Please help me do it right this time.....

Rashashea · #1 09/09/13, 03:24 PM

Hi,
Last year was my first year breeding my own does and I am pretty sure I did it wrong...not that they didnt get bred I just didnt know when. When my buck starting acting flirty I turned him in with my does for about a month and let him "go to town" so of course I could really get a good timeframe of when they were bred. As the time got close to delivery I wore myself out getting up several times each night for 2 or 3 weeks hoping to get to be there for the babies to come into the world and I managed to not get to see any of my 4 does deliver. My mom and husband did but not me!! I was heartbroken, so this year can you all give me some tips on how to breed them and get a more accurate timeframe?
Thank so much,
Varsey

Doug Hodges · #2 09/09/13, 03:31 PM

Watch them breed. Sat out with them and watch the buck breed the does. Ive seen 12 does breed so far. I have one more to go. They will give you notice. The buck will start following the doe around. Usually when you see the buck following the doe or the doe following the buck, then its done that day. Write it down, go to the goat calculator and put it on the calendar and then start watching for the signs each day about a week before kidding date. At least that's my plan and this is my first breeding season.

Guess I should say. I actually put Cidr's in 5 of my goats and didn't put the buck with the does until I pulled them. All my breeding has taken place in the last 8 days.

trnubian · #3 09/09/13, 03:46 PM

To be absolutely sure of each does due date you need to hand breed.
To hand breed:
Watch the does for signs of heat. Pen your doe close to your buck but make sure he can't get in with them. The does in heat will hang out as close to the buck as possible. They will wag their tails alot. Their vulvas will most likely be red and or swollen and there will normally be excess mucous.
When you see a doe in heat put her in with your buck. NOT him in with your does. If she stands for him, let him breed her a couple times then return her to her pen. If she doesn't stand for him, wait a few hours and try again until he is able to breed her. WRITE DOWN the date she was bred. In several different places if you want. That way if you lose one paper you will have a fallback.
Watch for that doe to come back into heat 18-21 days later. If she does not then it is a safe bet she is pregnant. Count out 150 days from the day she was bred and that is her due date. Be ready for kidding a week before I just incase the.

Pretty simple just takes lots of observation.

Awnry Abe · #4 09/09/13, 03:58 PM

What Amanda sez is what I am doing this year. We had the same fiasco last year. Never again, at least on purpose. It is very easy to see who is in heat. We let the doe in with the buck. The doe races in and the deed is done in about 15 seconds. We leave her in for an hour or so, then open the gate for to let her out. She races back out with as much enthusiasm as she went in. They usually give me a "What was I thinking?" look.

ETA: we have does going into heat daily now. This is almost as fun as kidding time. Well, maybe 10% as fun, but fun nonetheless.

Rashashea · #5 09/09/13, 04:09 PM

Thanks so much!! I live in KY does anyone know how many times my does should come in heat?

coso · #6 09/09/13, 05:34 PM

They should start coming in pretty quick if they haven't all ready. Some of the first heats when it is hot, can be not as noticeable. They will come in heat through the first of the year, then a lot of times they will come in Feb, and March, but will again be more of a silent heat. This is what my LaManchas do. Nubians will usually stretch the season out a little longer.

April · #7 09/09/13, 07:45 PM

A little on the "not so polite" side, but I just look for evidence of the deed. When the buck goes in the pen, each doe gets her backside checked each night. It's usually pretty obvious when it happens.

The thing is, even if you know exactly when she was bred, it still could be anywhere from 145 days to 155 days (or, Pan forbid, even longer!) for gestation. I think it's more important to get familiar with checking ligaments. Once you can't feel those any more, then you can start checking frequently for additional signs of imminent kidding.

Doug Hodges · #8 09/09/13, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by April

A little on the "not so polite" side, but I just look for evidence of the deed. When the buck goes in the pen, each doe gets her backside checked each night. It's usually pretty obvious when it happens.

The thing is, even if you know exactly when she was bred, it still could be anywhere from 145 days to 155 days (or, Pan forbid, even longer!) for gestation. I think it's more important to get familiar with checking ligaments. Once you can't feel those any more, then you can start checking frequently for additional signs of imminent kidding.

Explain this ligament thing I keep hearing about.

Clovers_Clan · #9 09/09/13, 09:44 PM

Just a side note. If this is their first sign of coming into heat for the season. Make sure they stand to be bred then parade them through the buck pen once more about 7 days later. Some does go into false heat at their first introduction to a buck, then actually cycle about a week later.

parrotman · #10 09/10/13, 06:41 AM

I don't mean to hijack this post, but for Doug, here's what you need to know about ligaments:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/prenatalcare.html

Doug Hodges · #11 09/10/13, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrotman

I don't mean to hijack this post, but for Doug, here's what you need to know about ligaments:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/prenatalcare.html

Thanks