[countrywoman]

I planned to mate my 18 month old goatling this year but, unlike her mum and aunt who are very obvious about being in season, she has shown no sign.  Looking back, there was a morning when she seemed a bit more affectionate but by afternoon she was back to normal.  No tail-wagging, no puffy vulva, no bleating.  The owner of the male I planned to use suggests she has been in season but for maybe only a couple of hours each time.  Not very easy to identify.
 
I am watching her as much as I can but may still miss the slight signs in time to get her to the male.  Will it affect her future fertility if I don't mate her this year?  I have been offered a young male to keep here for a few weeks but lack of space will make this a problem, specially as I don't want to breed my milker this year.
 
Any suggestions?

[Anke]

as she is a goatling - and therefore dry - could you not board her with a stud male at their place? I have found in the past that goatlings can be hard to spot, even though as kids they shout their heads off. Now I have a resident male - no such problem!
I have boarded my goatlings in the past, and it worked well. Obviously you must know and trust the stud owner to look after your girl properly.

No idea if their fertility is reduced if they are not mated as goatlings though...

[countrywoman]

Finally!!  Success!  She came properly into season and has visited the male with great enthusiasm.  Phew!  Now, we wait the obligatory three weeks...

[Lesley Silvester]

We could both be being midwives around the same time then.