Author Topic: Mating milkers (Read 7453 times)

Dogwalker · « **on:** October 28, 2012, 12:11:52 pm »

Do milking goats come in season while still being milked and how is that different from still feeding the kids?

I want to put two of mine back to the buck this year. I'm milking in the morning, the kids are 4 and 5 months old and had been with their mums during the day. I've got a visiting buck here since the beginning of October and thought the smell of him would bring them on. Not much was happening so for three days now I've put the nannies in the field with him in the daytime and just let the kids have a suck before bedtime to ease their udders. One of the local farmers said they won't come on while they're still suckling kids.

Advise please.

sokel · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2012, 12:36:21 pm »

Yes they still come into season even if they are milking, I have actualy put 3 of our milkers back to the billy this week, they where all milking through infact 1 had not kidded for 2 years
As for when they are feeding kids I cant answer that as we hand rear all of our kids

jaykay · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2012, 12:42:59 pm »

I think it does delay seasons but it doesn't stop them. That said, even if the billy being around 'starts the cycle', the cycle is 17-18 days long so they may not be interested in the billy until the middle.

I've got mine on the same regime as yours except the kids have just got to their new homes.

My goats are very vocal when in season and would normally have had one by now - and they haven't. I'm hoping they get going soon. That said, I milked Ellie last year and she did eventually come into season but I remember having the conversation with my neighbour about worrying she wouldn't.......

Joseph · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2012, 01:13:43 pm »

Yes, 2/3 of my milkers are just coming into season, even when they still are with their kids (6 mths old), at least mine have.

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2012, 03:30:31 pm »

Both of ours (one feeding her kid, one giving us milk) have come back into season. noisily. Sadly Puffin thinks the rams 2 fields away, but in her eyeline are potential suitors. Its been a long weekend...

jaykay · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:16:45 pm »

Oh dear

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #6 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:18:36 pm »

Quote from: jaykay on October 28, 2012, 05:16:45 pm

Oh dear

Indeed. She is still stood out there now in the freezing cold and rain "Mehhhhhh, mehhhhhhhh, mehhhhh" tail going ten to the dozen. Neighbours are going to be a tad fed up methinks.

jaykay · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:34:10 pm »

I've warned my new neighbours that they will hear mine all day when it happens, and that nothing is wrong. I think them being half-a-mile away will help though

Dogwalker · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:39:00 pm »

Thank you for all the replies, looks like I'll just have to be patient then.

This time last year I only had a few chickens and had just had my first pork back. Now I've got chickens, ducks, geese, 3milking nannies and their 5 kids, 1 long term visitor nanny, 5 angora nannies and a hired in buck. Two sheep went to the abattoir last Monday and 2 pigs go tomorrow.

It's been a steep learning curve this year and my brain aches!!

kja · « **Reply #9 on:** October 28, 2012, 05:48:27 pm »

having still got the kids on could delay them coming in heat, if your intending puting them in kid maybe a good time to take them away it will help keep the milkers in condition ready for the new kidding.

there is always the chance of silent heat with goats much harder to detect.

jaykay · « **Reply #10 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:03:33 pm »

Quote

there is always the chance of silent heat

who has these silent goats then? Not me or Plums by the sound of it

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #11 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:09:22 pm »

Pom is pretty quiet and lasts for less than 24 hours so is easy to miss. I don't think she's been in this year. Her mum on the other hand, lasted for two days, tried to climb the fence and get through a tiny window appeture while bellowing, "Maaaaaaaaaan, maaaaaaaaan. I want a maaaaaaaaan." all day and most of the night. Just as well the neighbours had their windows shut.

Dogwalker · « **Reply #12 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:11:37 pm »

Last year one was very obvious parading around the field, shouting, flagging her tail and eyeing up the rams next door. One had to be watched very carefully, she's a very reserved young lady, you know.

sokel · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2012, 06:18:04 pm »

Our lot where going mad last week, out of the 7 nannies 5 where in season and the other 2 are in at the moment . They start shouting at first light and dont shut up untill well after dark then when the dogs go outside the floodlights come on and they start shouting again.
I think its worse this year because we have the billy here $:-\$