Male vs. Female (breeding)

[teencochingurl]

How many does do I need before I add a billy "goat gruff"?

[GoatGirl123]

It depends on your needs. I got bucks right away because we always intended to breed them; we got them for milk. If and when you get a buck, it will need a companion buck or whether to live with him when he isn't with the does.

[hjnaquin]

We have two bucks and a doe. I doubt the bucks we have now will ever be able to reach her though lol

[Woolieface]

One buck will do fine for quite a few does. Don't be so sure they can't reach, Hjnaquin, lol. I had a buck roughly the size of a Nigerian breed a big Nubian/Alpine doe.

[hjnaquin]

Originally Posted by Woolieface

One buck will do fine for quite a few does. Don't be so sure they can't reach, Hjnaquin, lol. I had a buck roughly the size of a Nigerian breed a big Nubian/Alpine doe.

The bucks are nigerian. The doe was a Craigslist special, gotten as a friend for the first buckling. He said she was a 3-4 month Pygmy but I doubt it.ImageUploadedByHomesteading Today1427771347.037621.jpgImageUploadedByHomesteading Today1427771355.936903.jpg

[Woolieface]

He's a cute guy. Goats are clever. Where there's a will, there's usually a way, lol.

[Woolieface]

He's a cute guy. Goats are clever. Where there's a will, there's usually a way, lol.

[mygoat]

Male are designed to breed females bigger than them.

Providing he's well fed and you keep on top of coccidia/dewormers so that he has a chance to grow, he can likely breed that doe just fine.

However, I would suggest considering keeping bucks/does separate so you have duedates and can do better management of your pregnant/due animals. Some bucks get really interested in does in labor and can be breeding/harassing the poor laboring things. They can also breed their daughters in the herd VERY young - 2 month old does bred and kidding out at 7 months is not unheard of. (Also a good reason to remove bucklings at 10 weeks or so. )

[hjnaquin]

Originally Posted by mygoat

Male are designed to breed females bigger than them.

Providing he's well fed and you keep on top of coccidia/dewormers so that he has a chance to grow, he can likely breed that doe just fine.

However, I would suggest considering keeping bucks/does separate so you have duedates and can do better management of your pregnant/due animals. Some bucks get really interested in does in labor and can be breeding/harassing the poor laboring things. They can also breed their daughters in the herd VERY young - 2 month old does bred and kidding out at 7 months is not unheard of. (Also a good reason to remove bucklings at 10 weeks or so. )

I plan to separate and get some doeling friends for reba, but not until we get more land in June. I just hope she will get along with them, as she's definitely the dominant one out of the three we have. She makes that clear.

[farmmaid]

To answer your question: Money wise....three does make it $ to keep a buck.