The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Gunestone on February 21, 2019, 05:40:34 pm

Title: Billies
Post by: Gunestone on February 21, 2019, 05:40:34 pm

I was wondering what people do to get their goats in kid if they just have 2 does? Is it best to buy a buck and sell him again? Or take them to a buck?

Title: Re: Billies
Post by: DavidandCollette on February 22, 2019, 09:41:23 am

First couple of years I took my girls to stud. This year I had the opportunity to buy a male so I have used him. On balance I prefer to have my own stock

Title: Re: Billies
Post by: bj_cardiff on February 22, 2019, 10:00:39 am

I kept a billy once and never would again, apart from the aggression the stink was too much for me! I would ask at your local feed shop if anyone has a billy locally, or even put a wanted ad up in the shop. I suppose it depends on wether you want a pure bred kid or your breeding for milk and are happy with cross breds?

Title: Re: Billies
Post by: landroverroy on February 22, 2019, 08:50:20 pm

When I had 2 goats i just took them to the billy the day they were on heat, then took them home again. Having worked with billies I wouldn't have wanted to keep one unless i had considerably more goats. The smell takes some getting rid off.

Title: Re: Billies
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 22, 2019, 11:55:38 pm

I took mine to the male as I only wanted the milk. Male kids ended up in the freezer and so did any females I didn't want to keep.

Title: Re: Billies
Post by: Gunestone on February 26, 2019, 05:48:45 pm

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think it will definitely be best to take them to a buck, at least for the first few years. How do you find someone who will take your does? We're in the South Staffordshire area, near Telford.

Title: Re: Billies
Post by: DavidandCollette on February 26, 2019, 06:44:15 pm

Don't know what goats you have, ours are golden Guernsey and there is a stock officer for this part of the country and he knows where all the goats are. It was through him that I got my Billy, originating in Aberdeen via the Lake District

Title: Re: Billies
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 26, 2019, 11:48:47 pm

Quote from: Gunestone on February 26, 2019, 05:48:45 pm

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think it will definitely be best to take them to a buck, at least for the first few years. How do you find someone who will take your does? We're in the South Staffordshire area, near Telford.

I'm in Telford and there are a few goatkeepers around. Sadly the local goatkeeping group seemed to fizzle out but I took mine to different people who have males. Are you in the Goaty Friends group on Facebook. I know a couple of local goatkeepers are on there.