Buck not acting very "bucky"...

[GreenMomma]

We recently got a mini-nubian buck (about a year and a few months old) gifted to us. He is a adorable and we are really looking forward to seeing what he will produce... Decided to pasture him and one of our open nigerian does together now so that if she does't take we still have a chance to breed her with a proven buck in the fall.

I believe she is in heat, though she's a mellow one about it. Tail flagging like nobodies business and that is generally her only sign.

She is a shy breeder. Since we have had her she does NOT like to breed out in the open and will fild a secluded spot. However, we have never had a buck that didn't try the minute they were around each other. We have not seen the mini-nubian try even once.

He has been here for about 6 months, so is comfortable here and not out of his element. He tried to breed a few does when he first got here, though was not pastured with them, it was just while walking through on a leash. Tried doing the deed with all the dude goats in the boy pen as well.

Could it be that he is a seasonal breeder? I haven't run across a buck that didn't want to breed whenever given a chance. He follows her all over the place, but more like he just wants to be hanging out with another goat than anything else. I don't know if he just maybe has better manners, but I don't think that is it, lol.

Any tips or tricks (something I can feed them? etc) to encourage breeding? Does this sound like normal behavior?

[Cyngbaeld]

She is probably not in standing heat and he knows it. Many times my does will be flirty but not in true heat. The buck knows the difference, though some bucks will try to breed anything around whether it is appropriate or not. When bucks are mounting other bucks it is a dominance issue for the most part.

[punchiepal]

Agree. She may not be in standing heat.

Just a word of caution - I would not be breeding a mini nubian buck to a nigerian doe. You can get larger babies due to his history of larger genetics.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Good catch, Punchie. Not a good breeding idea, as you said.

[wintrrwolf]

It is almost hilarious when I put the boys in with the girls, the poor guys are so excited they sniff, try to mount everything, and pee on themselves.
After a few days everything settles down and they become like very behaved gentleman that they are. They check the girls from time to time but they are calm about it, its how I prefer them to be. I know some have more aggressive bucks and lots talk about them getting the job done and off they go, but I like the genetics of mine and personality is a plus too.
Sorry you got a mini nub buck you really should not risk your nigi doe with using him on her...