Breeding Pygmy Doe

[Cottage Cheese]

Hey all,


I have a 7 and a half month old pygmy doe that looks like she is in heat. I have heard that it is dangerous to breed them under a 1.5. Y? The other day, I saw her mom, she [ my girl ] is as big, if not bigger than mommy. Can someone explain the hazards???

 

[hoosiergal]

i have seen it on here that the standard rule is 8 mo. or 80 lbs but i can't explain the hazards since i am new to goating myself. good luck.

 

[ksalvagno]

You want to make sure they are fully grown internally. Their uterus and other organs may not be fully developed. Also, you are taking good nutrients away from mom when she is still growing and needing those nutrients herself. Not to mention that mental maturity is important too.

I know the larger breeds do breed earlier than the dwarf breeds.

 

[kimmyh]

I would NEVER intentionally breed a Pygmy doe before her first birth date. I had an accident this year, and delivered a 14 month old doe and it was a total wreck. I delivered 2 does last year for a friend, 1 was a year, and the other was 15 months old for a friend, one had to have a C Section, neither delivery was easy. All of these are registered Pygmys.

 

[Cottage Cheese]

Thank you, I was thinking about her internal organs as well. So 18 months is okay?

 

[ksalvagno]

I know 18 months is ok for a NIgerian Dwarf so I would think it would be fine for a Pygmy.

 

[Cottage Cheese]

My girl is in a major estrus today! Not sure if that is good or bad, but, is there any way of keeping her quiet??

 

[kimmyh]

No, some of them are true hussies, and they don't quit until they are out.

 

[trestlecreek]

Yep, pygmies don't quite maturing until they are 3. I breed my does when they are about 24-30 months. This is mature enough to handle the pregnancy and delivery.
Earlier than that for my does and your risking it.
You can put her in a stall in the barn away from where she can see the buck. Other than that, nope!!
I have a 15 year old doe that limps, gimps and crackles across the property and even through a creek when she comes into heat jsut so she can let the boys know.
Any other time of the month and you'd think she was on her last leg out.

 

[Cottage Cheese]

Yeah, she is quite the hussy!!! The buck is two lots away from us, we dont own him, our freind who gave us our girls does