How to tell if you will have does from bucks

dunroven · #1 11/24/13, 08:08 AM

You know a couple of years ago, someone on here had a theory about how to tell if you were going to have little bucks or does born to your goats. Does anyone else remember what that theory was? I was going to try it again and my poor old, tired brain has completely forgotten what it was.

Also, they used to say that if you fed the goats at night, they would have their babies during the day. Anyone found this to be true? I haven't had baby goats here for a couple of years, and I'm out of practice. Let me know what you all remember.

Thanks!

Ford Zoo · #2 11/24/13, 08:29 AM

One theory was that if a doe smelled a bit like a buck (I think around her horn bases), she would deliver bucklings. This has not worked for me.

Another was the nail on the string test. I don't remember, but the nail swings in a strong circle for boys, back and forth for girls; or the other way around. Whichever it was, last year we tried it and if it swung one way, that doe had at least one kid with the corresponding sex. Haven't tried either but one season, so I can't say how accurate these tests are, but they make it fun!

As for delivery times, we have generally kidded in the cold and almost all our deliveries have been in the morning, between 9&10, after the sun warms things a bit.

Alice In TX/MO · #3 11/24/13, 08:45 AM

Yes, it was smelling the doe's head.

Clovers_Clan · #4 11/24/13, 10:12 AM

I'm sorry I can't remember where I read it. Statistically bucks and multiples are born before due date and single doelings are born after due date. From my own experience that has been true. Does not make predicting any easier except WHILE they're in labor though! I guess you could extrapolate based on knowledge of your individual doe whether she seems to be bagging up, ligaments loosening, etc. earlier or later than usual.

southerngurl · #5 11/24/13, 12:37 PM

They just have what they have lol.

As for feeding for a certain kidding time, yes, feed most of their food in the evening and you'll get more daytime kids. Almost all mine kid in the day time.

bluefish · #6 11/24/13, 12:50 PM

I feed twice a day and have only ever had 2 kiddings at night. Most are mid-morningish. I hadn't heard of the head smelling thing. How does that work when the doe is carrying one of each?

dunroven · #7 11/24/13, 03:11 PM

I don't know about whether the smelling thing is true or not, but I was telling someone about it here the other day, but I just couldn't remember what everyone said to do. Seems like I remember that if they smelled bucky they had bucks, and if there was no smell, it was does. I can't remember for certain though.

The feeding thing for the kidding though I had heard, and I have for the last several weeks fed my goaties at night. I do NOT want middle of the night babies, and everyone that has used that one says it works.

I just think it is very interesting about all these things and like to hear about them. LOL

Thanks folks.

Frosted Mini's · #8 11/24/13, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clovers_Clan

I'm sorry I can't remember where I read it. Statistically bucks and multiples are born before due date and single doelings are born after due date. From my own experience that has been true. Does not make predicting any easier except WHILE they're in labor though! I guess you could extrapolate based on knowledge of your individual doe whether she seems to be bagging up, ligaments loosening, etc. earlier or later than usual.

While I can't recall all of my kiddings and how early or late they were, I do know for certain I had the opposite with one doe. First kidding, she went 3 or 4 days past her due date and had a single buck. Second kidding, she was right on time, and had a single buckling. I'll have to see what she does this year!

I think the feeding matters mostly close to when the does are due. It has actually been studied and proven in sheep.

Smelling heads, hm, I doubt that. LOL.

Pony · #9 11/26/13, 10:01 AM

Trub always goes late with quads, but she was on time with the twins last year.

My fat goats eat all the time, so I'm not one to say if that has any effect on time of delivery.

As for the gender of the kids, I find the best way to tell is when they're on the ground and you can look for yourself.

LFRJ · #10 11/26/13, 11:46 PM

We had three does deliver a total of 8 kids this year using a single buck, and we got an even 50/50 split. All were born twilight or dawn. what does that tell you?

dunroven · #11 11/27/13, 09:05 AM

So far this year, I have had 4 does kid and I had 2 with trips (lost one of these), and 2 with twins. I still have 4 to go. Mine have all been having their babies in the late evening, early night, before midnight kind of thing, but it is so cold here that I have been using the blow dryer on them to dry their ears and feet, they freeze almost immediately. I have one tiny little doe that I had to bring in. She is less than half the size of the others, but she's doing great. I can't remember my doe/buck count right now, but will be checking on that later. I believe its about 50/50 though. Haven't had time to go out and sniff heads! LOLOL

DenMacII · #12 11/27/13, 07:47 PM

We have three does due to kid in about a month. Two are massive right now and bagging up, the third is showing, but not near the size. They were all bred within a week of each other right as we finished a move to a new farm.
I'll be smelling heads, and giving updates as they develop.

dunroven · #13 11/28/13, 09:54 AM

Its fun to either prove or disprove these things isn't it?

DenMacII · #14 11/28/13, 09:24 PM

Interesting that this thread came up when it did.

One of my prego does is acting like a buck - chasing, hooting and making all the usual excited buck sounds that our bucks make. The bucks are not in the same pasture, but not out of sight either.

I'm hoping that is not the hormones of a batch up bucklings getting ready to come out.

Please, please at least one doe!!! ...and hopefully three between the three kidding by year's end.

TRAILRIDER · #15 11/29/13, 03:57 PM

It wouldn't bother me if all we had were bucklings, maybe one nice doeling to keep : )
However this year all the girls delivered between 11:30 and 3:00 in the middle of the day. One on Monday and the others on the weekend. I was surprised no one waited til the middle of the night. I was sleeping in the barn anyway : ) I feed about the same morning and again at night. Maybe it was beginners luck, but I hope this year they have all normal presentations and deliveries, even if they deliver at night.