When should I breed her?

CookingPam777 · #1 05/17/08, 09:23 AM

I had a doe kid in Janurary and her doeling died. When should I rebred her?

Freeholder · #2 05/17/08, 10:06 AM

Are you milking her, or is she dry? If she was mine, and I was milking, I'd wait to rebreed until it looked like the milk production was starting to drop off. If she's dry, however, I'd rebreed as soon as you can catch her in heat, which is probably going to vary depending on what breed she is. If she's a Swiss breed, she may not come in heat until fall, so you'll have to wait until then. A Nubian may cycle year-round. A buck would be the best one to catch her in heat.

Kathleen

CookingPam777 · #3 05/17/08, 10:09 AM

Oh it seems she is in heat all the time. She never gave milk she started out with 3 drops and I got her up to 1/4 oz. And now just milk her out every now and then as I didn't know if she could get mastis from not being milked out.

CookingPam777 · #4 05/17/08, 10:10 AM

She is a Nubian/Alpine.

Zone · #5 05/17/08, 10:42 AM

If she were mine and she has no ill affects from losing kid, and health is good, I'd try to rebreed her at the next heat. Hopefully she has one before fall.

Freeholder · #6 05/17/08, 10:58 AM

Was she full-term when she kidded and lost the doeling? If it was an early birth, I could understand having so little milk, but if she was full-term, you ought to be getting a lot more than that. And no, with so little milk, you don't have to worry about her getting mastitis from not being milked out.

I would go ahead and re-breed, but if she doesn't milk a whole lot better next time she kids, IMO you should just put her in the freezer.

Kathleen

CookingPam777 · #7 05/17/08, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJuniperFarm

Was she full-term when she kidded and lost the doeling? If it was an early birth, I could understand having so little milk, but if she was full-term, you ought to be getting a lot more than that. And no, with so little milk, you don't have to worry about her getting mastitis from not being milked out.

I would go ahead and re-breed, but if she doesn't milk a whole lot better next time she kids, IMO you should just put her in the freezer.

Kathleen

Well it's hard to say. She was accidently bred so the previous owner did not know the due date. But her guess was in Feburary. So if this is true then she went a month early. The doeling did okay for 1 day or 2. But I am guessing it was early her hooves were smooshy would actually break off and crumble. And everytime it got cold at all she would have a hard time breathing so I am thinking under developed lungs? It would have done okay if it had colostrum we being newbies didn't know what to do and gave her cows milk. Not a good way to start off the first time ever goating. I have thought about what if she doen't milk good the second time. She is a pet and the freezer is just NOT an option. I would keep her as a pet or sell her as a pet making it clear she doesn't give milk and shouldn't be bred. However I am hoping this is not the case she is so pretty and would throw some pretty kids. My buck is only 3 months old so I am tossed about what to do. Wait for him to grow in size or pay the money to have her bred. How old do they have to be in order to be old enough?

CookingPam777 · #8 05/17/08, 12:43 PM

I really think she is ready now to be bred.

CookingPam777 · #9 05/17/08, 12:50 PM

I forgot to say she was really badly under weight when I first got her. I got her pregnant. She was bred to early. She was 7 months old. So she had her baby I wormed her got her back up to where she should be and now she's herd queen! Before she used to get picked on so badly and could not defend herself. She is very healthy and chubby now so I think I will rebred her. But some of what I said above may also have been the reason for no milk. What do you think? Although wouldn't she have gotten better and picked up as she got healthier?

Zone · #10 05/17/08, 12:55 PM

"Chubby" is not healthy either, just so you'll know.

Freeholder · #11 05/17/08, 01:10 PM

Yes, I'm pretty sure the reason my milker didn't kid in January when she was supposed to is because she was fat.

If your doe kidded early, and was so young, that could explain the lack of milk. Go ahead and rebreed her, and see what happens.

Your little buck could be old enough to breed her, but if you want to be sure you should probably take her to an older buck this time. The young one will definitely be ready by this fall, though. (And eight-week-old bucklings have been known to breed their mothers, so you could try the little guy if you want to.)

Kathleen

CookingPam777 · #12 05/17/08, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zone

"Chubby" is not healthy either, just so you'll know.

Well I guess what I mean is from what she was hehehe. She is not fat but a good weight.

CookingPam777 · #13 05/17/08, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJuniperFarm

Yes, I'm pretty sure the reason my milker didn't kid in January when she was supposed to is because she was fat.

If your doe kidded early, and was so young, that could explain the lack of milk. Go ahead and rebreed her, and see what happens.

Your little buck could be old enough to breed her, but if you want to be sure you should probably take her to an older buck this time. The young one will definitely be ready by this fall, though. (And eight-week-old bucklings have been known to breed their mothers, so you could try the little guy if you want to.)

Kathleen

Maybe I will try my little buck seems kinda odd but oh well.

Zone · #14 05/17/08, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CookingPam777

Well I guess what I mean is from what she was hehehe. She is not fat but a good weight.

Oh... That's good.

You had me worried there for a time.