Need advice pinpointing does heat

Lovin' FarmLife · #1 04/07/11, 09:44 PM

I have a 2 yr old Nubian doe that I want to get bred but I can't pinpoint when she is in heat. I don't have a buck onsite and have to take her to him, but when is the question. The only thing that I can see from her is for the last three days she has been bleating for no reason and jumping up on the side of the barn. I haven't noticed any goo or anything else. She loves to be right beside me, but that is normal. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Gaby Rose · #2 04/07/11, 10:00 PM

Go to the buck and rub him down with a rag then stick it in a jar with a tight lid. If you think she's in heat just open the jar and let her smell it. She'll start wagging her tail and yelling even more. She might even try to climb into the jar! :happy0035:

This has helped me to figure out the heat cycle for my girls.

mpete · #3 04/07/11, 11:45 PM

I have a nubian that the only way to tell is she stands in a corner and hollers whenever the front door opens. I have a boer that I can only tell because all of a sudden she begins to fight with everyone! Definitely find a buck and get the rag like Gaby Rose says... it can help a lot!

Blue Run Farm · #4 04/08/11, 10:20 AM

I used a buck rag this year too. I kept mine in a ziplock bag and showed it to my does every morning at feed time. One turned out to be already bred, but my other girl went wild for the buck rag. When not in heat, she would sniff it a bit and walk away. When in heat, she started wagging her tail to the point of smacking herself with it. Lots of squatting and peeing. She tried to put her whole head in the bag and rub all over the rag, to the point of ignoring her feed. When that didn't work, she rubbed all over my other doe, lol. Took her to the buck that day and she immediately let him cover her. She is due to kid around April 28 and the kid or kids are rocking and rolling in there

saanengirl · #5 04/08/11, 03:00 PM

The buck rag is a good suggestion. I wouldn't expect your doe to come into heat this time of year, particularly since you live in MI. Wait until September and start showing her a buck rag on a regular basis. Another option is to get a baby buck, let him breed her this fall, and then turning him into BBQ.