Ridgetop
Herd Master
The fact that you are asking questions shows that you are not irresponsible. No one is implying that you are. We are all just trying to share information with you. We all started out as beginners. You are lucky to have this website and help from so many people. When I got our first goats and sheep, I had to learn everything from books, there was no internet, and 35 years ago there were not that many "how-to" books except Ag textbooks. Our first goat kids we delivered with my 11 year old daughter holding the book with a drawing of incorrect presentations of kids and trying to feel what was happening! 
The goat did it all luckily, while the children watched, and I pretended I knew what was happening! Both of our Nubian twin sister does had 4 kids each! 
Dotti should kid easily, since her previous owner had a large herd and probably pasture kidded. Kidding problems are relatively few. We only hear about the bad ones when someone needs help. You and Dotti will do just fine. If you need us, we are here for you.
Like MargaretClare said there are often reasons to run a buck with does all the time. If you are breeding for sales, then you want the does in constant production. With year round breeders like Boers, in order to get 3 kid crops in 2 years, you have to leave the buck with the does constantly in order for the does to breed back soon after kidding when they are most fertile. If you are breeding for fun, and want to keep your herd to a smaller size, then you need to keep the does and bucks separated except when you want to breed them.
Keeping 2 bucks is fine if you have a reason for each buck, just don't keep young doe kids with them. If Dotti has a buck and doe kid you will also want to separate or wether the buck kid by 2 months old. Since your younger buck is a particular color, and your husband wants to try to breed that color pattern, then keeping a second buck even for only a few does makes sense. Besides he will be company for Jeb once Jeb is separated from Dotti and Joli.
The pens you describe sound perfect, and you can let the bucks and does graze the woods in turns. I would keep Dotti and her babies away from the woods while they are small because of your coyote population. If you are going to be turning your goats out into the 7 wooded acres once they are fenced, you might want to consider getting a livestock guardian dog to protect them. Lots of information about LGDs on this site too.
I have only 5 ewes at the moment (losses and switching breeds) and only bred 4 of them this year. I have 2 rams because I plan to rotate them with my ewes. I only needed one mature replacement ram, but picked up the younger ram lamb as a bargain from a particular breeder with particular bloodlines at an online auction. Last lot, beautiful little boy, so win, win for me! But, instead of running my ram with the flock like I did when I only had 1 ram, now I need extra pens because I have to keep the doelings separate from the rams, the 2nd ram separate from the flock during breeding, and the 2 rams together while I run the ewe lambs with their mothers on pasture.
Much more trouble for me and more pen building, but I have a reason for the 2nd ram. He was too young to be used this year, but next year he will be used on the 5 current ewes, and I will keep any ewelings produced by the older ram. I also plan to buy another 2 ewelings or yearling ewes next year. Then I will need more pens because in a couple years I will be breeding both rams to selected ewes. It gets more complicated, more expensive, and more fun, but unless you want to end up like a lot of us with lots of goats or sheep , keep those bucks out of the doe pen until you are ready for more kids!
It's gonna be fun! Enjoy! Oh yes, and post pix of those darling babies!
The goat did it all luckily, while the children watched, and I pretended I knew what was happening! Both of our Nubian twin sister does had 4 kids each! Dotti should kid easily, since her previous owner had a large herd and probably pasture kidded. Kidding problems are relatively few. We only hear about the bad ones when someone needs help. You and Dotti will do just fine. If you need us, we are here for you. Like MargaretClare said there are often reasons to run a buck with does all the time. If you are breeding for sales, then you want the does in constant production. With year round breeders like Boers, in order to get 3 kid crops in 2 years, you have to leave the buck with the does constantly in order for the does to breed back soon after kidding when they are most fertile. If you are breeding for fun, and want to keep your herd to a smaller size, then you need to keep the does and bucks separated except when you want to breed them.
Keeping 2 bucks is fine if you have a reason for each buck, just don't keep young doe kids with them. If Dotti has a buck and doe kid you will also want to separate or wether the buck kid by 2 months old. Since your younger buck is a particular color, and your husband wants to try to breed that color pattern, then keeping a second buck even for only a few does makes sense. Besides he will be company for Jeb once Jeb is separated from Dotti and Joli.
The pens you describe sound perfect, and you can let the bucks and does graze the woods in turns. I would keep Dotti and her babies away from the woods while they are small because of your coyote population. If you are going to be turning your goats out into the 7 wooded acres once they are fenced, you might want to consider getting a livestock guardian dog to protect them. Lots of information about LGDs on this site too.
I have only 5 ewes at the moment (losses and switching breeds) and only bred 4 of them this year. I have 2 rams because I plan to rotate them with my ewes. I only needed one mature replacement ram, but picked up the younger ram lamb as a bargain from a particular breeder with particular bloodlines at an online auction. Last lot, beautiful little boy, so win, win for me! But, instead of running my ram with the flock like I did when I only had 1 ram, now I need extra pens because I have to keep the doelings separate from the rams, the 2nd ram separate from the flock during breeding, and the 2 rams together while I run the ewe lambs with their mothers on pasture.
Much more trouble for me and more pen building, but I have a reason for the 2nd ram. He was too young to be used this year, but next year he will be used on the 5 current ewes, and I will keep any ewelings produced by the older ram. I also plan to buy another 2 ewelings or yearling ewes next year. Then I will need more pens because in a couple years I will be breeding both rams to selected ewes. It gets more complicated, more expensive, and more fun, but unless you want to end up like a lot of us with lots of goats or sheep , keep those bucks out of the doe pen until you are ready for more kids! It's gonna be fun! Enjoy! Oh yes, and post pix of those darling babies!
