[jaykay]

Well Rowan, my goatling, is definitely in season and i am just about to try loading her into the back of the car (x-trail, I've bought an extending dog ramp.....will report back  ) to take her to see Charlie's billy. She had a season in October and now this one 18 days later.

But the reason for my post is that Ellie, whom I'm milking at the moment, has not had a season. Which is pain because I wanted her in kid too 

Why might this be?
Her kids from this year are still about, weaned but they all four (Rowan, Ellie and the two little boys) live together - but they're both wethers and I'm pretty sure I got them done in time!
It would be highly unlike Ellie to do anything quietly so I don't think I've missed it 

[wytsend]

As long as the wethers were done by the time they were 3 months old.... you will be alright on that score !!!!!

Probably as soon as she smells the male on the goatling.... she will come into season !

[jaykay]

Fingers crossed!

There was a bit of a hiccup with the boys. We did them with the burdizzo at 1 month old (supposedly it's better for them than the rubber rings, but I shan't use it again  )

Anyway, Little Brown started behaving in quite a billyish way and I thought I could feel something where there should have been nothing! So I took him and his brother to the vets - who told me that they had 31/2 out of the original 4 between them  though with scarring from the crushers.

They were 5 months old by this point. There had been no sign of either Ellie or Rowan having had a season by the time I took them and clearly they hadn't caught Rowan. Ellie is quite bolshy and she wouldn't have put up with them playing about if she wasn't in season. I never saw them jump on her though they tried it with Rowan.

I really hope Ellie is not going to have kids in February, last winter I had -18C and three feet of snow then 

[Anke]

My goats have been very slow in coming into season this year (the ones that weren't sponged), my GG was only last week for the first time! Speaking to others they have also experienced late-coming-into-seasons this year, so she may not yet be ready!

If you are worried that one of the boys may have got her I think there should be a blood test for pregnancy done by the vets (methinks), and if it is positive you would still get her milk next spring and would have to see what the kids look like - if anything doesn't look right you would have to have the kid(s) pts quickly. However some of the best breeders use (sometimes) mother/son matings. If it has happened I wouldn't feel bad about it. At times when diesel is over 1.40 a litre, you may have saved yourself some money!!!!

Putting rings on the boys at the same time as disbudding is usually a good thing, as they are asleep and the vet can take his time.

[jaykay]

Thanks Anke, that's reassuring. Hopefully she'll come into season soon and the boys won't have 'got' her.
We don't disbud Old English's, so it'll be me doing the rings, but I do lambs so should be OK.

I had just read some piece of research that said the burdizzo was easier on them, despite initial impressions, but that didn't factor in also having to take them to the vets to have the job done properly 

[Anke]

If she is an English I would think she is more likely to be later into season than the British/Swiss breeds. If you can get your hands on a billy rag and let her sniff it most mornings it may help. Having talked to another GG keeper today she has found that her nannies that nursed their kids (and were stripped out to keep the milk up) all have recently had an increase in milk - meaning that the kids have weaned themselves and more milk is now available. Maybde if you reduced the milking to once a day she could come into season earlier as it would be the natural thing if milk dried up... But not sure how it works, as my BT's still milk well even though they are in kid.

Around here none of the sheep farmers use Burdizzo's, they either ring the boys, or more likely leave them entire and sell as early as possible. Our Agri merchants don't even stock them.... so it's rings for me.

I have found that if done at disbudding which is followed by putting my kids onto the bottle they don't feel uncomfortable, as they are hungry by the time they are back home.  But you probably leave your goats horned?

[SallyintNorth]

I had just read some piece of research that said the burdizzo was easier on them, despite initial impressions, but that didn't factor in also having to take them to the vets to have the job done properly 

We'll have to fix you up with a burdizzo lesson... shame, we had to get a neighbour to help do two bullocks today!   

Did you get to Charlie's ok?

[jaykay]

Yes, great drive  and his new spot is very smart. He says hi 
I wondered about a billy rag but since Charlie was trying not to handle them so he didn't stink.....
I hoped maybe the smell of Little Billy on Rowan might have helped.

[Lesley Silvester]

I've not noticed any season in my Sanaans yet either.  One I think is too old now but the other one should have done something by now.  I could have missed it of course.  She only lasts 24 hours and isn't very noisy with it.  She is still suckling her son who was ringed at 3 days and definitely no longer has the wherewithal.

[jaykay]

Yes, mine only last about 24 hours but they are anything but quiet 

She came inito season today  Got home early from a meeting, she was yelling her head off and climbing the gate! Rang Charlie on the off—chance he'd come in for a cuppa and he had! So- raced over there to get there in daylight. Couldn't have worked out better if we'd planned it 

Phew! Maybe it was the smell of Little Billy on Rowan?

[Anke]

Good result!

Yes it could have been the small of the first one setting the next one off.

[SallyintNorth]

Excellent news!  (Although BH disappointed he missed hitching a trip to see Charlie...)

[jaykay]

I know - I thought about seeing if she would hang on til tomorrow evening, but she wouldn't really 
Damn Internet's been off all day and now it's back for a minute every half-hour or so 

[Lesley Silvester]

Don't really mind if Pom doesn't come in season as I don't intend getting her done again until next autumn.  she only kidded in June.

[Roxy]

My larger goats have been slow to come in season - this is only their second one.  Yet, the smaller ones (pygmy and sanaan, started early September, and have been getting louder with each season.  Resting the smaller ones this year, but almost gave in and let the billy to them ....to shut them up