And by she I mean me and my doe. Took her to get bred yesterday, and it went almost exactly like the last time she went on a date. Three penetrations, three nice butt-tucks. Buck was eager and she flirted heavily. So why am I not happy?
Because today I noticed that she was in a much stronger standing heat. My wether was going at her like crazy and she spent most of the day walking around with her back hunched and her tail high up. This is the exact same thing that happened last time I bred her back in January, when she didn't settle. Part of me knew I should have waited till today (roughly day 22) but I was so afraid of missing my window.
So I guess both Juniper and I were a bit hasty. I suppose there's a chance yesterday's breeding took, but I kind of doubt it. But I think this time I've learned my lesson and next month I'll force myself to wait. Patience is not one of my virtues.
Also, completely off topic, but has anyone heard that goats will eat rhododendron to help with parasites? I've always my goats away from it, but the buck owner I talked to yesterday said they eat it at this time of year to help kill parasites. I've always thought it was toxic to goats.
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Thanks Deborah, I'll try that.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Usually the second heat was the real one, but I'd keep an eye on her around both dates.
I've never had a problem getting buck scent out of clothes. If regular washing didn't work for you, try adding baking soda or washing soda to the machine next time and do a pre-soak.
Well, as suspected, she came back into heat about 6 days later. I was sick so I couldn't bring her back to the buck. I was wondering, do I now count 21 days from that heat or the one that was 6 days prior?
Also, does anyone have a good way to get buck smell out of fabric?
I had two does almost die from Mountain Laurel (same family as rhododendron). Just a leaf or two is enough to kill a goat.
Yeah, I'm not going to let them eat it based on one person's say-so. Just not worth the risk.
Bev Sieminski, Winding Rvr Farm said:
I have heard that it is very toxic - a friend lost several kids to rhododendrons - we took the ones in our garden out.
I have seen it on the goat forums also - lost animals from eating them.
This is why most people wind up getting their own buck(s). Next time you wait, and she won't be in heat the next day. It's Murphy's Law of goat breeding. There are plenty of stories on here about people who saw a goat in heat and waited to take them to get bred the next day, and they didn't get pregnant. Goats are in heat for 24-48 hours, and unless you have a crystal ball, you just don't know how much time you have left when you first see a goat in heat. If you see her in heat first thing in the morning, she might have already been in heat for 12 hours at that point and will be done by evening. It changes from doe to doe and from one year to another. And as soon as you think you've got one figured out, they change! :) Good luck!