so I had some goats. Then got more goats...

boundarybunnyco · #1 07/24/13, 10:06 PM

Okay I bought some pygmy wethers about 8 years ago for pets. They're still here, but they look like small Volkswagen beetles. Hubby feeds them chicken scratch...sigh...
then I bought two little nigerian cross does (maybe with Alpine?). they are seven months old. Sweet like puppies.
Then a lady gave me a 4 year old reg. Nigerian doe in milk. Possibly bred. And a reg. Nigerian buck. 2 years old. The pygmy wethers live with my chickens. The Nigerian buck has his own pen and house. The new doe and the two doelings have a pen and house of their own.
I learned how to milk, and put the buck in a different pen.
Now what!?
I need a crash course. How do I tell if Gracie is bred? Her sides bulge hugely and are weird shaped. I was told if she is bred, she will kid in 2-3 months.
I think my little doelings want bred. They are getting really noisy, wagging their tails all the time, and humping each other. Can/should they be bred already?

chewie · #2 07/25/13, 12:18 AM

what exactly do you need to know? just do lots of searches here and you'll learn more than you thought you ever wanted to! this is a huge resource.

your goats sure look healthy and lucky you, a doe in milk?! i'd love a nigerian for that cream, but hubs says he wouldn't ever milk for me if i got one. they are all cute!

Alice In TX/MO · #3 07/25/13, 07:15 AM

You can test for pregnancy by sending a blood sample to biotracking.com. Instructions on their webpage.

STOP THE CHICKEN SCRATCH.

Scroll down on this web page to real *everything* you ever wanted to know about goats.

http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm

parrotman · #4 07/25/13, 08:47 AM

Those look like some nice, happy goats.

Cannon_Farms · #5 07/25/13, 03:50 PM

blood work is a good place to start so you will know if they are Cae - at least so you can prevent the spred of it.
Goats dont show unitl their last 2 months so its probably just her rumen working or she could have rupured or have poor ligaments and tissue that keep everything where it is supposed to be so her gut hangs low.
Nigerians ideally shouldnt be bred until a year old no matter how much they beg, think of them as a 14 year old girl wanting to go on a date alone.
I would also switch to the break away plastic collars you can get them on any livestock supply catolog I order from Hoaggars. Nothings quite as devistating as to find a goat hung.

boundarybunnyco · #6 07/25/13, 07:36 PM

good advice. I will do that immediately. they are happy little things. I'd hate to have them suffer. And the Nigerians don't get scratch, just the two pygmy wethers. They live with the chickens and are my husband's goats. But I will tell him to stop. My little goats get grass, weeds, maple branches, hay, and a handful of grain once a day.