Bucks in with does

[PrettyPaisley]

I bought a Saanen buck and since I thought it wasn't mating season I've let him hang out with the girls. Well last night he was mounting one of them. She knocked him looloo once but then stood still the second time. Surely she can't be cycling right now - she just kidded in March. Should I separate them ?

[Cyngbaeld]

Sometimes they will allow the buck to mount even if they are not cycling, however, buck scent will trigger some to cycle. I'd separate them if you don't want unplanned pregnancies, or put a buck apron on him.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Some goats will come into heat when they aren't really supposed to for a number of reasons. I agree, I'd put him in the buck pen.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I *never* run my bucks with the does. Goats just LOVE to break rules.

[CJBegins]

All of does were bred last year in June. Yep, it happens. Not again for us here. We now practice a different kind of birth control.

[mary,tx]

My Nubians have bred every season of the year, never mind how long/short it's been since they kidded.

It's never a good idea, imo, to run a buck with the does if you don't want to have kids again in five months.

And I'd write the date on the calendar.

[PrettyPaisley]

Lesson learned. They are such naughty little critters ! Now to find a buck apron .... The second pasture won't be done for another week or two. Ugh. At least they are both registered Saanens !!!

[mary,tx]

The year we were in Colorado, I bought a little four month old buck in July. For some reason I thought I had a few weeks to get him in a separate pasture. That little boy bred all my mature does straight away, and I had them kidding the end of December into the first of January.

Since I also sprained my ankle on the ice that year, I was hobbling back and forth to the barn at all hours on crutches on the ice watching for those kids to come.