Opinions on breeding Pygmy Goats....Should I do it for them?

[Thomas423]

I have two female Pygmies. Both will be 2 years old this summer. Someone told me that I need to breed them so that they don't get some stomach thingie (can't remember what exactly they said) and die. I asked a goat "expert" and he said it was not necessary.

So my questions are:
Has anyone ever heard of goats having problems from NOT giving birth?
Should I breed them so that they can "feel fulfilled" as "women"?

If we decide to breed them I am going to contact my local 4H first. We do not want to keep the kids and I will gladly donate the kids in exchange for stud service. One of the girls is a purebred pedigree (with papers). The other is a very sweet "farm" goat. Both are SPOILED BRATS. LOL

Thanks for any input and opinions.

 

[username taken]

no you dont need to breed them EVER if you dont wish to.

Has anyone ever heard of goats having problems from NOT giving birth?

No. I'd say this person has heard an old wives tale.

Should I breed them so that they can "feel fulfilled" as "women"?

No - trust me they will be perfectly happy without having kids.

If you do decide to breed them, you might think about selling the kids - particularly if one of your girls has papers - maybe you could sell them at a discounted price to 4H members, to help them get started.​

 

[Sherry]

Word of caution...should you breed them, once you see the babies you will keep them. They are so darn cute you can't resist. I started with 3 pygmies, all female. Then I borrowed a buck. Then I got my own buck.
Now I have 9 pygmies.

 

[conroy]

Quote:

so not only chickens are addictive

 

[Chatychick]

If you dont want to breed them you should have them spayed like we do dogs and cats as they can get Ovarian cancer from it. Yes they are a good age to breed if you want to but you dont want to wait to long on this. I spayed 1 goat as she had birthing problems and other than that she was fine and did well...she made a good pet not a good breeder.

 

[cutiepieacres]

Pygmy goats dont need bred, they will live long happy lives without having babies. Most of the 4-H kids around here get pygmies because they are pets first and dont need to have babies or be in milk to be shown.

If you do decide to breed especially with a pure pygmy there is a chance for complications. Not always, but pygmies often have kidding issues where they need kids pulled or turned and sometimes moms or babies dont make it. Its just somthing to think about sometimes a birth will go just right but with pygmies there is just a larger chance for somthing to go wrong than with a lot of other bigger breeds of goats.

Oh and baby pygmies are super cute! Yes once you see them you will want to keep them all!!

 

[helmstead]

I second Chaty, if you don't WANT to breed them, have them spayed. Ovarian cancer and hormone imbalances will eventually haunt them.

This is true, BTW, throughout their lives. Breeding them once isn't going to chage it...which is why you should consider having them spayed.

 

[sparkles2307]

I cant wait to breed my girls! They are a year old now, and the neighbors just got a 6 week old buckling!!!!! Anyone want one of my wethers, sadly DH has decreed that the little guys have to go before I can have any babies...?

 

[Thomas423]

I didn't know that I could have them spayed. That sounds like the best option. I kinda liked the idea of having the babies and then donating them to a 4H'er but I wouldn't want any complications for my girls. They really are very loved and spoiled.

Here's a pic of Lady. She's the pedigree and likes her pic taken. Suzie won't stay still for a pic. She just wants lovin'. LOL

 

[username taken]

??

I know plenty of people who have does that have never been bred, and none have had any illness from it. The oldest I know of would be 12 and then 10, some 5 and 6 yr olds etc.