Hi all
I am getting some new goats. At first the plan was to get two weathers, but i'm considering 4-h and want to get a doe as well. I just have a couple of questions.
I don't plan on breeding for at least a year or two, so untill i decide i really want to get into that, the doe will be a pet. Do they need speacial care when going into heat? I haven't found anything on this in any of my goat care books.
most likly i'll be able to bring home two goats from the same farm, wich i think is good beacuse it'll make it much easier on them. I know i will be quarantined for a while, but how long do you guys think that should be? Mostly i hear a month, so that's the plan for now.
Here is the link to the farm i'll be getting them at if all works out : http://aislingfarmgoats.com/Nigerian_Dwarf_Kids.html
I'm picking between Nora and Grainne and will get to visit them to make my choice. The weather to the bottem of the page is most likely going to be coming home as well.
If you have any thoughs on the does please let me know.
Thanks :)
Replies
:) Not sure if that's the case, but just not sure about it ;) Also up to my parents ;)
Sure some are 3 before bred it is just best to not wait to long and it would be better to breed her by then at least if not earlier. May I ask why you don't think you will want to breed for 3 years?
I forgot to mention this, the goats wil be at a fair for a whole week. The breeder is using them as 4-H loners, wich doesn't bother me beacuse it's means they are been handeled. But should i be concerned about them picking up ilnesses at the fair? I'd be picking them up a week after.
We have not decided yet beacuse we haven't gone to see them. The breeder said beacuse a doe is a larger investement she would be happy to let us come to pick. So this saturday we are going to pick. She works nights so we haven't been able to come as soon as i planed. I"m not sure if i will be able to breed, but if i do, and i'm not ready till the doe is 3 years old would i still have a chance at breeding her?
Have you decided which doe yet? I visited the site Sunday and looked at their pictures. It was interesting and I am curious about your decision. I bet once you get your hands on that milk you will wish you had gotten more than 1 doe! It doesn't cost any more to feed a doe than a wether and you get milk! I have no wethers yet. I am going to wait and save wethers out of my own breedings, cause I know it will be hard to part with so many. I plan on doing some cart and pack training with some of them.
If you are wondering about keeping her as a pet and her going into heat and not being bred etc. That is not a problem. Yes, she will be fine if you don't breed her. No, she won't need special care. But, if you want to breed her at all you may have to do it after the first couple of years because sometimes waiting past about 2 1/2 -3 years is a problem, especially if she gets to fat, so be careful about that part.
If you are giving your goats fresh water, plus quality hay and goat minerals, plus keeping them wormed, she should be fine to go into heat. You will be able to tell if her health is top notch by the way her coat looks - shiny and soft and bold colors.