[Bumblebear]

Well ashia ha started to be a blooming nuisance, just clearing off when before she would follow me and Simone...could it be the start I wonder..... 

[wytsend]

I have just 2 left to cover.....    mine started coming in season in middle of August !!!!!!
Kidding starts 2nd week in January !!!!!!!!!!!!
Probably another mild winter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   
Well you can hope !!

[Lesley Silvester]

It's a nice thought but I've given up expecting decent weather ever.

[goosepimple]

   I liked the 'ever' on that Mad, show's a writer 

[Penninehillbilly]

I've seen a billy collar mentioned before, I'm guessing it's one a billy has worn?
 
both my adults have been in season, for various reasons I've missed the chance, I think one of the yearlings has been on, but it was the same day as her mum so can't be sure, they all acted a bit silly. Billyboy is coming back tomorrow so that should help.
Never thought of lights on, I always thought it was temperature based, seasonal light levels seem obvious now you've said it.
I leave a low light on till about midnight (about 6w,other side of barn, would that affect things?) and sometimes main light is left on till about 10pm, after milking. May have a rethink on leaving lights on.

[salopman]

I sell lighting for a living and there is hard evidence that Mares come into season in winter months under the influence of long hours of flourescent lighting i think if i remember 16 hours a day of light - if you google horses -lighting-oestrus i think you will find the answers.

[Penninehillbilly]

I would have thought it was reducing daylight that would start the cycle?

[Roxy]

For some reason, its the same every year here.....the pygmy goats, and the sanaan x start at the beginning of November, but the Anglo Nubians have shown no sign at at all, even when I paraded Darren down the fence line.  Only big one served so far is the British Alpine x British Sanaan (interesting to see what the kids will be like served by Darren!).  There again, we are highup here, and do not want kids too early.

[kja]

mums goats are like clock work they come back from the last show of the season mid oct on the monday they start to come in ....................this year they were late they started to come in on the tuesday all mated by the friday.

[Lesley Silvester]

My Curry is a BA x Sanaan.  He's pure white and a lovely looking boy.  Pity we're going to eat him really.

[jaykay]

Horses' gestation is nearly a year, so in order for the mares to come into season at the right time for the foals to be born in spring, they would come into season as the days got longer.

Sheep and goats’ gestation is 5 months, so they come into season as the days get shorter.

[wytsend]

Goats respond to reducing daylight.........completely the opposite to horses !!!!!!!
So turn the lights off and keep them in for a few days in poorer quality light....... they'll be shouting the place down very soon afterwards !!

[Daisys Mum]

After reading all the posts on here, it seems very unlikely that my pygmys are in kid as I bought them in September. I suppose I should have done my research before I bought them . So when they do start how long have I got to get them to the billy? And if I miss there first season how long till they come in again?

[Brucklay]

Daisys Mum - when your pygmy's come into season it can last about 48hrs and the optimum time for the billy is about half way but they may only be in season for 24hrs - our plan was always to take in the afternoon on the day we noticed or the following morning. If you miss the first season the next should be about 3 weeks later but they can be a little irregular to start of with.

[sokel]

After reading all the posts on here, it seems very unlikely that my pygmys are in kid as I bought them in September. I suppose I should have done my research before I bought them . So when they do start how long have I got to get them to the billy? And if I miss there first season how long till they come in again?

I used to keep Pygmys years ago and they seemed to come into season at various times through the year, 1 gave birth at the begining of november 2 months after I got her.
most goats are only in for 1 day ,i have 1 comes in for 3 days but thats not the norm.
they come in every 3 weeks