Nigerian Dwarf Goats Newbie

[nayeli]

Well, I was going to wait til next year to get goats but we saw a great sale and I jumped the gun. I got a registered doe and her twins (a doe and a buck) all for $150, and the lady I bought her from will breed her back in a month! Oh, the twins are also registerable!

We just brought them home today, they are all brown buckskin looking! I bought them for dairy though and the mama isn't good about milking... how can I train her so she will allow me to milk?

 

[Stacykins]

Well, I was going to wait til next year to get goats but we saw a great sale and I jumped the gun. I got a registered doe and her twins (a doe and a buck) all for $150, and the lady I bought her from will breed her back in a month! Oh, the twins are also registerable!

We just brought them home today, they are all brown buckskin looking! I bought them for dairy though and the mama isn't good about milking... how can I train her so she will allow me to milk?

Congrats!

How old are the kids? If they are are young...it is probably far too early for breeding her back. Back to back breedings doesn't give her a period of rest. Pregnancy and lactation is rough on a doe.

I am guessing the little buckling is destined to be a wether or will be sold? Probably not good to have him breeding his sister or mother...

 

[nayeli]

Congrats!

How old are the kids? If they are are young...it is probably far too early for breeding her back. Back to back breedings doesn't give her a period of rest. Pregnancy and lactation is rough on a doe.

I am guessing the little buckling is destined to be a wether or will be sold? Probably not good to have him breeding his sister or mother...

They are two weeks... unfortunately if we want to breed her again anytime it has to be sooner rather than later. She will have a good break after though!

We adore the little buckling but he will be sold when he comes old enough to be.

 

[luvmypets]

I want some goats we have a ewe her lamb and a ram. I suggest you vist backyardherds its a great forum for these kinds of things!

 

[Stacykins]

They are two weeks... unfortunately if we want to breed her again anytime it has to be sooner rather than later. She will have a good break after though!

We adore the little buckling but he will be sold when he comes old enough to be.

Breeding her in a month, six weeks after her initial kidding, is a fast track to ruin her health. Can you truly not wait? Will the breeder no longer offering buck service? What is the hurry?

If you are going to go forward with this...plan, then do dry her up as soon as those kids are eight weeks old. Do not milk her. She needs all the energy she can muster towards herself and her newest set of kids.

Yes, backyardherds or The Goat Spot are both great resources. More goat focused.

 

[nayeli]

Breeding her in a month, six weeks after her initial kidding, is a fast track to ruin her health. Can you truly not wait? Will the breeder no longer offering buck service? What is the hurry?

If you are going to go forward with this...plan, then do dry her up as soon as those kids are eight weeks old. Do not milk her. She needs all the energy she can muster towards herself and her newest set of kids.

Yes, backyardherds or The Goat Spot are both great resources. More goat focused.

They won't offer buck service after that time. She is selling all of her herd and is holding a buck for a month to service the does she sells now... and its not super easy to find people who offer buck services in my area. Many do not because they are worried about diseases (she isn't since I have no other goats and these were hers).

After her next breeding I think I'll probably breed her once a year... Does that sound about right? I'm having trouble locating online advice on goat breeding schedules, or when to breed them back.

 

[Stacykins]

They won't offer buck service after that time. She is selling all of her herd and is holding a buck for a month to service the does she sells now... and its not super easy to find people who offer buck services in my area. Many do not because they are worried about diseases (she isn't since I have no other goats and these were hers).

After her next breeding I think I'll probably breed her once a year... Does that sound about right? I'm having trouble locating online advice on goat breeding schedules, or when to breed them back.

Once a year is definitely the norm.

Just keep an eye on her body condition. If her current kids are sucking her dry and she is losing weight/condition, slowly increase the amount of feed she is getting. I implore that you locate a source of alfalfa hay. It would help provide the necessary protein and calcium she needs to feed her current kids, and help her with her soon to be pregnancy. Much better than grass hay when there is such a high demand on her body.

 

[nayeli]

Once a year is definitely the norm.

Just keep an eye on her body condition. If her current kids are sucking her dry and she is losing weight/condition, slowly increase the amount of feed she is getting. I implore that you locate a source of alfalfa hay. It would help provide the necessary protein and calcium she needs to feed her current kids, and help her with her soon to be pregnancy. Much better than grass hay when there is such a high demand on her body.

We have some. She is actually in fairly good shape, and she seems like she is already weaning her kids =/ cause she definately doesn't let them nurse much. I already checked and no mastitus though.

 

[Stacykins]

Two weeks is far too early to wean, and unless there is a problem, she probably isn't weaning them. Some does don't allow their kids more than few quick swallows before stepping away, detaching the kids. My ND doe currently with triplets is like that, but her kids are massive and growing like weeds. As long your doe's kids are healthy, strong, and growing, they are getting enough from their dam. You (or the breeder rather) would know by now if they were not getting enough milk from their dam.

 

[nayeli]

Two weeks is far too early to wean, and unless there is a problem, she probably isn't weaning them. Some does don't allow their kids more than few quick swallows before stepping away, detaching the kids. My ND doe currently with triplets is like that, but her kids are massive and growing like weeds. As long your doe's kids are healthy, strong, and growing, they are getting enough from their dam. You (or the breeder rather) would know by now if they were not getting enough milk from their dam.

I saw her allowing them to feed for a little while today, she is just difficult (as a mother and milker apparantly). She will fight to protect her babies though and always keeps an eye on them =)