Have you ever heard....

[Zone]

....of an Alpine going into heat at this time of the year? (MAY)

[mygoat]

Some does, even if the breed is generally seasonal, will go into heat all year round. Your doe could just be one of those!

[Zone]

Oh dear... I was afraid you would say that. What if she is only 7 or 8 weeks fresh? For the past two or three days she has been awfully vocal and I can't figure out why other than there was a new addition to the herd. ??? ....and the young buckling in with her/them is probably old enough to do the job. Yicks!

[cathleenc]

Originally Posted by mygoat

Some does, even if the breed is generally seasonal, will go into heat all year round. Your doe could just be one of those!

sigh. not the answer I wanted to read, either. I've got a very willing 8 week buckling in with my 4 month doeling and he mounts her every time he blinks, it seems. I was 'hoping' that we were safe due to it being the wrong time of year and that I had a couple more weeks before I had to separate. No signs of heat from her at all.

[Zone]

My buckling is 11 weeks old this sunday. *Gulp* And he is still in with my girls too.

[Zone]

Well he is no longer with the girls as of this evening. He now has his own pen/yard. I think I'm tired now.

[Freeholder]

If you read some of the old threads in this forum, you will see that people have had does bred by their eight-week-old sons; does kid at six months old (which means she was bred at ONE MONTH OLD!); someone even had a doe bred by a six-week-old buckling, although I think that one was done on purpose and they gave him a boost.

Goats mature very quickly! If you are keeping a buckling intact for breeding, he must be separated from all the girls by the time he is eight weeks old! If he is not going to be used for breeding he needs to be castrated before he is eight weeks old.

Heat periods usually only last for about 24 hours, although I suppose there are exceptions. Putting a buck in with the does can stimulate them to come into heat, usually about a week after he's put in with them. So, yes, your doe could be bred! This is not necessarily a bad thing. It's good to have a doe bred for fall kidding and winter milk (if you are milking).

Kathleen

[Zone]

Alpines in general do not have heats at this time of year. YICKS! And this buckling is not related to these does/doelings. I bought him to be a herd sire. His line is drenched with SGCH animals.

*SIGH* There is only ONE that I wouldn't mind if she got preg. The other one is only 6 1/2 weeks fresh. The other two are only 11 weeks old themselves.

Oh dear!

[sungirl]

My purebred Alpine doe was in heat a few weeks back. I wouldn't mind some winter milk but I enjoy the 8 weeks I get off. I also seen a few of my Boers going crazy and riding each other a few days ago. Maybe it is our new place making them come into heat? Well all I know is our big guy is whating to get out and help. (Don't know what I would do with some Saanen & Boer crosses.)

Patty.

[Zone]

You just had to say that didn't you Sungirl? LOL Now I'll be worrying for a few months... always wondering and watching. Ugh! Well IF anyone is preg, at least this time I'll have a rough idea of WHEN.

Grrrr. I don't even want to think about it. LOL