I got Goats!

[Nupine]

I would wether him. We have 7 does, one wether, and no buck. I have heard that you should have 6 does before you get a buck. If you have never had goats before, a buck will make the experience much harder. If you only have one doe, I personally feel it would be MUCH easier to load the doe up in a car, yes a car, to a buck once a year, then to have a smelly, sometimes mean, buck year round. Yes bucks can be mean. Most are nice, but our friends have an alpine buck who will protect his does to the point he will charge and knock you over if you go in there when you breed the does. I have a wether and he is the sweetest thing ever.

 

[MissPrissy]

I agree with you, nupine. Unless you are experienced and plan to be a breeder I think a buck can be far too much to handle for a first time goat owner.

 

[Citychick]

ksacres- I am getting Bertha and Jazz. Nicole was a huge help she seemed very honest and nice. I am excited and I will try the whole buck thing and if it is a huge problem I will just wether him. But I plan on getting a few more does eventually and I will just sell the extra babies. Thanks

 

[helmstead]

Man haters!

 

[Citychick]

Lol! We all probably know a man or two in our lives that given the chance we would...... Well you know! But I think I'll give the guy a chance and we will see. If he is to hard to handle I'll make the DH take him in and have him unmanned.

Maybe it'll put the fear of the almighty him and he'll finanlly get my honey do list all done!

 

[helmstead]

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
She is nice, definitely. I truly don't find the buck thing to be overwhelming. We have two right now and have had as many as five. Strong fencing is a must. And yes, they do smell very strong in the fall. My La Mancha boy has become a pain with rubbing and head butting, but our Nubian boy is really really shy. It just depends on the individual personality. Goats do have more personality than any other livestock I know.

Since most on this thread have said why "not" to have your own buck, I will tell you why you might want "to" have one.

Pros:
1. Always available-does don't come into heat at the same time, you could save yourself a few trips, especially if your doe(s) doesn't take the first time.
2. No stud fee-The going rate for stud service is $50, multiply that by the # of does you plan to have...
3. Disease-By having your own buck, you eliminate the need to take your doe to another person's herd and potentially expose your doe(s) to whatever germs/etc their herd may have.
4. Paperwork-Keeping track of those pesky service memo's is a pain, you don't need them for breeding with a buck you own.


These are just a few reasons! Have fun, you are getting some nice goaties!

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Congrats on your goats!!

I have a buck and just one doe (hoping to add more does asap) and so far my buck has been great. He does have a bucky scent to him, being a pygora, I imagine his fiber holds the scent longer. He is not mean, a little shy but very gentle with us and my doe.

The reason I chose to buy a buck rather then do the stud service is I couldn't find a buck I liked that didn't require me to drive an hour and hope the breeding took. That and my doe has "silent heats" and it's very hard to tell when she's in heat. Also there is the bio-security aspect of keeping my own buck. I know what vaccines he's had, I know his health status because I see him everyday.

The best thing about having a buck, though, if he does ever become nasty, unmanageable or we don't have to need for a buck anymore, he can be fixed. And if that doesn't help he can become goat chops.