Two does...no buck...breeding questions!

[chickylou]

How do you read your does' heat cycle and if you don't have a buck, how to you go about getting them bred and knowing for sure it is he "right timing" and you aren't wasting $150-$200?

I mean, how do you know the timing and then plop them in the back of the van and take them to some breeding service. Then, how do you know it even happened and you get a pregnant doe, especially if it is far away?

Any experiences out here?

 

[username taken]

basically, you watch until you see the signs that she is in heat.

Then off you go, wait till they've done the deed a few times, then watch awfully closely and if she doesnt return in 17 - 21 days then you should have a pregnancy.

timing-wise, I can usually watch my does of an evening and pick which one will be in season the next day, so early in the morning I have a look, if they are showing the signs I call the breeder by 8 or 9 am then head off. The bucks I use are at the most four hours away so thats not usually a problem.

If I want to use a buck further away than that (there are some I have gone 12+ hrs for) or if the doe is difficult to pick, or she's only in heat for very short periods (I have one doe who is receptive for about half an hour in the morning, thats all), I just synchronise them and pull the cidr at an appropriate time, to ensure that she is receptive when I arrive at the buck. Another alternative is to leave your doe at the buck for an entire season. 3-4 wks.

 

[sunnychooks]

Mine are pretty obvious when they're in season. They are very noisy and there's a lot of tail flagging.
The bucks I use are only about 20 minutes away, so I'm lucky in that respect. I usually bring them and watch them get bred. It takes about 15 minutes. If they come into heat again about 17 days later I just take them back a second time, but they normally only need one visit.

 

[username taken]

I forgot to say, with the bucks I use, you pay the service fee and if the doe returns you get 1 more go free of charge. Like a two fer one deal. But if the doe returns again you gotta pay the service fee again

 

[Chatychick]

Or you can get what they call is a buck rag. its where the breeder will wipe a rag or tie a rag to their buck and then place it in a plastic bag. If you hang this rag on the fence you can tell when they are in heat or not as they will love on that rag and just go crazy. Most breeders have it where if they dont take the first time you can bring them back for a 2nd round. If they dont take its usually around 21 days...thats what my girls will do.