How old does a nammy pygmy goat have to be before breeding?

[farmer3027]

I have a nanny pygmy goat I dont know how old she is her horns are only about maybe a inch long. I have her on about 2 cups of sweet feed and corn aday and all the grass and hay she wants. can some one hael with the age and age to breed and how to tell if she is ready to breed. Thakn You

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

For Nigerian dwarves, they usually had to be 7 months before breeding was optimal. I'd say Pygmy goats are the same. Is she 7 months, or older? If so, breed her. Some people wait until they hit a certain weight - not sure what that'd be. Ill google it.

 

[Stacykins]

For Nigerian dwarves, they usually had to be 7 months before breeding was optimal. I'd say Pygmy goats are the same. Is she 7 months, or older? If so, breed her. Some people wait until they hit a certain weight - not sure what that'd be. Ill google it.

Earlier I've ever heard of a Nigerian dwarf to be bred is 9 months AND 40lbs as a minimum before being bred. 7 months just seems very immature. I don't think I've ever met a 7 month old Nigerian who is ready to be bred. Pygmies might be a little different when it comes to weight, given that they are barrel kegs with legs.

I have a nanny pygmy goat I dont know how old she is her horns are only about maybe a inch long. I have her on about 2 cups of sweet feed and corn aday and all the grass and hay she wants. can some one hael with the age and age to breed and how to tell if she is ready to breed. Thakn You

How old is she? When was she born? Horn length is not an indicator of age, as horn growth is determined y a number of factors such as individual genetics and mineral intake. What are you giving her for a mineral? How much does she weigh, exactly? My goats I can often pick them up and stand on a human scale (subtracting my weight, which I take before or after doing a weight while holding the goat).

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

I bred my does at 7-8 months. Every kid turned out happy, healthy and grew nice in size. Nigerian dwarves. All had hit their weight and seemed perfectly healthy, so into the buck pen they go. that's what I was told to do, and it worked fine. I didnt like the idea of waiting too long since I heard people who do it can either work fine or end up with more issues than an early breed. If it makes any difference they had all summer to fatten up, bred in fall and gave birth early spring. But pretty sure that's how most people do it so not sure what else to tell ya.

Merry Christmas.

 

[cassie]

Just a comment. You need to keep the doe kids separated from the bucks starting at a very young age and do not let the bucks near them until you want them bred. I once had a doeling kid at the ripe old age of eight months which meant she got bred at three months. She was nursing on her mother and I put them both in with the buck. She kidded before her mother did, Everything turned out OK but I certainly don't recommend this.

 

[Stacykins]

I bred my does at 7-8 months. Every kid turned out happy, healthy and grew nice in size. Nigerian dwarves. All had hit their weight and seemed perfectly healthy, so into the buck pen they go.

that's what I was told to do, and it worked fine. I didnt like the idea of waiting too long since I heard people who do it can either work fine or end up with more issues than an early breed. If it makes any difference they had all summer to fatten up, bred in fall and gave birth early spring. But pretty sure that's how most people do it so not sure what else to tell ya.

Merry Christmas.

Maybe you should head over to The Goat Spot, as most goat folks there would not advocate such young breeding. Certainly some do breed that young, but most do not, as the health of their animals is paramount.

 

[cassie]

Maybe you should head over to The Goat Spot, as most goat folks there would not advocate such young breeding. Certainly some do breed that young, but most do not, as the health of their animals is paramount.

I am not experienced with mini goats but I have had a lot of experience with full sized dairy goats. Most commercial dairymen I know breed their doelings to kid at about a year which means they are about seven months when bred. If the animals are well fed and cared for they will continue to grow and they will do just fine.