What do you do with bucklings??

[mekasmom]

If you whether them, the only option is that they become meat. At least if you leave them intact, they might find a home at a livestock auction where they can have their own herd of does.

 

[cassie]

I had a goat dairy for 30 years. Buck kids can be banded the day they are born if you wish although we generally waited until they were a week or so. I did not sell them for pets because pet goats usually do not have a happy life. If you let them nurse the doe for about 8 weeks they are very plump, even the skinny Saanens and butcher out nicely. Or you can bottle raise them feed them grain for awhile and they make a nice carcass. Cook them up like lamb.

 

[Haviris]

I don't think it's Hush Hush, for me, most of my bucklings are sold as pet wethers. I keep them until a home is found, most are sold by the time they are weaned, but I am prepared for those that take alittle longer.

I think most breeders are open about what they do w/ their bucklings, I'd say most sell them, some give them away, and some raise them for the freezer.

I don't know anyone that kills baby bucklings at birth, but I would guess they are the ones that keep it Hush Hush, and personally I'm glad they keep it to themselves.

 

[MissJames]

Quote:
My goat breeder sent me a story called "Whatever Happened To Elmer".It was a tragic tale of a buckling.After I read it I wanted to open a refuge for bucklings LOL! I guess I'm a chump.I just took 2 wethers along with 4 doelings.I just don't want my own buck and I enjoy the wethers.They really are only good for companionship,though.And meat.
Now that rooster out there in my coop.....I'm ready for him to GO!

 

[cluckychick]

Of the two I have that are bucklings, one will be wethered. I just have to decide which one. Probably in the future he will be sold as a pet.

 

[MissJames]

Quote:
I really don't understand why you keep saying the only option is for a wether to become meat.Maybe it's a regional thing but I keep hearing wethers make better pets and companions for bucks and does.Some people,like me, prefer wethers. I believe you are sincere in your concern and have experience I don't have,but it breaks my heart that you are telling newbies that an auction house [which can be very inhumane] is a better bet than wethering a buck to be a companion animal.
More people are getting into the homesteading frame of mind and may want a wether as a companion for another goat. The price is usually right

 

[Chirpy]

I really don't understand why you keep saying the only option is for a wether to become meat.Maybe it's a regional thing but I keep hearing wethers make better pets and companions for bucks and does.Some people,like me, prefer wethers.

I totally agree with you. Around here people purposely choose wethers over bucks because they can be kept with any other goat, are generally very mellow and friendly dudes (if raised right). They make such wonderful companion and pet animals. Bucks, on the other hand, should be kept in separate tightly fenced pens and usually don't make good pets.

I think it's sad that people keep bucks for the wrong reasons... breeding an inferior buck and thus producing inferior kids because they got the buck cheap or free. I personally would rather see all but the best quality bucks wethered and either sold as pets or for food. But, everyone is entitled to their own opinions.​

 

[mekasmom]

Miss James said"""I really don't understand why you keep saying the only option is for a whether to become meat."""

Chivo dealers buy whethers at a very high price per pound compared to billys. I would never whether a buck because I know that 95+% of them end up with the chivo dealer. Haven't you ever gone to a livestock auction? Of all the bucks that come in, how many whethers go to a private party versus the chivo dealer? Very, very few. I watch dozens of the baby whethers go to slaughter every week. Out of 30+ whethers that come into auction each week maybe one will go to a private sale a month. Nobody puts that kind of money into a pet goat with no use. They sell higher than billys and even higher per pound than nannies. Only the chivo dealers will pay that for a goat with no ability to reproduce. I see it every week. I would never whether my goats. At least they have a chance of ending up in a home with a herd of females as a billy.

If you can find a pet home, great. But I am telling you at auction, they go for about two dollars a pound to the chivo dealer. Perhaps a lucky one gets spared each month, but the rest are meat.

 

[agnes_day]

if i had to do it over again, i think i wouldve gotten 3 wethers instead of 2 girls and a boy..he is the sweetest thing ever! i have never seen an animal so loving and friendly as he is. the girls are getting there but they are far more aloof than he is.

 

[Chatychick]

Wethers dont smell like the bucks either and they do make great pets and are easy keepers. Does go into heat and get onery, buck go into rut and some get mean and some are great. I have a Nigi buck and he is the best. Easy to take anywhere you want and when he is on his lead he knows he is going to see his ladies. I dont keep my boys as bucks, they are wethered at 8 weeks or so and then they go to good homes or they stay here...It all depends on their confirmation and milk lines before they stay as a buck. I love all my wethers and some make great pets and pack goats also and they love to go for walks. This gives them a job and they help me.