Author Topic: age for mating (Read 6043 times)

langdon · « **on:** January 21, 2010, 05:47:28 pm »

sorry guy's for doing this, I write one blog(even if it's called that!)
post it and then think of something else straight away to write next!
it must be annoying to see langdon,langdon,langdon and so on all the time!!
as said sorry!
our girl's are 7mths old at what age will they be ready for billy,
thank you all for your patience!

Anke · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2010, 10:22:13 pm »

They are too young, wait until next autumn. Of course goats can be bred from in their first year (and many commercial herds do that routinely), but for small scale goatkeepers is usually done once the kids are proper goatlings (about 18 months old). You would risk that the goats will not reach their full size, due to lots of demands on their body from growing kids and themselves! Also requires very careful feeding.

Of course I am a fairly new goatkeeper myself and more epxerienced goatkeepers may have a different opinion.

ballingall · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2010, 10:29:45 pm »

Nope I agree with Anke. I would put them in kid any time between September 2010 or January 2011. That way they will be 2 years old (roughly) when they have their kids.

By waiting it means you'll have more time to a) get used to them and b) become more experienced.

We've had goats in the family for over 40 years, and I think we've had kidded kids about 3 or 4 times.

Beth

Roxy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2010, 11:17:32 pm »

I prefer my nanny goats to be at least 18 months before going to the billy - although pygmy goats do breed a lot earlier if allowed to do so. A previous owner of one of my goats got her in kid by accident at 5 months.....so she was 10 months when she kidded. Unfortunately the kid was dead, but I don't think that was to do with her early kidding age. Its not something I would do though.

flump · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2010, 04:51:39 pm »

Hi Langdon, don't apoligise for all your posts I find them very interesting. We have a very fertile goat named Andy, he's a frisky little fella with an appetite for luscious ladies. I notice your down in Pembrokeshire, we often visit friends in that area and have him available as a stud. Could you please measure the frame of your goat as Andy is very large and I wouldn't want him to damage your nanny. I look forward to hearing from you.

langdon · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2010, 08:15:16 pm »

hi,one question how the heck do you measure the frame of a goat!!!!!!!!!!
where about in pem do you have andy in the stud?
would be great to know for the future, thank's for likeing my post's.
I noticed you only got one star to, we'll soon be up there with the rest of them,
answering everyone question's!!!!!!!!!!!!

langdon · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2010, 08:25:27 pm »

Hi flump

cool name, my wife just read your post now and then read my reply,
to her amusement she pointed out how i got confused as in what you meant about andy.
i asked you where do you rent andy out in a stud!!!!!!
she told me you rent him out as a stud!
you can deff tell i'm only at the beginning with all of this

keeping.
had you ever brought him down this far? where are ye guy's

flump · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2010, 08:34:32 pm »

You measure from the left hip to the right hip, under the tail, could you also tell me her hoof size in cm's? Thanks for getting back to me, we live in Bethlehem.

langdon · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2010, 09:04:25 pm »

all very tech ain't it

doganjo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2010, 09:08:37 pm »

Quote from: flump on January 22, 2010, 08:34:32 pm

we live in Bethlehem.

Really??? That's a long way to go for a stud goat!

ballingall · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2010, 09:41:12 pm »

Her hoof size in cm's??!

LMAO

Anke · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2010, 05:50:47 pm »

Hi Langdon, I have just posted a couple of book recommendations for new goatkeepers for Krazyman, Have got them myself and found (and still do find) them invaluable. Maybe your local library has got them?