Doe Just Plays with Buck when in heat

[Rechellef]

I am finally beginning to figure out when my 3 year old Sannen doe Sugar is in heat. Therefore, I watched her with our buck Sinckers. When she was first in heat, she showed interest, but nothing more. The next day she butted heads with him and then nothing more from either party. On day three, she would lovingly play with him by gently butting heads and then rubbing his face and nuzzling him with her head. He would do the lip and mouth thing, but he didn't try to mount her and she didn't position herself for the "act". It was obvious that she was in heat, but it was all talk and no DO. Snickers is a bit smaller than her, but there are plenty of dips and hills to get the job done if they were serious. There was no way I could help the happy couple out at the time, so what do I do next heat cycle? I would like her bred for a February kid so I can stagger my does breeding and have milk all year round.

[Alice In TX/MO]

How old is the buck?

[mekasmom]

Usually the male will breed regardless of the doe's efforts or lack thereof.

[Rechellef]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

How old is the buck?

He is only 7 months old. Could it be his lack of experience or perhaps I just didn't witness the whole courtship and he did in fact breed her when I wasn't looking?

[CarolT]

I never saw anything last year but got kids on Valentine's day LOL It doesn't take long at all!

[Alice In TX/MO]

I never had good luck with young bucks and older does.

[Goat Servant]

Once leased an 11mo old. Never did see any action apparently he worked graveyard cause 5 mos later everyone kidded.

[saanengirl]

My Saanen does don't usually start cycling until the end of September. What may be happening with your doe is that her hormones are starting to change preparing her for estrus while she is not yet in estrus. The behavior of both animals tells me that while she may be hormonal, she is not yet receptive. A 7 month old buck should try to mount a doe that is actually in heat (my 4 and 6 month old bucks try to mount everything that moves).