Worming then Breeding.....and Pen Breeding.....

[Debbie Nightingale]

Hi all....We have a lovely new buckling who is 7 months old that we will be using to breed our 4 does......he arrived yesterday, has met the girls through the adjacent fence and already seems ready to go.... :) as do they!! The breeder suggested we worm him again in a week and the girls are due as well for worming.  If we worm everyone next week, is there any reason not to start the breeding process the following week?

Also wondering - he is a little guy - once they know each other, over the next couple of weeks, if we wanted to pen breed, I'm wondering if they might overwhelm him?  and if anyone has suggestions on how best to do this?

Thanks....

Debbie

[Deborah Niemann-Boehle]

You should not use Valbazen on does that are going to be bred anytime soon or in pregnant does, as it causes birth defects and/or miscarriages. Most people think ivomec (Ivermectin) and fenbendazole (Safeguard) are okay for pregnant animals. It doesn't matter for the buck.

I just had a 7-month-old buck in with three does for the past month, and he survived okay. I don't know if anyone is pregnant, but they all seemed to be best friends after the first day. I am also planning to use him as a "clean up buck" since he doesn't stink yet. I'm going to put him with all my milkers next month, so if anyone didn't get pregnant or slipped a pregnancy, he'll hopefully take care of them. It really depends on the buck though. I remember five years ago getting a couple of young bucks who seemed to take forever to learn how to breed.