The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Lesley Silvester on January 27, 2015, 11:41:03 pm
-
Yesterday, Pom was definitely in season so I took her to visit my friend's billy. As soon as she saw him she went mad and ran towards him eagerly. So far so good. She then seemed to take a dislike to him and ran away. I called her back and they were both shut in a pen where he was very keen but she didn't seem to be, however mating did take place. Today she is shouting the place down.
I assume this means that she is not pregnant or does this happen sometimes? I've not experienced it before.
-
We have 1 here that shouts and tail wags on day 1 but she is not actually ready for the Billy until the next day. she is the only one that is in season more than the one day.
-
They don't stop immediately after mating. I have had goats that shouted for more than a day, were mated on day one and were in-kid afterwards.
My goats at home go back to my own billy a couple of times over one day to be sure - if they stand they are fine.
-
She didn't want to stand but was held. She'd actually started bleating the previous evening so had been in season for about 20 hours. She was still bleating today though, two days after mating. I suppose it's just a case of wait and see.
-
We have a BT here that is being a pain. She isn't getting put in kid this year but she was in season. Jumped out of her pen and went to visit the Billy's. Thankfully they where penned up. Next day she had finished
6 days later she was back in season and doing the same
-
The trouble with having her mated this late in the year is that I can't be sure she would come into season next month in any case. If she doesn't, I'll just have to wait until June to see if her udder starts to fill.
-
Well, she hasn't come into season so far (due on Tuesday) but it is the end of the season for seasons. How will I know if she is pregnant? She already has an udder so that won't help.
-
I think you won't.... unless she comes back into season (my kids and the one running through still came in a couple of weeks ago), you probably just have to wait.
-
My two milking through have been in season very noisily yesterday and today.
The two that should be pregnant haven't but aren't looking pregnant either.
Time will tell.
-
I know it doesn't really help by Rosie came into season yesterday so they certainly can this late in the year but every goat is different I guess. Fingers crossed. :fc:
-
I certainly wouldn't plan a holiday away around the possible due date... :-\
-
Do all goats definitely stop cycling spring/summer? I have a couple of young pedigree boer does who I don't want to breed from until autumn but it would be easier to be able to run my billy with everyone over the summer. Will he bring them in all year?
-
Difficult to say, I had a goat in season at the breed show in June last year.... with a number of quite excited boys hanging around it does happen... (It is a male and female show).
I would run an entire male with a couple of wethers over the summer, and only introduce once you don't mind the girls being mated.
-
maybe the sheep scanner would just scan her for you when they're passing? Your vet may be able to but generally aren't as practiced as sheep scanners.
-
A bit tricky as all boys are in the freezer and kids so far all girls! I should be getting a doe back who will kid in summer so I will just run him with her.
-
I did wonder about scanning but not much likelihood of the sheep scanners being round my way - I live in a town.
I'm not sure about my other goats. The two youngsters bleated for a short while and I thought they were in season. Cloud is very quiet and the only way I know with her is that she spends a lot of time looking through the fence and wagging her tail. TBH I haven't watched her for signs. I suppose if three of them came into season and the fourth didn't, it does look hopeful.
Maybe I should measure Pom's girth and check at intervals to see if it's growing. I don't want to give her extra food in the last six weeks if she doesn't need it but need to if she is pregnant.
I certainly wouldn't plan a holiday away around the possible due date... :-\
If she is, the kid/s due date is the weekend of our wedding anniversary when we try to go away for a couple of days or, at the very least, have a whole day out. I wonder at what point I should break it to my OH that we will be spending it at home this year. :thinking: