My two new does Cayenne and Hosanna (mom and daughter) had just finished their heat cycles one January 2 and 4 respectively. You count the 21 days starting the day after they finish right? Do I need to be worried about them being stressed after moving and doing anything extra for them with their food etc? Do you supplement anything in particular when you're planning to breed them? I'm feeding a good quality grass hay, orchard grass pellets with a little molasses now and then and I have minerals that I haven't gotten out there yet. Their breeder gave them each a BComplex shot before they left and they got Copper bolus on Dec 31. Anything else I need to be aware of in preparation to breeding Cayenne? She seems to have lost a tiny bit of weight since they got here. Is alfalfa a better choice than grass hay? I don't really want to feed anything that could be sprayed or GM.
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Thanks for the info Rachael! Hearing someone else's experiences really helps! I get so worried that I'm going to do something wrong or something and it's so nice to hear what others do and the variety there is between what different people do.
On the bright side, it only takes once!! :) I just like to let them be together for a few more rounds, but like you, I don't really like the idea of leaving them together for super long. Partly, because my doe's heats don't last that long once they are standing, and they really do seem to be *stressed* when the buck is relentless. As you can see, I do have a fairly "gentlemanly" buck, and he's not obnoxious to the does, but still... they only love him for so long. lol I had one of my does go into standing heat right after dark one night, so I put her in with my buck, and he got her right away... then they did the "I hate you stay the heck away from me" routine... and then she stood for him again. lol I left her in with him, but I didn't leave her over night. I don't think either of them would have gotten any sleep!! lol He was a little frenzied. (different buck than the one in my video.) I brought her back to the girl's side of the fence later that night.
I did! Thanks Rachael! It was very helpful!! I should have left them together for a while yesterday afternoon, guess I didn't know. She's definitely out of heat as of last night so I guess she's either bred or she's not. I'll put them together for longer next time I have a doe bred. Hopefully so but I guess we'll see. We're having frightful weather, bitter cold nights and warm days. I love the warm days but the temp swings kind of worries me.
Myra, have you watched my video of a successful breeding? There is a period of time (*about* 15-20 min for my doe in the video) where she doesn't want anything to do with my buck after he's bred her... and then she's game again. She even snuggles into him, etc... so a bit of that is normal. I also leave my does in with my bucks for at least a couple hours once I've witnessed at least two breedings. :)
I thought about doing that but was rather uneasy about it since Cayenne was Done with him after the breeding. Stomping and butting and generally getting quite worked up. This morning she stood and let him get her and then again was Done with him. Also it was super cold last night and each of the goats needed another one to cuddle up to for extra warmth. (My other buck would have been all alone ). I'll probably leave them together next time but I didn't know if I should and didn't have anyone to ask at 12 at night.
I usually leave does and bucks together for a few hours or overnight, if it's in the evening when I notice a doe in heat.
Myra Isaac said:
Cayenne is coming into heat now and seems to be getting rather interested in the boys :) I brought Cowboy over and put them together about 5 this evening and she wasn't too impressed with his attempts. I'm kind of afraid that if I wait til morning that I'll miss her heat. I think I'll go out and try once more before waiting till morning.. I really want to get her bred this time around if at all possible.
Talked to Cayennes breeder this morning and were quite sure that Cayenne has been bred at least 3 times. Her breeder didn't think I needed to be too worried about parasites at this point and said that Cayennes weight does fluctuate a little. I'm relieved and so excited to have a doe bred!!!! Providing the breeding takes, of course.
I don't think she is altho I suppose it's possible. I got some alfalfa/grass mix hat from TSC and they seem to like that quite well. I'll keep watching her closing and see how it looks tomorrow.
Cayenne is coming into heat now and seems to be getting rather interested in the boys :) I brought Cowboy over and put them together about 5 this evening and she wasn't too impressed with his attempts. I'm kind of afraid that if I wait til morning that I'll miss her heat. I think I'll go out and try once more before waiting till morning.. I really want to get her bred this time around if at all possible.
It's hard to say for sure without seeing her personally, but if she seems to be losing weight, and the other doe isn't, parasites are one consideration. Any chance the other doe is hogging all the food?
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On the bright side, it only takes once!! :) I just like to let them be together for a few more rounds, but like you, I don't really like the idea of leaving them together for super long. Partly, because my doe's heats don't last that long once they are standing, and they really do seem to be *stressed* when the buck is relentless. As you can see, I do have a fairly "gentlemanly" buck, and he's not obnoxious to the does, but still... they only love him for so long. lol I had one of my does go into standing heat right after dark one night, so I put her in with my buck, and he got her right away... then they did the "I hate you stay the heck away from me" routine... and then she stood for him again. lol I left her in with him, but I didn't leave her over night. I don't think either of them would have gotten any sleep!! lol He was a little frenzied. (different buck than the one in my video.) I brought her back to the girl's side of the fence later that night.
Myra, have you watched my video of a successful breeding? There is a period of time (*about* 15-20 min for my doe in the video) where she doesn't want anything to do with my buck after he's bred her... and then she's game again. She even snuggles into him, etc... so a bit of that is normal. I also leave my does in with my bucks for at least a couple hours once I've witnessed at least two breedings. :)
I usually leave does and bucks together for a few hours or overnight, if it's in the evening when I notice a doe in heat.
Myra Isaac said:
Cayenne is coming into heat now and seems to be getting rather interested in the boys :) I brought Cowboy over and put them together about 5 this evening and she wasn't too impressed with his attempts. I'm kind of afraid that if I wait til morning that I'll miss her heat. I think I'll go out and try once more before waiting till morning.. I really want to get her bred this time around if at all possible.
It's hard to say for sure without seeing her personally, but if she seems to be losing weight, and the other doe isn't, parasites are one consideration. Any chance the other doe is hogging all the food?
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