Would a bred doe do this?

[The Tin Mom]

We brought our little buckling home last week. Since he was lonely (even though he could see the girls) and he is still to young to breed (for another week the breeder told me) I have him in with the girls.

My doeling was mounting him (she is about 3-4 months old) and then my bred yearling started mounting him. The doeling is only 45 lb & really still too small. He wasn't interested in either at first, but started following them around last night.

Right now, I have moved him & the yearling to a separate pen - but, even though the yearling is getting a stomach & looks like she could be bred, I wasn't sure if she would be so interested in the young buckling if she was. If she is bred, it was sometime in March. If she is not bred, then the breeder said she would give me a free breeding this fall......

Thanks for your patience with my silly questions.... I really feel stupid on this sometimes but it is fun and I am learning so much!

[pookshollow]

I would think that it was more of a dominance thing, than hormones. She's unlikely to be in heat this time of year.

[TSYORK]

They're just getting the pecking order down pat...

[The Tin Mom]

Ahhhhh! That is what I wondered. But, then I saw the thread on bucks and does coming into heat at this odd time & we are about an hour NW of that poster - so I wasn't sure - we have had a weird spring...

I knew other animals did the dominance thing. Didn't know for sure about goats - but now I do!

Thanks!

[jBlaze]

Some breeds do cycle in the spring. (not mine, so I don't know, but I HAVE heard).
And if he is "a week away" from able, how can that really be determined? I would not have him with your young doe just in case.

[kreddish]

Also depends on the breed of goat... pygmys are famous for breeding all year around

[The Tin Mom]

Originally Posted by jBlaze

Some breeds do cycle in the spring. (not mine, so I don't know, but I HAVE heard).
And if he is "a week away" from able, how can that really be determined? I would not have him with your young doe just in case.

Yeah. He is not with her anymore. I put him & the (hopefully) bred doe in a pen together during the day. I am going to let him sleep alone at night starting tonight.

I had thought about that, too. He is definitely interested in the doeling. She hasn't been too interested, but I don't want to take a chance on her getting bred before she is big enough.

They are LaManchas - I need to double check when they cycle - I thought it was early spring & fall - but I can't remember for sure.