[fifixx]

I have noticed the last kid born has still got his testicles - I felt when ringing that maybe I wasn't 100% happy...

How long have I got before he is fertile?  He was born mid-March and unfortunately is a single to a new mum and she loves him to bits - I can't wean them yet as hay not cut because of this vile weather and so the field isn't ready!

Should I have a little trip to the vets?  He is going for meat in August/Sept

Oh - and he has the loudest scream if you try and catch him - should be fun going to the vet!!

[Anke]

Looking at this weather it may be a while before your hay gets cut...
 
He would be more of a nuisance to other female kids, and is so far probably still too small to reach the bigger ladies (if they let him). That said they can be fertile from about 3 months on... and where there is a will there is usually a step handy...
 
I would worry about billy taint to the meat if he is going into the freezer in the autumn. But it depends on the cost of castration (probably needs full anaesthesia at this stage???) and how much money you need to make from him...

[jaykay]

I'd take him to the vets. It's an additional cost but then the job is done, he can stay happily with his mum with no worries about what he might get up to!

I had my boys done at the vets last year after it became obvious the Burdizzo hadn't done the job. I was glad I had, they stayed with their mum and sister til they were 8 months old and went to the butcher, so had a really nice life with no stress to me, them or their mum.

[smudger]

On the hay front...I didn't think you should use it straight away anyway - or is that just silage and haylage that needs to cure?

[Anke]

On the hay front...I didn't think you should use it straight away anyway - or is that just silage and haylage that needs to cure?

of course hay neds to cure for a while too. That said last year after our grass got baled for haylage (for the shep), it was amost as good as hay, and waste not want not we went round and raked up quite a bit that was left on the ground - fed the goats for a week afterwards with no ill effects.

[omnipeasant]

We never use hay or haylage until at least 6 weeks after making. It is a rule of thumb passed down by farming generations and works for us.