I leased a buck this year to breed my does and it will be my first time actually breeding goats. I am not sure if I want to put them in a pen together for a while or put her with the buck as soon as I see she is in heat. I want to be able to know when she is due and not just know what months she should kid in! How do you take care of breeding on your farm? Thanks!
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Rachel is right - having a buck on premise certainly take a lot of guess work out. Or if that isn't possible a boy that was wethered later in life will let you know too. I HATE not having a due date, so I don't pen breed unless I absolutely have to and even then I watch to see what goes on.
I have to mention, it's WAY easier to tell as a newbie when you have a buck on premise. I was totally hit and miss when I didn't have bucks, but now it's much easier.
I prefer to do what Rachel does. When I was new and afraid I'd miss heats -- and probably did -- I would only pen breed goats for summer due dates because I also did not have much confidence in my ability to know when a doe was going to kid. I do pen breed for winter kiddings now sometimes, but I always complain when I'm sitting there watching a doe like a hawk during the month that they're due, and I'll usually tell anyone who'll listen, "If you hear me mention pen breeding next fall, remind me how miserable I am right now!"
It takes some practice... but my does know. lol They line up when it's time. lol
I think that is a good way to do it. I just am afraid I will miss all their heats. LOL
I keep my does separate from my bucks, and they only go in with them when they are in heat. I watch, witness whether she is in standing heat, and if she is, I leave her with the buck for a few hours and let them breed a few more times. Then I take her out, and mark the date. :) So far, due dates have been within days of when they should have been! One early, and the other a couple over.