandin will not be produced and the c.l. will persist and help maintain the pregnancy. Goats require c.l. for the entire length of the pregnancy.

Occasionally the planned hormonal control will malfunction. A common occurrence is the “five-day heat.” A doe will come into season and stand for the buck normally. We carefully enter the dates on the calendar and start planning for our babies in 5 months. But 5 days later, the doe is back in season and standing once again for the buck. He is happy and so is she, but what does this do to our 5 month plans? Apparently the follicle produced with the first heat did not rupture (ovulate). But since it was ripe, it took only a few days for the hormones to build back up and prepare for ovulation once again. The majority of does will ovulate at the five-day heat and you should adjust your calendar accordingly. There is almost no chance that she would have ovulated at the first heat.

Taken from Pygmy Goats Management and veterinary care by Lorrie Boldrick and Lydia Hale

This is true for all goats.

[moonspinner]

I concur. I find especially early in the breeding season you get these backup heats that occur 4-7 days following the first. Usually you did not get ovulation the first time, so be sure to breed any does showing heat symptoms within a week of breeding again.

[Jcran]

I also had two or three does rebreed after 3 to 4 days; someone told me they had a doe who acted "bucky" every single month until she kidded! Now THAT would have driven me nuts!

[chamoisee]

Some does come into heat twice, with the heats a few days to a week apart, and conceive on BOTH heats, resulting in a higher percentage of multiple births. Feed her well!

[PygmyLover]

becareful of feeding to much - really that can cause large kids and difficult delivories. Better to feed them more during the middle months of pregnancy (when the kids are growing the most) and lay off towards the end.