~Pygmy Goat Breeding Questions~

[farm n louisana]

We have a weather for our male as a friend to keep in his pen I had two males before and all they did was fight it was a lot easier just to find and use another male for the females That I keep them having two males plus the male I found the person uses my male so I don't pay for the stud fee we just switch males

 

[farm n louisana]

And we also trade female babies sometimes if I have a kid for sale n can't find anybody to sell it too n he has somebody asking to buy a kid he gives them my number n I do they same thing for him

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thinking seriously about getting a male and female pygmy baby. I've been reading these threads about keeping the males separated from the females. What do you recommend for a first time goat owner? Buy 2 males or 2 females, I really want to get a pair because I would like to maybe raise 1 or 2, but if I have to keep them separated most of the time, isn't that defeating the purpose having them to keep each other company.

 

[Stacykins]

Thinking seriously about getting a male and female pygmy baby. I've been reading these threads about keeping the males separated from the females. What do you recommend for a first time goat owner? Buy 2 males or 2 females, I really want to get a pair because I would like to maybe raise 1 or 2, but if I have to keep them separated most of the time, isn't that defeating the purpose having them to keep each other company.

I do not recommend getting a buck and a doe, because you will need to keep them separated, and goats are herd animals, so they won't like being alone. Pygmies are year round breeders. Which means if you keep them together, he can impregnate her as soon as she has her first heat (far too young for a healthy pregnancy). Then, as soon as she kids, impregnate her again. Then again, and again. It is a disastrous cycle that will destroy her health.

For a beginner, I'd recommend getting two does, or a wether (an neutered buck) and a doe. There might be someone in the area who does pygmy stud service, so you don't need to keep a buck if you want any girls bred.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I do not recommend getting a buck and a doe, because you will need to keep them separated, and goats are herd animals, so they won't like being alone. Pygmies are year round breeders. Which means if you keep them together, he can impregnate her as soon as she has her first heat (far too young for a healthy pregnancy). Then, as soon as she kids, impregnate her again. Then again, and again. It is a disastrous cycle that will destroy her health.

For a beginner, I'd recommend getting two does, or a wether (an neutered buck) and a doe. There might be someone in the area who does pygmy stud service, so you don't need to keep a buck if you want any girls bred.

Thanks Stacykins! Lots of decisions!! There is someone on byc that lives close to me. He has a newborn male I was thinking of buying from him. If I get him, how old should they be to get them neutered? I could get him, get him neutered, and still get a female to go with him. And like you said, use a stud service when I am ready for her to be bred. hmm....I think I like that idea.

 

[farm n louisana]

Do y'all think she's breed she's 10 mths old n been wit my male for 2 months now n is getting bigger

 

[OHhappychicks]

Do y'all think she's breed she's 10 mths old n been wit my male for 2 months now n is getting bigger

I don't know anything about goats, but to me she looks to be pregnant. Especially in the last pic.

 

[bdavidson]

I had a goat at 9 months old we realized she was pregnant and a few weeks later she went into labor but couldn't deliver the kid because her pelvis was too small so she had to get a c section. The baby died and the vet said she shouldn't be breed again because she's too small and that she won't get bigger. How is that even possible that goat is too small

 

[Stacykins]

I had a goat at 9 months old we realized she was pregnant and a few weeks later she went into labor but couldn't deliver the kid because her pelvis was too small so she had to get a c section. The baby died and the vet said she shouldn't be breed again because she's too small and that she won't get bigger. How is that even possible that goat is too small

How is that even possible? It is very possible! Do you know what the term 'stunted' is? It means an animal has either a genetic condition or disease affliction that caused a goat to not grow to their full size potential.

An infection of coccidiosis in kids is the most common cause of stunting in goats. It infects their gastrointestinal tract. The proliferation of coccia destroy the lining of the intestines, preventing proper nutrient absorbtion. When the goat cannot absorb all the nutrients they need to grow and be healthy, they do not grow to full size because they can't. This is why giving kids more than three weeks old a preventative against coccidia will keep them free from infection and allow them to reach full size potential.

Even without an infection, if a goat kid does not get enough to eat, they won't grow to their full size. This happens to humans in impoverished areas. Genetically, they could grow much taller, but because their body didn't get the calories, vitamins, and minerals needed to achieve maximum height, they don't grow. Once the growth plates on an animal (human or goat) calcify, there can be no more skeletal growth in the animal's lifetime.

So did you have that pygmy from birth? Or did you purchase her pregnant? If you had her from birth, you need to seriously evaluate your animal management practices. If she came pregnant, than that is just a seriously unfortunate event. Lutalyse can abort a pregnancy, but it appears you realized she was pregnant far too late in the pregnancy, the kids would have still been quite large in the last few weeks. But Lutalyse is a godsend if there is a buck escape and a doe who is too young gets bred. Now you have a very expensive pet because she was bred too young, and shouldn't have been bred in the first place because she was too small.

 

[bdavidson]

I bought her in October and she was about 2 months old and I think she must have been bred at about 4 months old because she is 9 months right now. Would being bred so young cause her to stop growing or should she grow more?